10 Teas to Up Your Game

You know your way around the tea store. You’ve sampled all different kinds of tea. You can even tell certain types of tea by both scent and taste. In short, you’re something of an unofficial expert when it comes to tea. But do you want to take tea to the next level? Try these ten teas to up your tea game and further your expertise!

Like Kukicha? Try Shincha Sencha!

From your first sips of kukicha to your relaxing evenings with sencha, you love Japanese green teas. Japan has refined their tea making process resulting in some fine, high quality teas. But to gain a deeper understanding of Japanese green teas, one must understand the various harvests and the kinds of tea they produce. To broaden your understanding of Japanese green tea, sip on a cup of Shincha Sencha. Meaning “New Tea” in Japanese, Shincha refers to tea harvested in early spring, which is packed with nutrients and arguably the best flavor. A smooth, grassy yet sweet tea.

Like Golden Monkey? Try Tongmu Jin Jun Mei!

While many think of bold breakfast teas whenever they think of black tea, there’s a whole world of Chinese black teas with smooth, fine flavors. Though not an ancient tea, Golden Monkey is a wonderful introduction to Chinese black teas, and if you already love Golden Monkey, might I suggest another “golden” tea? Tongmu Jin Jun Mei produces a rich, sweet cup with a delightful cocoa aroma that is similar to Golden Monkey, but richer and fuller. What’s not to love?

Like Silver Needle? Try Bai Hao Yin Zhen!

It can be a challenge to find a plain, pure white tea since many white tea blends are mixed with additional flavors. When you find a white tea you love, you hang onto it, but who doesn’t like a variety of teas to choose from? If you haven’t already, consider adding Bai Hao Yin Zhen to your white tea collection. It’s one of the most beloved white teas and no lover of white tea should be without this tea in their pantry.

Like Pu-Erh Dante? Try Ancient Tree Green Pu-Erh!

One of the lesser known tea types, Pu-Erh teas are aged, however this is achieved one of two ways: either by naturally aging or artificially aging through “cooking”. Chances are if you walk into a tea shop and pick out a Pu-Erh to try, it’ll be a “cooked” or “shou” Pu-Erh, which are easier to produce than the naturally aged “raw” or “sheng” Pu-Erhs. The great thing about Ancient Tree Green Puerh is that it’s one of those rare sheng Pu-Erh. You can even leave it in your pantry for years to enjoy later: proper storage will improve the tea’s aging quality. This tea will stand the test of time.

Like Golden Flower? Try Anxi Wulong Low Fire!

Oolongs are a varied type of tea. Some are closer to a black tea, others to a green tea. Some go through multiple processing steps, others are minimal. Some have been heavily roasted for a toasted flavor, others are only slightly roasted. Anxi Wulong Low Fire is an oolong closer to a green tea but has gone through a small amount of roasting. If you love green tea but what to expand into oolongs, this tea is a great stepping stone into a larger world.

Like Jasmine Phoenix Pearls? Try Bi Tan Piao Xue (Strong)!

Those who love any kind of jasmine tea will love this feast for the eyes. While many teas include jasmine, we don’t usually see jasmine blossoms in the tea leaves; instead, the tea leaves are commonly scented with jasmine. Not Bi Tan Piao Xue, though. This tea includes full jasmine buds that you can brew alongside the tea. Brew in a glass teapot to watch the petals dance in the water as you brew.

Like Ooooh Darjeeling? Try Balasun First Flush!

Not all Darjeelings are the same, and in fact, the harvest time of one particular Darjeeling can give you a different experience from another. While many argue that second flush Darjeelings (which are harvested in the summer) provide a much bolder flavor than its earlier counterpart, First Flush Darjeelings are often considered to be the finest of Darjeeling. For those looking for a black tea with a light flavor with a hint of fruit, look no further than Balasun First Flush.

Like White Darjeeling? Try Rohini First White!

Maybe that Balasun First Flush has got your attention, but you’re watching your caffeine in-take. Or maybe you love white tea and you’re looking for another white tea to add to your collection (if you haven’t considered Bai Hou Yin Zhen, I highly recommend it). With similar qualities to a traditional Darjeeling First Flush tea but with the mildness and delicate nature of a white tea, Rohini First White is a lovely way to experience both Darjeelings and white teas.

Like Ali Shan? Try Ali Shan Special!

Dive into oolong teas and you’ll no doubt run into both Chinese and Taiwanese teas. Both are wonderful and both have their own profiles. While it’s easier to find Chinese oolongs, the search for Taiwanese oolongs is well worth it. Those looking to try a Taiwanese oolong should sample Ali Shan Special. Because it’s grown at a high altitude and harvested only a few times a year, Ali Shan is one of Taiwan’s most prized oolongs and is the perfect way to deepen your understanding of this genre of oolong.

Like Dragonwell? Try Shi Feng Long Jing!

Some of the best and finest teas come out of early spring harvests (see any tea called “first flush”). Additionally, some excellent teas come from areas of high elevation (see any tea that is named after a mountain, like Ali Shan). Shi Feng Long Jing, or Lion’s Peak Dragonwell, combines both, resulting in a smooth brew with delicate aromas and flavors. Those who already love Dragonwell should give this fine variety a try.