The following diagram presents all six types of tea in correspondence to Yin & Yang of which their fundamental behaviors reflect on, and to Three Factors (Tian, Di and Ren). There are two ways to determine Yin and Yang teas, which are fixation order and storing methods.
Yin & Yang
From the point of harvesting tea leaf, a gradual dying process begins. Yet, fixation acts like an ‘execution’ that marks the total switch from living to death of tea leaf. Among many applied techniques in making tea, such as withering, rolling, drying, fermentation, oxidation and so on, these are actually intervenes for converting tea properties. Many of these intervenes are by human manuveurs, hence the Ren factor. The conversion is to change the tea properties and the fixation marks either when the conversion stop or when it begins.
The Yang teas convert before fixation.
The Yin teas convert after fixation.
The Yang characteristic is emissive. Thus, all Yang teas show a relatively short shelf life. They should also be stored in cooler and vaccum like condition to slow down the expiration. Therefore, for green tea, cyan tea and red tea, we should mind the best before date and store them properly. The Yin characteristic is assimilative as of absorption. Thus, all Yin teas appreciate aging, just like fine wine. The ways of storing are also specific because the conversion process is actually undergoing. Therefore, for white tea, black tea and yellow tea, we want to mind how old they are. We will likely do another post to talk more about tea storing.
Three Factors
Since we mentioned the intervenes in process of conversion that change the tea properties. Well, the Three Factors actually matter to them. It means these intervenes may be prominently caused by one of them.
TIAN (天 = sky) – For example, green tea contains lots of natural ingredients. It is like other plants under photosynthesis throughout life cycle reacting to climate and sun light, fixation locks it for no further conversion. Another example, white tea needs specifically sun withering. Moreover, the reason why we should store white tea exposed to sun light and in airy dry enviroment is because it needs to continue converting in such way.
DI (地 = earth) – Various piling methods on the ground for fermentation before or after fixation. Both yellow and red teas go through this process to convert.
REN (人 = man) – Stirring, compressing and rolling by man are the key process to make cyan tea and black tea.
Names You May Know
“Oolong” is often heard when talking about oriental teas. It originates in Minbei region of today’s Fujian province China. It later spreaded to Japan. Nowadays, Oolong refers to Cyan tea cluster.
Black Tea Or Red Tea? There has been a bit of confusion when it comes to calling the respective names in between West and China. When someone orders a cup of Black Tea outside of China, the person is most likely getting a cup of Red Tea in standard of Chinese clustering methodology. This is because the Chinese red tea exportation to the West has been predominant since the beginning amongst other types. Red tea is relatively darker in comparison to green tea. If not paired side by side, brewed particularly, the darkened shade of red tea soup can be visually taken as black.
How Many Types of Tea Are There?
Call Them More than by Colors
The following diagram presents all six types of tea in correspondence to Yin & Yang of which their fundamental behaviors reflect on, and to Three Factors (Tian, Di and Ren). There are two ways to determine Yin and Yang teas, which are fixation order and storing methods.
Yin & Yang
From the point of harvesting tea leaf, a gradual dying process begins. Yet, fixation acts like an ‘execution’ that marks the total switch from living to death of tea leaf. Among many applied techniques in making tea, such as withering, rolling, drying, fermentation, oxidation and so on, these are actually intervenes for converting tea properties. Many of these intervenes are by human manuveurs, hence the Ren factor. The conversion is to change the tea properties and the fixation marks either when the conversion stop or when it begins.
The Yang characteristic is emissive. Thus, all Yang teas show a relatively short shelf life. They should also be stored in cooler and vaccum like condition to slow down the expiration. Therefore, for green tea, cyan tea and red tea, we should mind the best before date and store them properly. The Yin characteristic is assimilative as of absorption. Thus, all Yin teas appreciate aging, just like fine wine. The ways of storing are also specific because the conversion process is actually undergoing. Therefore, for white tea, black tea and yellow tea, we want to mind how old they are. We will likely do another post to talk more about tea storing.
Three Factors
Since we mentioned the intervenes in process of conversion that change the tea properties. Well, the Three Factors actually matter to them. It means these intervenes may be prominently caused by one of them.
TIAN (天 = sky) – For example, green tea contains lots of natural ingredients. It is like other plants under photosynthesis throughout life cycle reacting to climate and sun light, fixation locks it for no further conversion. Another example, white tea needs specifically sun withering. Moreover, the reason why we should store white tea exposed to sun light and in airy dry enviroment is because it needs to continue converting in such way.
DI (地 = earth) – Various piling methods on the ground for fermentation before or after fixation. Both yellow and red teas go through this process to convert.
REN (人 = man) – Stirring, compressing and rolling by man are the key process to make cyan tea and black tea.
Names You May Know
“Oolong” is often heard when talking about oriental teas. It originates in Minbei region of today’s Fujian province China. It later spreaded to Japan. Nowadays, Oolong refers to Cyan tea cluster.
Black Tea Or Red Tea? There has been a bit of confusion when it comes to calling the respective names in between West and China. When someone orders a cup of Black Tea outside of China, the person is most likely getting a cup of Red Tea in standard of Chinese clustering methodology. This is because the Chinese red tea exportation to the West has been predominant since the beginning amongst other types. Red tea is relatively darker in comparison to green tea. If not paired side by side, brewed particularly, the darkened shade of red tea soup can be visually taken as black.
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