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Some facts are fundamentally universal: when it is cold and damp outside, the human body craves something warm. Now, whether that
warmness be in the form of steaming soup, hot tea or coffee beverage recipes is up to the chilly consumer. But while the United States
has become a seemingly Starbucks-infested coffee culture, a growing number of Americans are choosing tea for more reasons than
simply warmth.
In 2005, the tea industry had its fourteenth consecutive year of sales increases, while retail supermarket sales alone surpassed $1.9
billion. This number is expected to continue to grow over the next five years. No longer just for the British, tea is fighting back as the
beverage that is hard to ignore. In fact, 1.42 million pounds of tea is consumed every day in the U.S. and 519 million pounds are
imported into the country each year.
White tea
What it is: The rarest of all teas, the leaves are the same as green tea leaves, but they are plucked from the plant when they are still very
young, giving them their extremely light color.
Where it grows: a Fujian province on China's east coast
What is tastes like: As one would expect, the tea is nearly colorless and is delicate in flavor with a slighty sweet and nutty quality.
What you should know: You may recognize white tea from recent Snapple commercials launching their new line of "Good For You" white
and green tea bottled drinks.
Green Tea
What it is: Making up about 10 percent of the world's tea consumption, green tea has gotten a lot of recent media coverage for its health
benefits.
Where it grows: Far East: China and Japan
What is tastes like: Green tea is greenish-yellow in color with a delicate taste that is slightly astringent and grassy.
What you should know: It is high in antioxidants and may protect against certain types of cancer (lung, ovarian, breast, prostate and
stomach) as well as the precancerous condition of stomach cancer, gastritis.
Black tea
What it is: This is the most common type of tea, which accounts for about 87 percent of America's tea consumption.
Where it grows: Africa, India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia
What is tastes like: Black tea can come in a range of flavors, but is usually found to have a heartier taste than green or oolong teas.
What you should know: The main difference between black tea and green tea is the oxidation process. Black tea leaves are fully
oxidized whereas green tea leaves are lightly steamed before they are dried. This process contributes to the tea's taste as well as
caffeine content. Like green tea, black tea has also been shown to have health benefits. Research has suggested that the antioxidants
found in black tea may play a preventive role in conditions like heart disease, stroke and some cancers.