# black tea, green tea--difference? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 16, 2003, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tea-green-tea-difference/201981 "2003-09-16T19:13:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cleops](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2acd7d/32.png) [@cleops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cleops)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tea-green-tea-difference/201981/1 "2003-09-16T19:13:45Z")
I am sure this has been dealt with before on the boards, but the hamsters don’t seem to like the word tea today, so I thought I’d ask just what _is_ the difference between green tea and black tea (besides the color), and which one, if not both, has all those supposed cancer-fighting qualities? And if one is just buying Lipton or any other regular tea, is that black or green? The boxes don’t always say one way or the other. Thanks for any info. ---
**Author:** ![wet\_marble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e0b2c6/32.png) [@wet\_marble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wet_marble)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tea-green-tea-difference/201981/2 "2003-09-16T19:56:09Z")
There are many differences between green and black tea. First, green tea and black tea taste very different. To my palette, green teas are usually a little blander, and if steeped too long can become quite bitter. I’m not really sure what the rest of the differences are, although I’d wager that it has something to do with the family of plants that the tea leaves are prepared from. As for lipton, those would definitely be black teas. Generally, if your tea is brownish, then it came from a black tea leaf. If it is greenish, or clearish, then it probably came from a green tea or an herbal tea. Of course, there are always exceptions. ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tea-green-tea-difference/201981/3 "2003-09-16T19:56:50Z")
Darkness in tea is caused by a process called “fermentation.” It’s actually more aptly called oxidization. The longer the tea sits after it is picked, the more it oxidizes. The process of oxidization is halted when the leaves are dried, often by heating them. Black tea is the most highly oxidized, and contains the most caffeine. The next most oxidized is oolong, followed by green, and the least oxidized is white tea. Most tea is black. If you want green tea, you should make sure that it _says_ “green” on the package. I’m not sure what type is healthier. I’ve heard contradicting reports, but both are supposedly “good” for you in one sense or another. Myself, I’d still drink tea, even if it _caused_ cancer. 😃 If you’d like to try green tea, please note that steeping it for too long or in water that is too hot will make it bitter and vile. Unfortunately, most packaged green tea has bad directions on the backage! I can’t imagine how many people sit down to try a cup, and find it completely undrinkable. The water should _not_ be boiling. It should be somewhere in the range of 160-180[sup]o[/sup]F. It’s best to check the temperature with a thermometer. Also, do not steep for more than 3 minutes–and for some tea, 2 minutes is better. ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tea-green-tea-difference/201981/4 "2003-09-16T19:57:13Z")
If you delve through the prose on [Lipton](http://www.liptont.com/knowwell/teagrowth.htm) Tea’s website, they say that black tea is crushed and then dried, oolong tea is too, but for a shorter time, and green tea is plain tea leaves. It’s green tea that has the supposed cancer-fighting qualities, and the Lipton tea you get off the shelf is black tea. ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tea-green-tea-difference/201981/5 "2003-09-16T19:59:42Z")
Oh, and herbal teas are not strictly teas; rather, they are “infusions”. Teas are brewed from leaves of the tea tree, _Camellia sinensis_. ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tea-green-tea-difference/201981/6 "2003-09-16T20:03:15Z")
BAH! **LIPTON** black tea is crushed! Ptui! The process is called CTC (Cut-torn-crushed), and it’s suitable only for making low quality tea in teabags. _Good_ black tea (or good tea of any variety, for that matter) is not crushed. (Sorry. Tea snob. Don’t mind me.) ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tea-green-tea-difference/201981/7 "2003-09-16T20:27:22Z")
Green Tea is widely considered to have the most health benefits via catechins and polyphenols, though white tea, an even less processed version is now getting the hype. It also contains the amino acid L-theanine which supposedly promotes relaxation (I agree it does - I take it seperately when stressed). They are the same plant, Camellia Sinensis, but are processed (oxidized, fermented, etc) differently. Here is some info: [http://www.inpursuitoftea.com/types.htm](http://www.inpursuitoftea.com/types.htm) I drink Gyokuro green tea myself and buy it straight from Japan. > **[Japanese Green Tea Online | Authentic Tea Ships from Japan](https://japanesegreenteaonline.com/)** > > Buy Japanese green tea & matcha fresh from the source! The first shop to ship premium green tea directly from Japan. Info on tea types, benefits & more! ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tea-green-tea-difference/201981/8 "2003-09-16T20:35:26Z")
> [@](#): > > If you’d like to try green tea, please note that steeping it for too long or in water that is too hot will make it bitter and vile. Unfortunately, most packaged green tea has bad directions on the backage! I can’t imagine how many people sit down to try a cup, and find it completely undrinkable. The water should not be boiling. On the other hand, black tea _must_ be made with **boiling** water. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been served something made with warm or merely hot water in American restaurants that tasted like dishwater. Bleah. Oh, and black tea must not be steeped more than 5 minutes, ever. And, please, if you’re going to use tea bag, don’t ever ever ever _reuse_ a tea bag. Disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tea-green-tea-difference/201981/9 "2003-09-16T21:24:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by acsenray \* > And, please, if you’re going to use tea bag, don’t ever ever ever _reuse_ a tea bag. Disgusting. I’m sorry but I’ll do whatever I like and I prefer to let someone else use the teabag first and _then_ put it in my cup because the tea is not so bitter. I like my tea pretty weak so it works well for me. ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tea-green-tea-difference/201981/10 "2003-09-16T21:43:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by acsenray \* > \*\* > And, please, if you’re going to use tea bag, don’t ever ever ever _reuse_ a tea bag. Disgusting. \*\* Because they’re brewed for shorter times at lower temperatures, oolong, green and white tea leaves can usually be used for multiple infusions. Later infusions often have subtle differences in flavor. (More tea snobbery: In my not-so humble opinion, you should never _use_ a tea bag in the first place. Brewing loose tea and a good filter (such as a [Swiss Gold](http://teasource.com/merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TeaSource&Product_Code=901&Category_Code=Accessories)) is almost as convenient as a tea bag and makes _much_ better tea–especially considering that you can’t _get_ high quality tea in bags. BTW, don’t bother with those stupid tea balls–they’re too small to let the tea leaves unfurl, and they’re hard to use and messy besides.) ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tea-green-tea-difference/201981/11 "2003-09-16T21:44:33Z")
Oh, and if you _must_ use tea bags, don’t squeeze the bag, unless you like bitter tannins in your tea. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tea-green-tea-difference/201981/12 "2003-09-16T23:12:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wet marble \* > **To my palette, green teas are usually a little blander,** So… you paint with tea? That would make some interesting “watercolors” to be sure. But only two colors—green and black? That would kind of limit the chromatic range of your paintings. ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tea-green-tea-difference/201981/13 "2003-09-16T23:48:46Z")
Hmm… what does white tea taste like? I’m curious and might go out and try some. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tea-green-tea-difference/201981/14 "2003-09-17T00:09:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KidCharlemagne \* > \*\*Green Tea is widely considered to have the most health benefits via catechins and polyphenols, though white tea, an even less processed version is now getting the hype. It also contains the amino acid L-theanine which supposedly promotes relaxation (I agree it does - I take it seperately when stressed). They are the same plant, Camellia Sinensis, but are processed (oxidized, fermented, etc) differently. Here is some info: > > [http://www.inpursuitoftea.com/types.htm](http://www.inpursuitoftea.com/types.htm) > > I drink Gyokuro green tea myself and buy it straight from Japan. > > [www.japanesegreenteaonline.com](http://www.japanesegreenteaonline.com) \*\* From an impartial source: [http://wellnessletter.com/html/wl/2000/wlFeatured0300.html](http://wellnessletter.com/html/wl/2000/wlFeatured0300.html) > [@](#): > > But new research indicates that all tea is good for you, as long as it comes from the leaf of Camellia sinenis—as do all green, black, and red teas. Herbal teas are another matter entirely. ---
**Author:** ![cleops](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2acd7d/32.png) [@cleops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cleops)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tea-green-tea-difference/201981/15 "2003-09-17T00:35:44Z")
Thanks, everyone, for informative replies. Gotta love the SD! ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tea-green-tea-difference/201981/16 "2003-09-17T00:47:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Speaker for the Dead \* > \*\*Hmm… what does white tea taste like? I’m curious and might go out and try some. \*\* I say that the taste is subtle. My husband says it tastes like warm water. 🙂 Good white tea is very light and slightly sweet. _Really_ good white tea has an almost creamy taste. I’ve seen at the grocery store that [Republic of Tea](http://republicoftea.com/cgi-bin/sgsh0101.exe?UID=2003091619503924&FNM=00SKW=WHTEA&HKW=130IN000) makes a line of bagged white teas, some with fruit flavors. This strikes me as a bad idea, as tea bags are from Satan, and the idea of adding a bunch of fruit to a subtle and understated white tea is more than a bit silly. However, that might be the easiest way to get hold of some–unless you’re connected. 😉 My favorite tea stores: [http://www.teasource.com](http://www.teasource.com) or [http://www.adagio.com](http://www.adagio.com) . White tea is even more delicate than green. Be very careful about water temperature, and do not oversteep! ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tea-green-tea-difference/201981/17 "2003-09-17T02:41:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by barbitu8 \* > \*\*From an impartial source: > [http://wellnessletter.com/html/wl/2000/wlFeatured0300.html](http://wellnessletter.com/html/wl/2000/wlFeatured0300.html) \*\* I can’t believe my whole fricking post just got eaten. Anyway, I wasn’t quoting any of the sites for their information on health benefits. The first link (which sells all kinds of tea) was posted for descriptions of the different processes that go into the production of different kinds of tea and the second was my source for green tea should the OP be interested. But since we’re citing sources about health: To start, the health benefits of green tea are better documented than those of black tea. While a similar quantity of green and black tea have similar quantities of polyphenols the composition is different. The fermentation process converts the catechins in green tea to theaflavins. While there are some studies that show that catechins and theaflavins have equivalent antioxidant properties, the same cannot be said of other beneficial properties associated with green tea (cholesterol, blood clotting, rheumatoid arthritis, anti-androgenic effects,and most importantly, cancer). > **[Catechin content of 18 teas and a green tea extract supplement correlates...](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12881018/?dopt=Abstract)** > > Our literature review of currently available data in the area of tea and cancer prevention demonstrated that there is more conclusive evidence for the chemopreventive effect of green tea compared with black tea. We suggest that this is due to a large... > [@](#): > > Our literature review of currently available data in the area of tea and cancer prevention demonstrated that there is more conclusive evidence for the chemopreventive effect of green tea compared with black tea. We suggest that this is due to a large variation of the flavanol content in tea, which is not taken into consideration in most of the epidemiological studies. The most studied component of tea is at this point is probably the epigallocatechin complex…which is converted to theaflavins in black tea. There are 893 search hits in medline for epigallocatechine but only 82 for theaflavin. The mechanism by which green tea might help in cancer prevention is not as simple as once believed: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3125469.stm](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3125469.stm) If your drinking tea for health reasons, stick to the green stuff. Black tea may well be proven to be green tea’s equivalent or better in the future, but it hasn’t been yet. For the record I drink it for taste reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tea-green-tea-difference/201981/18 "2003-09-17T03:17:08Z")
Of course, REAL tea has bergamot. Tea, Earl Gray, hot. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tea-green-tea-difference/201981/19 "2003-09-17T03:44:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Podkayne \* > \*\*I say that the taste is subtle. My husband says it tastes like warm water. 🙂 > > Good white tea is very light and slightly sweet. _Really_ good white tea has an almost creamy taste. > > \*\* How would you compare the taste of white to green? Less grassy? ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tea-green-tea-difference/201981/20 "2003-09-17T13:44:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KidCharlemagne \* > \*\*How would you compare the taste of white to green? Less grassy? \*\* Yes, I’d say less grassy. Also not at all plum-like. There’s almost no sourness or sharpness to it. It also lacks the “baked” taste of oolong or black, of course. It sort of tastes the way nice fresh straw smells. Maybe a bit like camomile, but less rough, and sweeter. As I’ve said, the taste is not very robust. It would be a crime to add sugar or milk to it, because you’d hardly be able to taste the tea at all. It’s frustrating trying to describe tastes, isn’t it? I can imagine the taste of it on my tongue (and while responding to **Speaker’s** post I was even enjoying a cup of White Darjeeling from Adagio) but it’s hard to explain it in words, because there’s nothing quite like it. Maybe I should just say that it tastes like chicken? 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-tea-green-tea-difference/201981.md?page=2)