SPILL THE TEA

A Beginner’s Guide to Different Types of Tea and their Benefits

While most people can’t live with their morning Joe, it probably comes as a surprise that tea is actually the second most consumed beverage in the world after water. High in antioxidants and believed to help with cancer, heart diseases and diabetes, this light and refreshing beverage dates back to ancient China almost 5,000 years ago. In popular legend, Emperor Shen Nung discovered tea in 2732 B.C. when the leaves of a Camellia Sinensis tree fell into his pot of boiling water. The Emperor was pleasantly surprised by this refreshing and intriguing brew, giving the world its first taste of tea.

The primary types of tea are white tea, green tea, pu-er tea, and oolong tea. In addition, there are also tea variants such as herbal infusion, fruit teas and the currently trending Kombucha! Read on to understand more about the various types of teas we serve at PAZZION Café and their flavour profiles.

Black Tea

Malty and Full-Bodied

Black tea is one of the most popular teas worldwide and it typically undergoes the full oxidation process, resulting in a more robust and stronger flavour. Studies also suggest that black tea helps with oral health by reducing plaque formation and restricting the development of cavity-causing bacteria. Popular varieties of black tea include English Breakfast, Earl Grey and Darjeeling.

If you’re feeling a little sluggish at work, take a midday break by enjoying a pot of hot aromatic French Earl Grey tea. With a full-bodied flavour and a sweet fragrance of bergamot orange, it is best enjoyed accompanying sweet or creamy foods. We recommend enjoying this rich tea with a buttery and flaky croissant.

Experience this delicious pairing at PAZZION Café for only $8!
Available all day from Mondays to Fridays.

Green Tea

Grassy, Nutty and Toasty

Well-loved by many in Asia, especially in China and Japan, green tea is a lighter-bodied tea that has high amounts of antioxidants due to the halting of the oxidation process during harvesting. It also tends to become bitter and astringent, so it’s usually steeped for a shorter period and at a lower temperature as compared to that of black tea. Green tea is also said to improve, protect brain function and prevent cardiovascular diseases, popular varieties include Matcha, Hojicha and Dragonwell (Longjing).

PAZZION Café utilises premium and pure matcha powder from Uji, Kyoto resulting in a cup of toasty and delicate beverage with a slight umami savoury taste. If you prefer a smokier flavour profile, try the Hojicha tea selection that boasts of an enhanced aroma with almost no bitterness or astringency due to its roasting process.

Feel invigorated by the creamy and flavourful Hojicha Latte ($6.50) or Matcha Latte ($6.50), the perfect elixir to warm your stomach and start your day feeling energetic and rejuvenated.

Featured (Top to Bottom): Hojicha Latte (Hot), Matcha Latte (Hot)

Pu-er

Woody, Smokey and Earthy

Harvested in a similar manner as green tea, pu-er tea undergoes an additional microbial fermentation process, causing the leaves to darken and change in flavour allowing its flavours to improve with age like a fine wine. The tea leaves are also often aged for several years to accentuate its rich and rustic flavours.

Touted as a health elixir in ancient China, pu-er tea is said to have a variety of health benefits, ranging from improvements in heart health, reduction in cholesterol and free radical levels. It is also believed that the tea promotes weight loss, enhance eyesight and combat headaches or migraines. Savour the deep and toasty Pu Er ($7.50) after a heavy meal to cleanse the body and aid in digestion.

Herbal / Flavoured Tea

Caffeine Free Tea Variants

If you’re caffeine intolerant, fret not! You can still enjoy your cuppa with the herbal/flavoured tea variant substitutes such as Peppermint Tea, Chamomile Tea, Rooibos Tea or even fruit teas. Typically made from dried flowers, leaves, seeds or roots that are generally caffeine-free, these beverages will not leave you with insomnia, heart palpitations, anxiety and other side effects.

Beat the heat by indulging in a glass of Iced Peach Fruit Tea ($8.50) from T2 Tea bursting with a succulent fruity blend of peach, papaya, apple and roasted chicory, perfect for the tropical weather of Singapore.

If you like something more refreshing, try the flavourful Peppermint ($8) from T2 Tea with a cool lingering aroma. It’ll keep you hydrated and help your body and mind function better, boosting your performance and concentration at work.