All Teas

At Octavia Tea, we think of a cup of tea as an escape from the ordinary - where you can find peace, restore energy, awaken the senses, enjoy conversation among friends, or simply take time for yourself. Each tea has a unique flavor and style that reflects its origin, plant-cultivar, vintage, and artisanal method of manufacture. We urge customers to appreciate loose-leaf tea as though it were a fine wine.

Although there are thousands of different kinds of teas (each with their own individual appearance, taste, and aroma), all true tea comes from the same plant, called the Camellia sinensis. To make sense of all of the variations, true teas are categorized into 5 major groups: white, green, oolong, black and dark. Generally, these categories refer to how the leaf is processed. After picking, fresh tealeaves are rolled (by hand or machine) in order to crack the surface so that oxygen will react with the leaf enzymes. This natural process, called oxidation, changes both the color and flavor of the tea. By selectively exposing the tealeaves to oxygen, tea producers can bring out certain flavors and aromas. The level of oxidation will determine many of the tea’s flavor characteristics as well as whether the tea will be categorized as white, green, oolong or black. Unlike other types, dark tea undergoes a unique post-fermentation process.

Any leaf, root, fruit, or flower that comes from a plant other than the tea plant is considered an herbal tea. For example, chamomile flowers and peppermint leaves are considered herbal teas because they do not come from the traditional tea plant. It is important to distinguish between real tea and herbal tea since the flavor, health benefits and nutritional characteristics vary from plant to plant.