# Recommend a tea for me **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 29, 2020, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tea-for-me/848699 "2020-02-29T13:08:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tea-for-me/848699/21 "2020-03-01T23:07:28Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I know very little about tea (oolong is supposed to be nice, that’s the extent of my knowledge). If it matters, I drink it straight. My favorite tea is oolong. If you’ve had tea from one of large communal teapots at a Chinese or Japanese restaurant, chances are it was oolong. But I can’t find a strong variety that I can buy regularly. The two types I’ve tried varied in flavor much more than the black tea varieties I’ve tried. I forget their brand names, but the one I picked up at Epcot for a not-_un_reasonable price was pretty good but the only one I’ve found in the local stores was so weak-tasting that I had to pair it with black tea or it was just unacceptable. But I can’t just go traipse to Epcot when I want a cuppa for the privilege of paying twice as much for my teabags. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tea-for-me/848699/22 "2020-03-02T00:31:05Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I’ve just begun drinking a spot of tea now and then and I’m finding I like it. I’m seeking recommendations for teas to sample. The one I’ve been drinking is Bigelow green tea. > > I know very little about tea (oolong is supposed to be nice, that’s the extent of my knowledge). If it matters, I drink it straight. > > My requirements: > > [ul] > [li]No bulk stuff/loose leaves, tea bags only.[/li][li]No flavors other than tea. [/li][li]Amazon availability and linky if possible appreciated.[/li][/ul] > > That’s about it. Thanks! > mmm I’d recommend poking around the Harney & Sons website. [Www.harney.com](http://Www.harney.com). They sell tea, but it’s also very informative about different teas, their different preparation, and different flavors. I’ve learned a lot about tea, just from their site. As to which tea, I’d ask, do you like black tea, green tea, something in between? Funky flavors like are in pu erh? Fruity teas? Non-tea infusions? ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tea-for-me/848699/23 "2020-03-02T00:32:47Z")
I see we can’t edit now. [Www.harney.com](http://Www.harney.com) was the website I wanted to add. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tea-for-me/848699/24 "2020-03-02T01:56:56Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > Twinings sell Russian Caravan in bags, btw (a blend of Keemun, Oolong, and Lapsang Souchong, so slightly smoky). You could also try Nilgiri; unlike Oolong, Darjeeling, Lapsang Souchong, etc., I think they only sell it loose, or at least I don’t recall such a bag, but maybe another vendor has it in bags? Makes me wonder if there is a market for DIY bags. I’m guessing not really, it’s not like small teapots are hard to find. There are various types and brands of DIY teabags, usually called filters. David’s Tea has some, 200 filters for $20 so 10 cents each; there are probably cheaper ones out there, but I like David’s because they have a drawstring. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tea-for-me/848699/25 "2020-03-02T02:18:49Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > I see we can’t edit now. [Www.harney.com](http://Www.harney.com) was the website I wanted to add. The edit worked fine. Anyway, thanks for the website, I don’t think I knew about that one. ---
**Author:** ![Saturn\_Dreams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Saturn\_Dreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saturn_Dreams)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tea-for-me/848699/26 "2020-03-02T02:52:08Z")
[Mariage Freres Darjeeling Himalaya](https://www.amazon.com/Mariage-Freres-Darjeeling-Himalayan-Parallel/dp/B01N0GY3JO/ref=sr_1_39?keywords=mariage+freres+tea+bag&qid=1583116485&sr=8-39) Normally I wouldn’t recommend bagged teas, especially for Darjeeling only because you want the tea leaves to “dance” in the pot to bring out its full nuanced flavours, but Marriage Freres makes great teas so here’s an exception. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tea-for-me/848699/27 "2020-03-02T03:27:34Z")
I started a thread like this several years ago and discovered [Barry’s Tea Gold Blend](https://shop.barrystea.com/products/gold-blend-80s)as a result. Since I found it, nothing has taken its place. Highly recommended. It’s not fancy, just damn good. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tea-for-me/848699/28 "2020-03-02T03:33:46Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > I’d recommend poking around the Harney & Sons website. [Www.harney.com](http://Www.harney.com). They sell tea, but it’s also very informative about different teas, their different preparation, and different flavors. I’ve learned a lot about tea, just from their site. I was coming to suggest Harney & Sons. If you want an unadorned black tea, Harney’s English Breakfast is the smoothest I’ve found. Note that I don’t take dairy with my tea, which definitely influences my choice. I like their brand generally, though it certainly isn’t the cheapest. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tea-for-me/848699/29 "2020-03-02T04:21:24Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > I see we can’t edit now. [Www.harney.com](http://Www.harney.com) was the website I wanted to add. The edit worked fine. Anyway, thanks for the website, I don’t think I knew about that one. ---
**Author:** ![Hatchie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hatchie/32/3983_2.png) [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tea-for-me/848699/30 "2020-03-02T04:29:41Z")
I used to like Constant Comment. _Constant Snark_ is more like it. Drove me bats. “Oh my, blue is definitely not your color!” “Maybe you should try a new hairstyle!” One thing I can’t stand is a cup of tea with a smart mouth. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tea-for-me/848699/31 "2020-03-02T04:52:04Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > There are various types and brands of DIY teabags, usually called filters. David’s Tea has some, 200 filters for $20 so 10 cents each; there are probably cheaper ones out there, but I like David’s because they have a drawstring. I do have a tea ball (where the two halves screw together) and Pac-Man-type infusers. You can also drink tea through a yerba mate straw (even more portable). Or a “gaiwan”… I am not sure whether these are really optimal or if the water will cool too quickly compared to using a regular teapot. I wonder what the goal is? To avoid having to rinse out a teapot? To prepare some bags you can conveniently use at work or elsewhere away from home? The OP did specify bags, in any case, so those drawstring filters could be just the ticket in case he gets some loose tea leaves. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tea-for-me/848699/32 "2020-03-03T06:36:48Z")
On “tea plus” - Earl Grey and the like: I enjoy it occasionally, including Indian chaiwala style spicy masala tea. I literally just had some, it was Ceylon black + Ceylon green + hibiscus + strawberry + cherry, so the taste is fresh in my mind. My comment is, while it clearly is based on tea, in no way, shape, or form does it taste like “no flavors other than tea”. So, if someone is just beginning to sample and get a taste for different kinds of tea, it might indeed be better to try regular tea first before all sorts of crazy mixtures. Another green tea recommendation: “Dragon Well”. Tasty and not bitter! ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tea-for-me/848699/33 "2020-03-03T06:59:24Z")
Tazo brand teas are always high quality, I’ve found. I commend your “hobby” of exploring teas. I became quite the tea hound in high school, collecting fancy tins and becoming familiar with all kinds of delicious tea. It’s a pleasurable and inexpensive pastime, rewarding and not too time-consuming. If you find yourself really becoming a connoisseur, you will have to branch out into loose teas, as they will generally be higher quality. Tea balls and the like are a pain, but you can get disposable tea filters [like this](https://smile.amazon.com/FILTERS-Disposable-Infuser-Serving-Filters/dp/B00S8XOL88/ref=sr_1_4?crid=VFT84VH3ANUV&keywords=tea+filters+bags+for+loose+tea&qid=1583218237&sprefix=tea+filters%2Caps%2C287&sr=8-4) that are cheap, easy to use, and which allow you to brew tea from loose leaves with very little fuss. Many herbal teas (chamomile and the like) don’t appeal to me, but hibiscus (aka rosella) teas are delicious and possibly good for you. Since rosella tea doesn’t contain caffeine, you can drink it at night. And studies have shown it to have a mild blood-pressure lowering effect. Plus, it is tangy and delicious - like a rather tart lemonade. Enjoy yourself! The more you learn, the more you’ll find interesting new teas to try. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tea-for-me/848699/34 "2020-03-03T12:42:38Z")
Hibiscus is also the base for a lot of other fruity tea flavors. If you’re going that route, I’m rather fond of Celestial Seasonings, especially their Black Cherry Berry flavor. [Technical] And the problem with editing on this board is the same as the problem with posting. Your post/edit probably will go through (possibly even multiple times). It just won’t successfully bring you back to the thread after you post it. Incidentally, if you do happen to double-post, don’t sweat it. We all know the board is buggy right now, and it wasn’t your fault. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tea-for-me/848699.md?page=1)