But with tea becoming so popular, few really know the difference between their teas as most South Africans still refer to all leafy beverages steeped in hot water as tea. Strictly speaking, the word ‘tea’ only refers to a beverage that comes from the Camellia Sinensis plant, which is native to Asia. The most common tea varieties are black, green, white, oolong, purple, Pu-erh and herbal infusions.
Carmen Niehaus 