OngTeh · Global reference
Tea is a plant, a collection of processing methods and a remarkable range of cultural preparations. Explore the differences with sources, transparent classifications and links to the existing Tea Atlas.
Start with the definitions
In the ISO classification, true tea comes from Camellia sinensis and is grouped as black, green, white, oolong, dark and yellow tea. Herbal, root, fruit, flower and grain infusions are related drinks but not true tea by that botanical definition. Named preparations such as teh tarik and tereré belong to cultural-drink traditions, not additional processing families.
Browse the existing 104-profile Tea Atlas → Find a tea by caffeine and taste →
This is an expanding reference, not an assertion that every tea name worldwide has been catalogued. Different spellings, local names, blends and processing styles can overlap. Plant identity and ingredient labels take priority over marketing names.
Produced from Camellia sinensis. Naturally caffeinated before decaffeination.
The six tea families →Flowers, fruits, roots, herbs and grains. Caffeine depends on the actual ingredients; yerba mate and yaupon contain it naturally.
Herbal tea terminology →Milk tea, cold mate, spiced tea and regional serving practices may combine multiple ingredients.
Origins and cultures →New reference collection
Find sourced explanations of common errors about caffeine, tea classification, gluten, botanical identity and health claims. Each entry links to primary or institutional evidence.
Explore verified tea facts ↗Explore the library geographically
Find documented growing origins, regional preparations and botanicals. Region describes the article's focus—not necessarily where a plant first evolved or where an ingredient was produced.
A regional tea-drinking custom can use leaves imported from another region. Browse the source article to check origin, botanical identity and cultural context separately.
Primary-source-backed features
Compare related teas and regional drinks →
These entries separate verifiable identity and processing facts from variable recipes and unproven health claims. All cite the underlying reference material.
Showing all 39 entries.
No matching entries. Try another region, topic or spelling.
Africa · Kenya
Kenyan tea is not a single recipe or one trademarked leaf grade. Kenya is a major producer of Camellia sinensis tea; black tea is particularly prominent, alongside other styles.
True tea · usually black tea · Contains caffeine
East Asia · Hong Kong
Hong Kong-style milk tea, often associated with cha chaan teng culture, is a beverage preparation rather than a separate cultivar of the tea plant.
Tea drink · black tea with milk · Contains caffeine unless a labelled decaf base is used
Southeast Asia · Malaysia
Teh tarik means “pulled tea” and refers to a preparation and serving style, not a botanical tea variety. It is an important part of Malaysian tea-drinking culture.
Tea drink · milk tea · Usually contains caffeine
South America · Paraguay
Tereré is a traditional cold yerba mate drink particularly associated with Paraguay and Guaraní cultural practices. It is not a variety of green or black Camellia tea.
Caffeinated botanical infusion · Ilex paraguariensis · Contains caffeine
East Asia · Japan
Tencha is a processed green-tea leaf material used for traditional matcha production. It is not the same as matcha powder in the cup.
True tea · green tea material · Contains caffeine
Southeast Asia · Singapore
In Singapore, teh refers to a family of customized tea drinks, not a distinct botanical cultivar. Milk, sugar, ice and local ordering terminology change the recipe—not the identity of the tea plant.
Tea-based drink and ordering tradition · Usually contains caffeine
East Asia · Korea
Omija-cha is a traditional Korean drink prepared from omija berries, commonly called five-flavour berries. It is a fruit infusion, not an extra processing category of Camellia sinensis tea.
Botanical fruit infusion · not Camellia tea · Typically no tea-derived caffeine if pure
East Asia · Korea
Yuja-cha is commonly prepared by diluting a preserve made from yuja citrus and sugar or honey in water. It is popularly called a tea, even though the classic preparation contains no tea leaves.
Citrus-based drink · not Camellia tea · No tea caffeine in the standard citrus-only version
West Asia and Caucasus · Türkiye and Azerbaijan
UNESCO documents tea culture shared by Türkiye and Azerbaijan as an intangible cultural practice of hospitality. The heritage designation concerns how tea is prepared, served and shared—not a newly discovered plant or medical benefit.
Tea-drinking cultural practice · Commonly contains caffeine
Africa · Kenya
Some Kenyan tea plants have purple-coloured leaves associated with anthocyanin pigments. Purple leaf is a cultivar trait, not a globally recognized seventh processing family or evidence of a clinical benefit.
Camellia tea · purple-leaf cultivars · Contains caffeine unless tested or decaffeinated
Africa · South Africa
Rooibos comes from Aspalathus linearis, not Camellia sinensis. The European Union has registered “Rooibos” / “Red Bush” as a Protected Designation of Origin tied to a specified South African region and production specification.
Botanical infusion · geographical indication · Naturally caffeine-free if pure rooibos
Europe · Germany
East Frisia has a distinctive ritual of serving loose-leaf tea over rock sugar and adding cream. Germany’s UNESCO Commission records this as part of the region’s intangible cultural heritage.
Tea-drinking cultural practice · Usually contains caffeine
Europe · Portugal · Azores
Tea is commercially cultivated on São Miguel in the Azores. Official Azores tourism sources document the Gorreana and Porto Formoso plantations, distinguishing real European-grown Camellia tea from European tea-drinking customs using imported leaves.
Tea-growing origin · Camellia sinensis · Contains caffeine
Oceania · Australia
Lemon myrtle infusions use Backhousia citriodora leaves, an Australian rainforest plant. Learn how this botanical drink differs from true tea and essential oil.
Leaf infusion; not Camellia sinensis tea · Not naturally a tea-caffeine source when the ingredient is pure lemon myrtle
Oceania · Aotearoa New Zealand
Kawakawa is Piper excelsum, not true tea. Explore Māori use, botanical identity and why historic infusions are not instructions for self-medication.
Rongoā Māori; approaches vary by iwi and practitioner · Not a Camellia sinensis infusion; mixed products may contain tea caffeine
Oceania · Aotearoa New Zealand
Mānuka or kahikātoa is Leptospermum scoparium, not Camellia sinensis. Trace the tea-tree name, historical infusion use and common plant confusion.
Mānuka / kahikātoa; also called tea tree · Not naturally a source of Camellia tea caffeine in a pure leaf infusion
Central Asia · Uzbekistan
Uzbek choy culture centres on green tea, shared bowls and hospitality. Learn the difference between a tea-drinking tradition and a plant variety.
Green tea, with black tea also consumed · Present when brewed from Camellia sinensis
Central Asia · Mongolia
Süütei tsai is Mongolian milk tea commonly prepared with tea, milk and salt. Learn the cultural context and why recipes vary across households.
Tea-based milk drink; recipes vary · Tea caffeine is possible; dairy is a common ingredient
West Africa · Senegal
Ataya is a Senegalese tea-serving tradition based on caffeinated green tea, often with mint and sugar. Discover the customary rounds and their variations.
Green-tea preparation and social practice · Present when brewed with green Camellia tea
North Africa · Morocco
Moroccan mint tea commonly combines green tea with mint and sugar. Learn the social tradition, variable recipes and why the drink contains caffeine.
Green tea, mint and often sugar · Usually present because the tea base is Camellia sinensis
North Africa · Egypt
Karkade is an Egyptian hibiscus drink prepared from roselle calyces, Hibiscus sabdariffa. Learn botanical distinctions, colour and health-evidence limits.
Hibiscus sabdariffa · Malvaceae · Pure roselle infusion contains no Camellia tea caffeine
Argentina · South America
Mate cocido infuses yerba mate in water and strains it or uses a bag. Learn how it differs from repeatedly poured mate and why it contains caffeine.
Ilex paraguariensis · Aquifoliaceae · Naturally present; content varies with portion and preparation
Brazil · South America
Chimarrão is a hot yerba mate preparation widely associated with southern Brazil. Discover its botanical identity, preparation and difference from tea and tereré.
Ilex paraguariensis · Aquifoliaceae · Naturally present; repeated pours change extraction
Mexico · North America
Agua de jamaica is prepared from Hibiscus sabdariffa calyces, not ornamental hibiscus petals. Compare Mexican jamaica with Egyptian karkade.
Hibiscus sabdariffa · Malvaceae · Pure roselle drink has no tea-leaf caffeine; blends may differ
Hawaiʻi · Pacific / Oceania
Māmaki (Pipturus albidus) is a Hawaiian endemic used in leaf infusions. Separate botanical identification, historical practice and unsupported clinical claims.
Pipturus albidus · Urticaceae · No tea-leaf caffeine in a pure māmaki leaf infusion
Kashmir · South Asia
Kashmiri kahwa is a spiced green tea drink associated with Kashmir. Its ingredients and names vary; saffron is an addition, not a separate tea species.
Green Camellia tea, often with spices · Present when green tea leaves are used
Kashmir · South Asia
Noon chai is a salted Kashmiri milk-tea preparation, frequently pink. Learn why it differs from kahwa and why sugar, sodium and caffeine need separate consideration.
Green tea, milk, salt; baking soda in some recipes · Tea caffeine; commonly contains milk and sodium
India · Kangra Valley
Kangra is a geographical tea-growing identity in Himachal Pradesh, not a seventh tea-processing type. Review Tea Board of India facts and regional green and black teas.
Camellia sinensis · regional growing origin · Naturally present in non-decaf tea
Rwanda · East Africa
Rwanda grows true tea in highland regions and is known for black CTC production, alongside other styles. Explore the country’s tea identity using national export-board data.
Black CTC is prominent; other processed types exist · Contains tea-derived caffeine unless decaffeinated
Malawi · Southern Africa
Malawi is a long-standing tea-producing origin with black-tea production and important smallholder livelihoods. Separate country origin from processing and economic claims.
True tea, with black tea economically important · Ordinary brewed black tea contains caffeine
Nepal · South Asia
Ilam is a tea-growing origin in eastern Nepal, not a separate botanical species. Learn how orthodox and CTC processing differ and why Darjeeling comparisons need care.
Camellia sinensis · regional growing origin · Orthodox, green and other tea styles
Vietnam · Southeast Asia
Shan Tuyết refers to northern Vietnamese mountain-tea traditions and sometimes old tea trees; it is not a universal seventh processing class or a guarantee of tree age.
Camellia tea · regional mountain traditions · Northern Vietnam, including Hà Giang
Vietnam · Hanoi
Hanoi’s Quảng An lotus-scenting craft was recognised as Vietnamese national intangible heritage in 2024. The drink is tea scented with lotus, not simply a lotus-herb infusion.
Scented true tea, often green tea · Vietnamese national intangible heritage (2024)
Georgia · Caucasus
Guria anchors a documented tea-growing tradition in western Georgia. Separate Georgian-grown tea from imported blends and from contested stories about who planted the first bush.
Camellia sinensis from western Georgia · Guria and the humid Black Sea region
Bangladesh · South Asia
Bangladeshi tea comes from several growing regions, not just Sylhet. Compare the historic valleys with newer northern smallholder cultivation and processing.
Camellia sinensis · national producing origin · Greater Sylhet, Chattogram and northern districts
Tanzania · East Africa
Tanzania’s tea industry includes multiple growing regions and both smallholders and estates. Processing and origin should be described separately from auction grades.
Camellia sinensis in Tanzania · Rungwe, Njombe, Mufindi and Tanga districts
Uganda · East Africa
Ugandan tea is a national growing origin with documented estate and production data. The same country can produce multiple processed leaf styles.
Camellia sinensis · Ugandan origin · Tea estates and other growers
Ethiopia · East Africa
Ethiopian tea cultivation is documented at Wushwush, Gumero and Chewaka. This reference separates historical estate research from newer development projections.
Camellia sinensis · Ethiopia · Wushwush, Gumero and Chewaka
Kazakhstan · Central Asia
Tea is part of Kazakh hospitality, often served with food at the dastarkhan. Recipes vary, and tea culture is not the same as a separate cultivated species.
Tea-drinking and hospitality tradition · Camellia tea when black or green tea is used
Explore by geography
China's six tea families, Japanese steamed and shaded greens, Taiwanese oolongs, Thai iced tea, Hong Kong milk tea and Malaysian teh tarik.
India's Assam, Darjeeling and Nilgiri teas, spiced masala chai and neighbouring tea cultures.
Kenyan black tea, South African rooibos and honeybush infusions, Moroccan mint tea and Turkish çay.
Paraguayan tereré, South American yerba mate, North American yaupon and herbal drinks across the region.
Tea as a traded drink and regionally produced botanical infusions, including mint, chamomile and linden flower. A country of consumption is not necessarily a tea-growing origin.
Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand botanicals require botanical identification, care with Māori cultural attribution and avoidance of unverified treatment claims.
Our editorial classification follows published plant and tea-processing definitions. Cultural practice descriptions are attributed to relevant heritage or regional institutions. No reference is presented as proof of a clinical benefit.
Editorially prepared by the OngTeh team on 26 October 2026. Sources explain factual classification and cultural context; they do not constitute independent specialist review. Corrections can be requested through the published editorial policy.
For a citation, link to the most specific tea or cultural-tradition entry and check its original source list. Dates reflect meaningful editorial revisions, not automatic freshness claims. Published guides may be updated as evidence becomes available.
