How to Choose the Right Tea
At Tea-Direct, we range hundreds of delicious loose leaf teas, sourced from across the world and spanning a fantastic selection of different varieties.
With all these different teas available to enjoy, you may not know where to start when choosing your new favourite. There are several variables that you may consider when choosing your tea; flavour profiles, aromas, origin and variety all play a part in determining which teas are best suited to your tastes.
Flavour and Aroma
The rich and varied range of flavour profiles available to enjoy in the world of tea means there is likely something for everyone. Tea flavours may be delicately floral with sweet, subtle aromas, fruity or filled with wonderful citrus notes, malty and complex, spicy, woody or earthy.
Origin
Teas are grown across a number of countries and regions, but are mainly produced in Asia, South America and Africa, with Sri Lanka, China, India and Kenya accounting for a majority of the world’s most well-known teas.
Varieties
There exists a vast range of different tea varieties currently produced around the world, with some of the most popular teas being black, green and white teas, herbal, rooibos and flowering teas, matcha and tisanes.
Chinese Lapsang Souchong and Keemun
China produces almost all types of teas and numerous varieties of each type. While a large amount of Chinese tea is green, there are also very popular varieties of black and oolong teas produced. Among the most well-known Chinese varieties are Lapsang Souchong and Keemun.
Lapsang Souchong teas are known for their smoky flavours and aromas, smooth mouthfeel and distinct aftertaste. These powerful, unique teas are often sourced from the Wuyi Mountain region of China's Fujian Province, where the leaves undergo a drying process using pine wood fires to develop complex woody notes, complementing the natural flavours. Lapsang Souchong teas may not be for everyone, but their complex, wonderfully smoky flavour profiles make them a favourite for many.
Keemun teas are loved for their subtly floral, delicate aromas and fruity, somewhat winey flavours. As Keemun is naturally sweet, it is best served without milk or sugar, and also makes a great base for a range of blended teas.
Indian Assam and Darjeeling
Indian teas include Assam and Darjeeling, both very popular varieties that offer different flavour profiles. Assam teas are often strong and full-bodied, with malty flavours and a deep-red liquor, and are great when combined with milk for a tea that can be enjoyed all through the day but is especially good at breakfast.
Darjeeling teas are light and aromatic, offering floral aromas and fruit flavours, which are characterised as Muscatel in reference to the Muscat variety of grape.
Sri Lankan Orange Pekoe
Sri Lankan teas include many black varieties, as well as white teas and green teas such as gunpowder and sencha. Perhaps the most famous Sri Lankan teas are the Ceylon Orange Pekoe variety, which are graded accordingly in the tea grading system.
Orange Pekoe is a high-quality tea sourced from the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis tea plant, found in the highlands of Sri Lanka. Best served as a black tea, Ceylon Orange Pekoe offers sweet, subtle flavours and a crisp bitterness. Though best served black, you can add a drop of milk to an Orange Pekoe tea.
Kenyan Teas
Bright and brisk, with a red-copper tint to the liquor, Kenyan teas are often full-bodied and used as blends for certain black teas, particularly bold and full-flavoured breakfast teas.
Blends such as our English Breakfast tea showcase the full, bold flavours of Kenyan tea and are great when prepared with milk and sugar for a rich and robust beverage.
Remember to check out our Tea Finder tool - the perfect place to start when looking for your new favourite tea!