Cassie+McFarlane

**Tea** is the agricultural product of the leaves, leaf buds, and internodes of various cultivars and sub-varieties of the //Camellia sinensis// plant, processed and cured using various methods. "Tea" also refers to the aromatic beverage prepared from the cured leaves by combination with hot or boiling water, and is the common name for the //Camellia sinensis// plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world. It has a cooling, slightly bitter, astringent flavour which many enjoy. The term //herbal tea// usually refers to infusions of fruit or herbs containing no actual tea, such as //rosehip tea// or //chamomile tea//. Alternative terms for this are //tisane// or //herbal infusion//, both bearing an implied contrast with //tea//. This article is concerned exclusively with preparations and uses of the tea plant, //Camellia sinensis//, the Minnan word for which is the etymological origin of the English word //tea//.

Different tea types need to be prepared at different temperatures and for different times. 
 * **Type** ||~ Water Temp. ||~ Steep Time ||~ Infusions ||
 * White Tea || 65 to 70 °C (149 to 158 °F) || 1–2 minutes || 3 ||
 * Yellow Tea || 70 to 75 °C (158 to 167 °F) || 1–2 minutes || 3 ||
 * Green Tea || 75 to 80 °C (167 to 176 °F) || 1–2 minutes || 4-6 ||
 * Oolong Tea || 80 to 85 °C (176 to 185 °F) || 2–3 minutes || 4-6 ||
 * Black Tea || 99 °C (210 °F) || 2–3 minutes || 2-3 ||
 * Pu'er Tea || 95 to 100 °C (203 to 212 °F) || Limitless || Several ||
 * Herbal Tea || 99 °C (210 °F) || 3–6 minutes || Varied ||