ISO 20715:2023

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 20715
First edition
2023-03
Tea — Classification of tea types
Thé — Classification des types de thé
Reference number
© ISO 2023
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Contents  Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1  Scope . 1
2  Normative references . 1
3  Terms and definitions . 1
4  Principle of tea classification . 3
5  Tea types. 4
5.1 General . 4
5.2 Black tea . 4
5.2.1 Orthodox black tea . 4
5.2.2 Broken black tea . 5
5.2.3 Congou black tea . 5
5.2.4 Souchong black tea . 5
5.3 Green tea . 6
5.3.1 Pan-fired green tea . 6
5.3.2 Roasted green tea . 6
5.3.3 Sun-dried green tea . 6
5.3.4 Steamed green tea . 6
5.3.5 Broken green tea . 6
5.3.6 Matcha tea . 6
5.4 White tea . . 6
5.4.1 Bud white tea . 6
5.4.2 Bud-leaf white tea. 6
5.5 Oolong tea . 6
5.6 Dark tea . 6
5.6.1 Ripen pu-erh tea . 6
5.6.2 Other dark teas . 6
5.7 Yellow tea . 7
Bibliography . 8
iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
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electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
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www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 34, Food products, Subcommittee SC 8,
Tea.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
iv
Introduction
Tea (Camellia sinensis) is an important agricultural crop that is grown in the tropical and sub-tropical
regions of the world. The tender shoots and leaves of the plant are processed and used to prepare an
aromatic infusion which is consumed globally as a beverage. Tea is known to be one of the most popular
beverages in the world and it is thought to be the most widely consumed non-alcoholic drink after water.
There are many different types of tea. The most common are black tea, green tea, white tea, oolong tea,
dark tea and yellow tea.
International Standards for the preparation of tea are based on processing fresh tea leaves and aeration.
The basic tea types are black tea (see ISO 3720), green tea (see ISO 11287), white tea (see ISO/TR 12591),
oolong tea (see ISO 20716), dark tea and yellow tea. These six tea types can be reprocessed or further-
processed to create products such as scented tea, compressed tea and instant tea.
This document outlines principles and a classification of the six tea types. The classification will allow
consumers, world tea traders and governments to have a clear understanding of the different types of
tea through their processing techniques.
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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 20715:2023(E)
Tea — Classification of tea types
1  Scope
This document establishes a classification for the types of tea produced from the plant Camellia sinensis
(L.) O. Kuntze.
It is applicable to the production, scientific research, teaching, trade and inspection of tea.
It does not apply to the infusions from herbs or fruits other than Camellia sinensis (L.) O. kuntze referred
to as “tea”.
2  Normative references
There are no normative referen
...