Pure Tea (Camellia sinensis)
Wikipedia: TeaLast Updated: Aug. 8, 2017
↑About Pure Tea (Camellia sinensis)

What is tea?
Tea (Chinese 茶) is a beverage made from the tea plant, Camellia sinensis. The words for tea in many languages come from the root cha or chai. RateTea classifies teas in this category that are made exclusively from the tea plant; such teas are often called pure teas, unflavored teas, or, less commonly, straight teas, in contrast to flavored teas, which contain tea together with other ingredients.Tea is usually classified based on how it is processed, which loosely corresponds to its level of oxidation--a process that darkens the tea and changes the color. Fully oxidized tea is called black tea, and unoxidized tea is called green tea (white tea is also mostly unoxidized). Oolong tea is a partially-oxidized tea that is often also roasted. Another class of tea, Pu-erh, is usually considered as a category of its own. Oxidation is sometimes called "fermentation", and black tea is described as "fermented", but this is misleading as there is no proper fermentation process happening as with vinegar or alcoholic drinks.

When the word "tea" is used by itself it usually refers to the tea plant. However, the word "tea" is also used together with other terms to describe other drinks made from steeping other plants in water. Teas that do not come from the Camellia sinsensis plant are usually referred to as "herbal teas", "herb teas", or "tisanes".
Traditionally, in most parts of the world, nearly all tea consumed and produced was black tea. Outside of Southeast Asia, the term tea is often assumed to mean black tea. However, the tea industry is changing rapidly, and green, white, and oolong teas are becoming more popular both among tea drinkers in black-tea-loving countries, and tea growers in areas that historically only produced black tea are also beginning to produce more of these other styles of tea.
↑Recent Pure Tea Reviews — RSS 

Yunnan Yue Guang Bai Air-Dried White Tea from Yunnan Sourcing
Style: Moonlight White – Region: Jinggu, Yunnan, ChinaMar. 8th, 2021
This is only the second Moonlight White tea I've ever tried; the first was from Life in Teacup. I've had this tea for nearly two years from its harvest date, but am only reviewing it now, so I've seen how it ages slightly. It seemed to change character much more quickly than a pu-erh.
The leaf is striking and unique...

Classic Laoshan Black Tea from Shandong from Yunnan Sourcing
Style: Black Tea – Region: Shandong, ChinaMar. 7th, 2021
This tea is very aromatic, flavorful, and unique! It tastes very malty and roasty almost as if there was toasted grains in the tea, even though it is just a pure black tea. The taste is very complex and interesting and the tea is not astringent or bitter at all! This definitely gets a 100% in my book.
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Traditional Process Dian Hong Black Tea of Feng Qing from Yunnan Sourcing
Style: Yunnan Gold – Region: Fengqing, Yunnan, ChinaMar. 6th, 2021
The aroma is nice and bready although it's not very strong. The taste is good and classic for a regular high quality black tea. For me it's just a bit astringent but if that doesn't bother you then this tea would be perfect!
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Classic Robust Jin Jun Mei Black Tea of Fujian from Yunnan Sourcing
Style: Black Tea – Region: Wuyi, Fujian, ChinaMar. 5th, 2021
The aroma of this tea is amazing and complex! The reason I only give it an 85 is because the taste is just a bit harsh for me, it's just slightly bitter and astringent. Overall it's not so bad though and if you aren't as sensitive to astringency as me you'd probably absolutely love this tea! Besides the issues with mil...
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Classic Robust Jin Jun Mei Black Tea of Fujian from Yunnan Sourcing
Style: Black Tea – Region: Wuyi, Fujian, ChinaMar. 3rd, 2021
I seriously can't get enough of this tea. This is not only my favorite of the teas I've bought from Yunnan Sourcing from provinces other than Yunnan, it is among my favorite teas of all time.
The leaf is beautiful, a thin, wiry mix of golden-orange and dark brown. It's not explosively aromatic, but when I really sti...
Read More Reviews of Pure Tea (3070) ...
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1 | ![]() | 923 | 24 |
2 | ![]() | 182 | 5 |
3 | ![]() | 116 | 3 |
4 | ![]() | 102 | 3 |
5 | ![]() | 86 | 2 |
Review 87 teas to get on this list!
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↑Most-Rated Pure Tea

PG Tips Pyramid bags
Brand: | PG Tips |
Style: | Black Tea |
Region: | Blend |
Caffeine: | Caffeinated |
Leaf: | Teabag |

Irish Breakfast
Brand: | Twinings |
Style: | Irish Breakfast |
Region: | ????? |
Caffeine: | Caffeinated |
Leaf: | Teabag |

English Breakfast
Brand: | Twinings |
Style: | English Breakfast |
Region: | ????? |
Caffeine: | Caffeinated |
Leaf: | Teabag |

Assam
Brand: | Two Leaves and a Bud |
Style: | Assam |
Region: | Assam, India |
Caffeine: | Caffeinated |
Leaf: | Sachet |
↑Top-Rated Pure Tea

Bao Zhong Oolong Tea
Brand: | Rishi Tea |
Style: | Pouchong Tea |
Region: | Taiwan / Formosa |
Caffeine: | Caffeinated |
Leaf: | Loose |

Wuyi Mountain Big Red Robe
Brand: | Verdant Tea |
Style: | Da Hong Pao |
Region: | Wuyi, Fujian, China |
Caffeine: | Caffeinated |
Leaf: | Loose |

Honey Black Tea
Brand: | Health & Tea |
Style: | Black Tea |
Region: | Taiwan / Formosa |
Caffeine: | Caffeinated |
Leaf: | Loose |

Wild Snow Sprout Tea
Brand: | Wild Tea Qi |
Style: | Green Tea |
Region: | Yunnan, China |
Caffeine: | Caffeinated |
Leaf: | Loose |

Formosa Amber Oolong Select
Brand: | Upton Tea Imports |
Style: | Amber Oolong |
Region: | Taiwan / Formosa |
Caffeine: | Caffeinated |
Leaf: | Loose |