1. All tea is made from the same plant.

Black, oolong (sometimes called wu long), green and white tea are all the same plant, Camellia sinensis. The differences in these various teas are due to the amount of oxidation and processing that the teas have been allowed to undergo.

The word "tea" can also be used to describe a liquid infusion of any herb. Hence the term "herbal tea". But "herbal teas" are not true teas, and in the tea industry they are known as tisanes.

2. Tea has Less Caffeine than Coffee

Despite what you may have heard, a cup of black tea typically has half the caffeine of a cup of coffee.

*Please note: This article previously stated that it was easy to decaffinate tea by letting it steep in hot water for a bit. While this does remove some of the caffiene, it certainly isn't as much as orginally claimed. Read this article for more information.

3. "Orange Pekoe" Tea is not Orange Flavored!

Orange Pekoe is a grade of black tea that describes the size of the tea leaf pieces. It has nothing to do with the color of the tea or any added flavorings.

4. You Can Re-Use Tea Leaves!

If you buy loose tea, you can certainly re-use the tea leaves. In fact, being able to re-use tea leaves makes even expensive teas an economical alternative coffee, juices, and other beverages.

5. Not all Tea Should be Prepared with Boiling Water

When people tell me that they don't like green tea, the first question I ask them is: "Did you make it with boiling water?" If they say "yes", I explain that not all teas should be prepared with boiling water. Green and white teas should be prepared with water boiled and cooled to between 150-180 degrees fahrenheit. Water that is hotter than this can cause bitter and disagreeable flavors to develo

6. To Make Tea "Strong" Use More Tea Leaves Rather than Steeping it Longer

Steeping tea too long can result in bitter and "off" flavors. If you like your tea strong, or are making iced tea, use more tea.

7. Avoid "Tea Eggs" and Other Small Tea Infusers

I am sad to report that sellers of loose tea may try to sell you small tea infusers. The problem with these infusers is that they do not allow tea leaves to unfurl properly, and thus will rob you of the full flavor of the tea.

Get a proper teapot and add your loose leaf tea to the pot to brew. Pour your tea through a strainer. This is the way to enjoy the full flavor of tea.

8. Tea Won't Dehydrate You

For many years people labored under the delusion that drinking tea was a bad idea because it deydrated you. But recent research shows that this is not the case: Tea is only a diuretic when consumed in very large amounts.

9. You Don't need a Special "Diet" Tea

Unscrupulous merchants will sometimes try and sell you a special "diet" tea, usually citing recent research into tea's anti-obesity properties.

There are three problems with these special "diet" teas:

1. They may contain purgative herbs which can be dangerous if used improperly.

2. The "teas" may not contain any true tea at all.

3. In most cases, they are just selling you ordinary tea at ridiculous prices. For example, one retailer wants to sell you 60 teabags of oolong tea for $36. Yet you can buy 120 bags of good quality oolong tea from Amazon.com for less than sixteen dollars!

10. It's a Good Idea to Warm Your Teapot Prior to Steeping Your Tea

According to some tea experts, dumping tea leaves into a cold teapot "shocks" the leaves and prevents them from opening quickly and fully. It takes less than 30 seconds to "prep" your teapot so that you can get the full flavor of your tea.

Here is what you need to do:

1. When your water comes to a boil, pour some of it into your teapot.

2. Return kettle to burner.

3. Swirl the water around your teapot until it is warmed.

4. Pour out the "warming water".

5. Add your tea to the teapot.