How To Find Your Ideal Tea: The Ultimate Guide To Tea Basics

Are you looking for the perfect tea? We know that when it comes to choosing a blend, there are endless possibili-teas!

Whether you're a tea novice or tea connoisseur, we’ve created a guide that will help you find blends tailored to your unique palate and lifestyle. Looking to expand your palate? Seeking a new addition to your wellness ritual? For over 25 years we have guided Michelin chefs and five-star hotels worldwide in finding their perfect tea blends. Now, let us guide you!



White

Named for the silver downy hairs that cover the young unopened bud, white teas are highly prized because they consist of only the top buds and leaves. TEALEAVES’ Master Blenders meticulously craft white teas to yield an exquisitely delicate palate. As white tea is unoxidized (closest to its natural form!), white teas contain high amounts of antioxidants, as well as polyphenols and flavonoids. Take care of yourself from the inside out!

COLOR: Light

AROMA: Delicate, floral

TASTE: Complex, subtle, floral

CAFFEINE LEVEL: Low

loose leaf tea | white
loose leaf tea | white
loose leaf tea | white

Green

Incredibly rich in vitamins such as carotene, A, D, B1, B2, and C, green tea has long been hailed as one of the healthiest types of tea! Infused with wellness, our Master Blenders carefully select the highest grade of green tea leaves, which contain the greatest concentration of antioxidants, adaptogens, and amino acids. Exquisitely balanced and clean, our green teas are the perfect for choice day to day tea drinking!

COLOR: Light yellow to deep emerald

AROMA: Refreshing

TASTE: Subtle, delicate, slightly sweet

CAFFEINE LEVEL: Low

loose leaf tea | green
loose leaf tea | green
loose leaf tea | green

Oolong

Offering a symphony of notes and nuances, TEALEAVES’ oolong teas are prized for their complex palates. There are two main types of oolong: one grown in China, and the other in Taiwan (Formosa). Oolong teas from China are known for their pale yellow liquor with a distinct fresh taste. Formosa oolong on the other hand is known for its golden liquor and exquisite flowery aroma. Oolong tea is especially good for digestion, so it is naturally a great tea to drink after a large meal!

COLOR: Pale yellow to golden

AROMA: Flowery, orchid-like

TASTE: Fresh, floral

CAFFEINE LEVEL: Medium

loose leaf tea | oolong
loose leaf tea | oolong
loose leaf tea | oolong

Black

Renowned for its bright copper liquor, black tea has a full, round aroma, and a flavor ranging from malty to flowery. Although green and white teas are touted for their health-giving properties due to their high antioxidant content, black tea is still a healthy beverage as it contains antioxidants, polyphenols, vitamins, and essential oils which aid in digestion

COLOR: Bright copper

AROMA: Full, round

TASTE: Malty to floral

CAFFEINE LEVEL: High

loose leaf tea | black
loose leaf tea | black
loose leaf tea | black

Herbal Infusions

By combining pure herbs, flowers, and spices with an inspired hand of tradition, our blenders have created a collection of herbal infusions to be enjoyed for their pure taste or restorative properties. We use whole herbs which retain their aromatic essential oils to ensure the best flavour. Perfect for those seeking moments of peace, all herbal infusions are traditionally caffeine-free!

Besides being delicious and refreshing, herbal infusions are renowned for wellness properties such as calming the mind, soothing an upset stomach, and restoring precious vitamins and minerals to the body.

loose leaf tea | herbal
loose leaf tea | herbal
loose leaf tea | herbal


Caffeine Content

Looking to lower your daily caffeine intake? Whether you are following the doctor’s orders or simply seeking a better night’s sleep, tea is a fantastic alternative for coffee! Compared to a cup of drip coffee, green tea has about 1/5th the amount of caffeine while black tea has 1/3rd. “Caffeine-free” is a term that indicates there is naturally no caffeine present, which is the case for many herbal, tisane and botanical infusions (such as chamomile, peppermint, rooibos).

If you are seeking a traditional breakfast tea with reduced caffeine, we would suggest our Decaf English Breakfast! Unlike others, our decaffeination process is chemical-free. Find our why we have chosen this ambitious and time-consuming method to decaffeinate our teas, here.

If you can’t get enough caffeine, we have the perfect “secret weapon”: Matcha! Our revered Tencha Matcha provides a balanced energy boost, resulting in a sustained period of energy without the unwanted side effects typical to coffee or a sugar high.



Enjoy These Blends

Luxury tea blender to Michelin chefs, five star hotels & tea lovers alike.

Established 1994