THE ONE LEAF SIX GUIDE

One plant. Six teas.

All six true tea styles begin with Camellia sinensis. What happens after harvest—especially withering, heat, oxidation, shaping, drying and microbial transformation—creates remarkably different expressions.

White Green Yellow Oolong Black Dark

White Tea

Visual sample · loose leaf

How it is made

The least intensively processed of the six styles. Young buds and leaves are generally withered and dried with minimal manipulation.

What it tastes like

Delicate, soft and often subtly sweet, with floral, hay, melon or light fruit notes depending on origin.

How to brew it

Use cooler water and a gentle steep. Exact temperature and time will be customized to the final product.

Potential health benefits

White tea contains naturally occurring tea polyphenols with antioxidant activity. Research on tea consumption suggests potential support for cardiovascular and metabolic health, although white tea itself has been studied less extensively than green or black tea.

← Return to shop

Green Tea

Visual sample · loose leaf

How it is made

Fresh leaves are heated relatively early—commonly by pan-firing or steaming—to limit enzymatic oxidation, then shaped and dried.

What it tastes like

Fresh and lively; profiles can range from grassy and vegetal to nutty, marine, sweet or toasted.

How to brew it

Typically brewed below boiling to preserve sweetness and control bitterness.

Potential health benefits

Green tea is especially rich in catechins, including EGCG, and is one of the most extensively studied teas. Research has examined its potential role in supporting cardiovascular and metabolic health and protecting cells from oxidative stress.

← Return to shop

Yellow Tea

Visual sample · loose leaf

How it is made

Begins similarly to green tea, but includes a controlled 'yellowing' or sealed-resting stage that softens the character before final drying.

What it tastes like

Mellow, rounded and smooth, often less grassy than green tea with gentle sweetness and warm aromatic depth.

How to brew it

Generally benefits from moderately hot rather than boiling water and careful steeping.

Potential health benefits

Yellow tea contains tea polyphenols and antioxidants similar to those found in green tea. It may offer related cardiovascular and metabolic benefits, but human research specifically on yellow tea remains comparatively limited.

← Return to shop

Oolong Tea

Visual sample · loose leaf

How it is made

Leaves are intentionally bruised and partially oxidized before heat fixation and drying. Oxidation can vary widely, creating an enormous style range.

What it tastes like

Can move from floral, creamy and fresh to honeyed, roasted, fruity or mineral depending on processing and roast.

How to brew it

Often excellent for multiple infusions; final instructions will depend heavily on the specific oolong.

Potential health benefits

Oolong tea provides polyphenols created and transformed during partial oxidation. Research has explored possible benefits for cardiovascular and metabolic health, though the evidence is not as extensive as it is for green and black tea.

← Return to shop

Black Tea

Visual sample · loose leaf

How it is made

Leaves are withered, rolled or otherwise disrupted, allowed to oxidize extensively, and then dried to stabilize the finished tea.

What it tastes like

Typically fuller-bodied, with profiles that may include malt, cocoa, dried fruit, honey, spice, briskness or floral notes.

How to brew it

Usually handles hotter water well; exact steeping guidance will be tailored to the selected tea.

Potential health benefits

Black tea is rich in theaflavins, thearubigins and other polyphenols formed during oxidation. Regular tea consumption has been studied for potential cardiovascular benefits, including support for healthy blood-vessel function.

← Return to shop

Dark Tea

$Visual sample of loose-leaf dark tea$

Visual sample · loose leaf

How it is made

A broad category distinguished by microbial transformation after initial processing. Some dark teas are aged, piled or otherwise post-fermented.

What it tastes like

Earthy, woody, smooth, sweet, mineral or dried-fruit notes are common, with substantial variation by region and aging method.

How to brew it

Often suited to repeated infusions and hot water; preparation will be specific to the final dark tea selected.

Potential health benefits

Dark tea undergoes microbial fermentation, producing a chemical profile distinct from other true teas. Early research has explored possible digestive and metabolic effects, but evidence for dark tea is still developing and should not be treated as an established medical benefit.

← Return to shop

READY TO BUILD YOUR TEA RITUAL?

Choose the tea first. We’ll help with the rest.

Return to the shop, select your tea, then move naturally into brewing, drinking, storage and serving accessories.

Choose Your Tea