Are you one of those few people who love to start your day with a cup of tea instead of coffee? If you’re a lover of tea, then I’m sure you’ll love this article!
In this article, I will tell you about some of the most popular types of tea from around the world. From the Milk Tea of Hong Kong, to the Japanese Matcha, to the Asian Teh Tarik, here’s everything you need to know!
12 Teas From Around the World
1. Malaysian – Teh Tarik
also known as pulled tea, this tea is a strong black tea that is mixed with condensed milk and is very similar to the Milk Tea of Hong Kong. But the only difference is the way it is made. The tea is poured from one container to another multiple times to be able to make it frothy.
ingredients –
- 250 ml boiling water
- 2 black tea bags or ½ tbsp of loose black tea leaves
- 2 tbsp condensed milk
- Ice optional
Recipe – Place teabags into a mug and pour over boiling water. Steep for a few minutes until tea is dark and intense, then allow to cool for a few more minutes. Add condensed milk and stir. Serve hot or over plenty of ice for a chilled summer drink.
2. Hong Kong – Milk Tea
Hong Kong milk tea is a creamy, smooth, yet strong type of tea that is quite sweet to taste because it contains evaporated milk or condensed milk. The base is made from strong black tea, which is strained through a cloth filter.
3. Moroccan – Touareg Tea
Moroccan mint tea is made from gunpowder (which is locally grown), fresh mint and of course, sugar to sweeten it. This tea is often had in a tulip –shaped glass.
Ingredients –
- 1 tablespoon loose Chinese gunpowder green tea
- 5 cups boiling water
- 3 to 4 tablespoons sugar, or to taste
- 1 large bunch fresh mint (1 ounce)
Recipe –
Recipe – Put tea in teapot and pour in 1 cup boiling water, then swirl gently to warm pot and rinse tea. Strain out and discard water, reserving tea leaves in pot. Add remaining 4 cups boiling water to tea and let steep 2 minutes. Stir in sugar (to taste) and mint sprigs and steep 3 to 4 minutes more. Serve in small heatproof glasses.
4. China – Gongfu
This tea is a very strong and well-preserved tea that is formed into pucks and is then aged over years (or even decades). Pu-erh is a fermented tea and can be made from black tea, oolong tea or even green tea. It is highly potent and concentrated.
5. Tibet – Po cha
Tibetan butter tea is known to be one of the most unique types of tea in the world. This is because this tea adds extra calories to its consumer to help keep the person warm during the cold winters in Tibet. The consistency of this tea is thick like oil and it is made with pu-erh tea leaves, which are boiled for many hours. Then, it is mixed with yak butter and salt.
6. Egypt – Karkade
This is an herbal tea, tart flavored tea, that is made not from tea leaves, but from the petals of the hibiscus flower. It is also known as hibiscus tea and it has a bright and vibrant ruby red color. It is rich in antioxidants and can be served hot or even cold.
Ingredients
- 2 cups filtered water
- ¼ cup dried hibiscus flowers
- 1 tbsp sugar, agave nectar or honey
- lime juice
- Fresh mint sprigs, for serving
In a medium saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Stir in the hibiscus and sweetener. Boil for 3 minutes over high heat, then turn the heat off, cover the pan, and let the hibiscus steep for 20 to 30 minutes. Strain the hibiscus and add ina splash of lime juice. Transfer to the fridge and chill for a few hours. Serve over ice, with sprig of fresh mint in each glass.
7. Russian – Caravan
This tea has its origin in China, but is now common in Russia. It has a smoky flavour and a strong tea blend. It gets its taste from the preservation and smoking methods used while transporting this tea in a caravan from China to Russia.
8. Taiwan – Bubble Tea
This tea is a relatively new type of tea and is also known as bubble tea or pearl tea. The pearls are made from tapioca flour and have a chewy texture. It comes in many flavours like the traditional black tea, jasmine tea, mung bean flavour, ube flavour and more.
9. Japan – Matcha Tea
This one is one of the most popular teas around the world that has its origin in Japan. It is made from the powdered leaves of the tea plant – matcha, which is whisked with hot water and milk using a bamboo whisk called a chasen.
Ingredints
- ¼ cup hot water
- ¾ cup hot milk
- 1 tsp matcha
- Maple syrup or honey (to taste)
How to make it:
Into a cup, add in the matcha powder and maple syrup or honey to taste and mix well. Then just add in a little of the water and stir this mixture very well for a few minutes, until the mixture starts to froth up a little bit. You can even use a Chasen at this stage. Then once the mixture is nice and frothy, add in the hot milk while still stirring. It is then ready to consume.
10. India – Masala Chai
Masala Chai is a very aromatic and fragrant tea and it has base made from black tea. To the base, the “masala” or the spices (like cinnamon, cardamom and cloves) are added into the tea to give it its spicy flavour.
Main ingredients:
- 2 cups water
- 2 teaspoon black tea leaves (assam tea )
- 1/4 cup milk or more (soy/almond/coconut/cream)
- sugar or honey to taste
Spices –
- Cinnamon stick – 1 inch
- Green cardamoms pods – 2-3
- Grated fresh ginger – 1 inch
- Cloves – 2
Add all the spices – cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and cloves to a mortar and pestle, crush lightly and keep it aside. You can dry roast the spices before crushing them to enhance the flavors and make the tea more strong.
In a saucepan, add water and let it come to a boil. Once the water is boiled, add in the crushed spices and boil for 2-3 mins. Add in the sugar, black tea leaves and let it boil for 1 min ( for stronger tea boil for 2-3 mins).
Add milk and simmer for 2-3 mins If using chilled milk, then boil with tea for 2 to 3 minutes. If using hot milk, then add the milk and switch off the heat) Strain the tea into a cup using a tea strainer. Serve hot with cookies !!
11. United Kingdom – Afternoon Tea
Afternoon Tea is a tea-related ritual, introduced in Britain in the early 1840s. The afternoon tea is a hot cup of black tea that is served with milk along with cookies, dainty sandwiches.
12. United States – Sweet Tea
Sweet tea, also known as sweet iced tea, is a popular style of iced tea commonly consumed in countries such as the United States. It is most commonly made by adding sugar or simple syrup to black tea and is almost always served ice cold.