Learn all about teas, herbal teas and infusions...

spot the differences

Manuel Tiago has been in charge of Chás do Mundo for 10 years, a space in Leiria that sells more than 2000 varieties of tea.

“Before dedicating myself exclusively to tea, I had a catering establishment where I already sold teas separately, but I decided to go here because it was different.” Come to Agora We talk about curiosities in the world of tea: how they are prepared, which are the most popular, and what differentiates them from herbal teas.

tea or herbal tea

This is a common question. According to Manuel Tiago “a tea, to deserve this title, must have tea leaves in its ingredients “camellia sinensis”. Examples are green tea, black tea, white tea, etc.

All other infusions obtained from fruits, herbs, peels, which do not contain “camellia sinensis”, are herbal teas (or infusions). chamomile “tea”, lime “tea”, lemon “tea” are actually herbal teas (or infusions) and not tea.

All teas come from the same plant

All “teas” (camellia sinensis) come from the same plant. Whether it is a green or black or white tea only depends on the drying time of the leaves. However, harvests are not made at the same time for all types of tea. Oolong and Pu Erh teas are teas that undergo a period of drying and fermentation

Do teas have thein or not?

There are teas (camellia sinensis) with caffeine, as well as decaffeinated coffee. However, if the word “destein” or “decaffeinated” is not part of the tea description, all teas have a theine content. Generally speaking, we can say that the darker the tea, the higher its theine level. If you want a hot or cold drink, without any theine level, suitable for all people, regardless of age, choose to prepare herbal tisanes (being careful not to choose stimulating plants, such as yerba mate, for example). Rooibos infusions are also an excellent alternative.

Rooibos for example is not tea, it's herbal tea

Rooibos is a herbal herbal tea from a South African plant (Aspalathus linearis) that has nothing to do with the tea plant (camellia sinensis). This infusion is theine-free and is an excellent antioxidant, often used in weight-loss regimens. Due to its color, it is also known as red tea, although it should not be confused with Pu Erh red tea, which comes from the Camellia sinenis plant.

Matcha tea is considered a superfood. Matcha is obtained from the youngest leaves of green tea, originating from plantations protected from sun exposure. After collection, the leaves are crushed very slowly in a stone mill, until they are reduced to powder. The powder is more concentrated than other teas from camellia sinensis, that is, it provides faster results. In addition to helping with weight loss, matcha has other positive effects on the body, such as reducing cholesterol levels, preventing cancer, among others.

Teas and herbal teas are not prepared in the same way. Each type of tea or herbal tea must respect two criteria: water temperature and brewing time.

There are 3 particular forms of preparation:

By INFUSION: put hot water on top of the plant and let it infuse. The infusion time depends on the type of plant or fruit used. This is the traditional method of preparing teas and herbal teas. Instead of tea or herbal tea, the general name “infusion” can also be used. Herbal infusion (chamomile, for example), fruit infusion (lemon peels, for example), infusion and green tea.

By DECOCTION: This method is used on roots, bark and stalks. It consists of placing the ingredient in cold water, bringing it to the fire and boiling for 3 to 10 minutes. The container must remain covered during the cooling period.

By maceration: This method is commonly used to make liqueurs and syrups. It consists of adding the chopped and crushed plants with a pestle to a liquid solution. Water, alcohol, oil, etc. (depending on the goal to be achieved). This process can take between 12 hours and a few days.

How to conserve tea

All plants used in infusions must be preserved from heat, marked differences in temperature and intense smells. Keeping the plants in airtight cans and in a cool, dry place without direct sunlight is recommended.