Chinese tea may be classified into five categories according to the different methods by which it is processed, mainly, green tea, black tea, oolong tea, scented tea, and brick tea, each consisting of many types.

1) Green tea:
Green tea is the most popular in most places in China, which is the variety which keeps the original color of the tea leaves without fermentation during processing. It is the best drink for sultry summers as it is cool and fights off inflammation, or relieves fever. Fresh tea leaves are baked to remove the bitter taste.

The tonic effect of green tea has long been known. Its radiation-resistance effect makes it a top choice for people who sit before computers for long hours. Since it reportedly helps keep one fit and has a whitening effect on skin color, women prefer it. However, fresh tea is not appropriate for everyone, as some unwholesome substances may not have oxidized because of its certain medical effect.

Well known green teas include Longjing tea from the region of West Lake in Hangzhou of Zhejiang Province, Biluochun from Wu County, Suzhuo, Jiangsu Province, Huangshan Maofeng from Mt. Huangshan in Anhui, and Junshan Silver from the Hills of Junshan, Dongting Lake , Hunan Province and Liu'an Guapian tead from Liu'an County of Anhui Province..
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2) Black tea:
Black tea, known as "red tea" (hong cha) in China, is the category which is fermented before baking and a later variety developed on the basis of the green tea. Unlike green tea, black tea does not lose its fragrance easily so it is suitable for long-distance transportation. Black tea is believed to warm the stomach and is good in autumn and winter.
The most famous black teas include Qi Hong, Dian Hong and Ying Hong.
Qi Hong originates from Qimen, Anhui Province. It has been the favorite black tea among Chinese black tea connoisseurs since it was developed in 1876. By 1939 this type of tea accounted for one-third of black tea consumed in China. Qihong, Darjiling from India and Uva from Sri Lanka are the world's three major types of black tea.
Dian Hong is from Yunnan as Dian is the short name for Yunnan. The area's favorable climate ensures the widespread production of black tea, especially in southern and western areas.
Ying Hong is from Yingde, Guangdong. The British royal family enjoyed its unique sweetness with the flavor of milk.

(3) Oolong tea:
Oolong tea represents a variety half way between the green and the black teas, being made after partial fermentation. It is a specialty from the provinces on China's southeast coast: Fujian, Guangdong and Taiwan.
Oolong tea reminds tea gourmets of gongfu tea, which features a whole set of tea wares from a small oven to a tea pot and tiny tea cups. Tieguanyin has become the representative of oolong tea although the most precious is Dahongpao (Big red robe), which was once used as a tribute. The best oolong tea is bohea produced in the Wuyi Mountains of Fujian Province.

4) Compressed tea:
This is the kind of tea which is compressed and hardened into a certain shape. It is good for transport and storage and is mainly supplied to the ethnic minorities living in the border areas of the country. Most of the compressed tea is in the form of bricks, which is ,therefore, generally called "brick tea", though it is sometimes also in the form of cakes and bowls. It is very popular among the Tibetan, Mongolian and Uigur for making yak butter tea or milk tea.
There are many places in China producing brick tea, including Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan, Yunnan and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Sichuan is the largest producer, while pu erh tea, which has come into vogue among white-collar workers in major cities owing to its unique earthy mellowness, is grown in Yunnan province.

5) Scented tea:
Scented tea is a mixture of flowers with green tea, black tea or oolong tea, which is made in the course of processing. The flowers include jasmine, orchid, plum, gardenia, rose, and sweet-scented osmanthus with jasmine being the most popular. Jasmine tea is a well-known favourite with the northerners of China and with a growing number of foreigners. Scented tea which follows the strict rules about the proportion of flowers to tea is sweet, pleasant and delightful to the palate. Fuzhou in Fujian Province and Suzhou in Jiangsu Province have long been famous for jasmine tea.