True tea is typically not made from roots--only from leaves, buds, and rarely stems (as in the Japanese green tea called kukicha).

Many herbal teas, however, are made from the roots of various plants. This is true both of herbal teas consumed as a beverage, and those used for medicinal purposes. A few examples of plants whose roots are commonly used in herbal teas include ginger, ginseng, and licorice.

Tea is made from the Camellia sinensis plant.

Different types of tea are made from different parts of the tea plant. Most teas (including those graded as orange pekoe) are made from the top two leaves and the leaf bud from the tea plant. Souchongs (such as Lapsang souchong) and Congou teas are made from larger, more mature leaves. "Tippy" teas are made with more leaf buds, such as the top one leaf and a bud, and some teas (like Silver Needle white tea) are made exclusively from buds.

A few teas are made from other parts of the plant. Kukicha is a Japanese green tea made from twigs and stems of the tea plant. Bancha, a Japanese tea, and some Chinese oolongs can also contain some stem even if they consist mostly of leaves. Matcha, a Japanese powdered green tea, is made by grinding up different parts of the tea plant, including leaves and stems.