Did you know that white, green, oolong and black teas all come from the same plant? The tea plant is the Camellia sinensis bush, which is native to China and India. Processing the tea leaves with different methods changes the final tea. Skilled tea makers add extra ingredients like spices and flowers to create flavored tea blends, such as the popular Earl Grey or jasmine teas.

Herbal teas consist of blended herbs and other plants. Although they are infused in hot water — because herbal teas don’t contain Camellia sinensis leaves — they aren’t true tea. Popular ingredients include chamomile, peppermint, rose hips and lemongrass. Rooibos, or red tea, is another popular herbal tea made from a South African plant.

Tea has options for any taste, whether your preference is light and delicate, fruity and sweet, or deep and earthy. You can even choose your caffeine level; white and green teas contain small amounts, while black tea can be comparable to a cup of coffee. Herbal teas are usually naturally caffeine-free. For example, I often start my day with a lively black tea, and then drink a relaxing lavender blend at night.