Steep, Pour, Sip: The 18 Best Teas You Can Buy According to Serious Eats Staffers
Before my mom was my mom, she biked around Saigon making deliveries for her parents’ tea roasting business. They specialized in jasmine tea and after my parents and I immigrated to the United States, they sent us carefully packaged bags of jasmine tea that would fill our tiny apartment with the most delicate floral aroma. While my grandparents’ tea business has since closed, tea is still a huge part of my life. Every day starts with Bellocq Breakfast with milk and honey and ends with Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime—bless that little bear!
When I started building out my tea collection at home, I discovered the tea world can be just as nuanced as the coffee world with its variety of water temperatures and brew times—not to mention the seemingly infinite array of blends and flavors. While this list is by no means exhaustive, we spoke to staff and experts to get 18 picks that would make worthy additions to your tea cabinet. We have flavorful bagged blends for the emerging tea enthusiast and strong, complex offerings for the aficionados in the crowd— in other words, a little bit of something for everyone.
Some of Our Favorite Teas, at a Glance
Black Teas
- Serengeti Kenyan Safari Breakfast Black Tea
- Spirit Tea Ambrosia Tea
- Bigelow Constant Comment Black Tea
Herbal Teas
- Smith Teamaker Rooibos – Meadow No. 67
- Teapigs Liquorice & Peppermint Tea
- Mem Tea Lemon Chamomile Tea
Green Teas
Other Teas
What We Learned
What Is Tea?
While most of us may hear “tea” and think “anything you can soak in hot water,” tea is traditionally understood to come from the plant Camellia sinensis. The many varieties of this plant provide us with our beloved white, green, oolong, and black teas. When the leaves are picked, they undergo an oxidation process, deepening their aroma, flavor, and strength. The degree of oxidation depends on the type of tea and its intended flavor profile. For example, white teas aren’t allowed to oxidize too much since the flavor is meant to be more delicate and floral. Conversely, black teas are often fully oxidized, which results in a rich, bold flavor.
What about herbal teas, you ask? Those are technically tisanes—that is, herbs, spices, or other plants, such as mint, chamomile, rooibos, honeybush, or hibiscus (to name a few!) that can be brewed to impart their flavors and fragrances.
When picking out high-quality teas, Rishi Tea president Jeffrey Champeau says, “Tea is very much like wine. It has a character and a sense of place. I would seek out brands that can articulate that direct trade, that sense of place, and what that does for the flavor profile of the tea.”
What is Pu’Er Tea?
In Chinese tea tradition, Pu’er is “true” black tea, and what Western tea drinkers know as black tea (English Breakfast, Assam, or Keemun) is actually red tea. For our guide, we’ll use black tea and Pu’er, respectively. Pu’er is a tea that undergoes fermentation, further intensifying its earth flavor. These teas often come pressed into a brick or cake, and change in flavor over time as you chip away bits of tea for each brew. Since the process is more time and labor intensive than creating a sachet, good quality pu’er is often quite pricey.
What You Need to Brew a Good Cup of Tea
The joy of tea is that it can be enjoyed by anyone, anywhere, with nearly any flavor preference. All you really need are these four critical components: hot water, a vessel, a strainer, and the tea of your choice. Whether sitting at a ceremonial tea table or balancing a thermos mountainside, tea is best enjoyed in whatever vessel works best for you.
But the number one tip that all tea experts we spoke to agree on? Getting water temperature right. Amber Jackson, owner of The Black Leaf Tea & Culture Shop in Providence, RI, puts it best: “Temperature! If the blend is mostly tea leaves, you want to be sure that you’re steeping at the right temperature. Scorching the tea leaves can cause the tea to be bitter.” For tea drinkers looking to get more technical about the tea brewing process, there’s an entire world of tools and gadgets (both new and traditional) that you can explore to bring out the best flavors from your teas. Here are a few we recommend:
Different teas require different brewing temperatures (more on that later). The Breville Smart Kettle Luxe topped our electric kettle review because of its accurate preset temperatures and for its speedy heating times.
I’m a big fan of basket tea infusers, which steep tea leaves while keeping them contained. When we tested tea infusers, the Fenshine Stainless Steel Tea Infuser was our top basket infuser pick. Its fine mesh contained even the smallest tea bits, and the folding handles make it a drawer-friendly model.
While this mug is a top contender in our coffee mug review, there’s no reason not to recommend it for tea drinking. Sometimes, you want a giant mug full of your favorite tea, and this stylish update to the classic diner mug hits the mark. It has a flat handle for your thumb, a sturdy base that keeps your brew warm, and a thinner lip for smooth sipping.
In Chinese tea traditions, slowing down to enjoy the complexities of a tea happens through gong fu, a layered process designed to bring out the full range of flavors in a tea. This method utilizes a gaiwan: a vessel consisting of a cup, a lid, and a saucer. You brew the tea directly in the cup, then use the lid to hold back the leaves as you serve the tea. In our tea gear essentials guide, we recommend the Moyishi Chinese Gaiwan, which is simple, easy to use, and affordable. “It’s like a stick-shift car vs. an automatic car,” says Shunan Teng, owner of Tea Drunk, where tea-experts-to-be can learn every nuance about ceremonial tea experiences. “How fast we can separate water and tea is crucial to managing the finesse of time in brewing tea. For a skilled brewer, there’s no better way to control the separation of water and tea than with a gaiwan.”
While I tend to eyeball a spoonful of tea leaves for my morning brews, for best results weigh your tea leaves. While you might think to reach for your standard kitchen scale, it likely won’t be able to register the featherlight weights of a few scoops of tea leaves. In this instance (and when measuring coffee, too), we recommend this precision OXO model; it’s fast, accurate, and easy to use.
Do Different Teas Need to Be Brewed Differently?
Just like wines and coffee, there are a myriad of different methods to brew a great cup of tea. The beauty of tea is that it’s very forgiving, but there are nuances in flavor and fragrance that are easily missed if a tea is over-steeped or over-brewed. Some teas, such as delicate white or green varietals, steeping for too long or in water that’s too hot often leads to a brew that’s overpowered by the bitter tannins in the leaves. However, other teas, such as herbals, need piping hot boiling water to really unlock their flavors.
While most loose leaf tea brands include directions in their instructions, we’ve put together a handy little table as a general guide.
Our Favorite Teas
Boisterous Black Teas
For those especially groggy mornings, Serengeti Kenyan Safari Breakfast Black Tea helps you get going. This tea is extremely smooth, with fruity tones and a hint of malt unique to Kenya’s Nandi region where this tea is grown and harvested. It can be enjoyed on its own or with a bit of milk and honey.
Key Specs
- Tea variety: Black
- Brew temperature: 215°F
- Steep time: 3–5 minutes
- Format: Loose-leaf
Bug-bitten leaves never tasted so good—yes, you read that right. Spirit Tea Ambrosia Tea is made from black tea leaves grown in Santikhiri, Thailand. When jassid bugs bite the leaves, the plant releases a scent that’s captured when the leaves are picked. The result is a subtle tea with mead notes and hints of stone fruit, perfect for sipping when cracking open a new book or taking a break mid-hike.
Key Specs
- Tea variety: Black
- Brew temperature: 205°F
- Steep time: 3 minutes
- Format: Loose-leaf
For the tea enthusiasts who love a beautifully executed signature blend, Bellocq Breakfast and Bellocq Earl Grey won’t disappoint. The Bellocq Breakfast is a perfectly smooth yet bright black tea that brings notes of malt and honey, while the Earl Grey is a lovely balance of fragrance and flavor with blue cornflowers and just a hint of Sicilian bergamot. A truly luxurious tea brand, Bellocq also carries the White Wedding Tea, an elegant, romantic tea full of delicate floral notes that senior commerce editor Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm received as a wedding gift.
Key Specs
- Tea variety: Black
- Brew temperature: 195°F
- Steep time: 4–6 minutes
- Format: Loose-leaf
A well-balanced chai blend is hard to come by and many concentrates in the market can be too cloyingly sweet. Commerce editor Rochelle Bilow favors Art of Tea Tali’s Masala Chai, which she’s convinced has superpowers—at least when it comes to the mid-morning slump. She shares, “It’s nicely spiced, without too much cinnamon, and really shines with a generous pour of steamed milk.” The blend has all the right components for a stellar homemade chai: cardamon, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves mixed into a base of bold Assam tea. If you’re looking for a caffeine-free chai blend, we also like Flowerhead Tea Rooibos Chai Kit.
Key Specs
- Tea variety: Black
- Brew temperature: 206°F
- Steep time: 3–6 minutes
- Format: Loose-leaf
A distant cousin to Earl Grey but with a bit more pizazz, Bigelow Constant Comment Black Tea brings a gentle infusion of orange rind combined with a (secret!) blend of sweet spices. It’s a go-to for commerce editor Grace Kelly, who says, “It’s cozy, comforting, and indulgent when hit with a splash of whole milk and a teaspoon of sugar.” To this day, only Bigelow family members know the full recipe, but anyone can enjoy it.
Key Specs
- Tea variety: Black
- Brew temperature: 212°F
- Steep time: 2–4 minutes
- Format: Bagged
With a whopping three types of cinnamon in this tea blend in addition to orange peel, and cloves, Harney & Sons Classic Hot Cinnamon Spice Tea rates, unsurprisingly, high for “aroma” on the official Harney tea rating. Riddley, who lovingly calls this tea “Big Red gum in tea form,” loves to dunk a cookie or biscotti in this tea, and even got her parents hooked on this blend.
Key Specs
- Tea variety: Black
- Brew temperature: 212°F
- Steep time: 5 minutes
- Format: Bagged
If you’ve ever wondered what hot chocolate might taste like as a tea, Black Leaf Tea CocoBae is your answer. The blend is super comforting without the sweetness you’d get with hot cocoa, which makes it a great alternative if you want something chocolate-related that’s low in sugar. Cacao nibs bring a nutty richness to the brew.
Key Specs
- Tea variety: Black
- Brew temperature: 212°F
- Steep time: 4–5 minutes
- Format: Loose-leaf
Delectable Herbal Teas
For those who like a non-caffeinated afternoon treat, the Smith Teamaker Rooibos – Meadow No. 67 is Riddley’s go-to pick: “It’s delicious. It’s calming. It’s packed with whole leaves and flowers that, when infused, look truly stunning.”
Key Specs
- Tea variety: Rooibos
- Brew temperature: 212°F
- Steep time: 5 minutes
- Format: Loose-leaf and bagged
Recommended by not just one, but two staff members, the Teapigs Liquorice & Peppermint Tea is naturally sweet thanks to the licorice, making it a nice treat for when you want something simple and comforting but still fun. VP of commerce Taysha Murtaugh says, “It’s perfect for cold-weather months and helping curb my late-night sweet tooth since it’s caffeine-free.”
Key Specs
- Tea variety: Herbal
- Brew temperature: 212°F
- Steep time: 3 minutes
- Format: Bagged
Contrary to the tea’s name, there’s no lemon in the blend. The “lemon” actually stands for lemongrass, which lends its beautifully earthy tones to the final brew. Mingled together with chamomile buds and lavender flowers, this tea is the one I reach for if I’m ever reeling from a particularly heavy meal.
Key Specs
- Tea variety: Herbal
- Brew temperature: 212°F
- Steep time: 4 minutes
- Format: Loose-leaf
Pleasantly botanical, this tea is a soothing balm when you’re feeling under the weather. Quince lends a bright sweetness to the brew while eucalyptus clears the airways. Even if you’re not fighting sinus discomfort, this tea is the epitome of a quiet, breezy moment. If you’re unsure about quince and eucalyptus, dip your toes into another delightfully fruity tea, Masha Tea Hibiscus, which is a little tart and tastes great iced.
Key Specs
- Tea variety: Herbal
- Brew temperature: 200°F
- Steep time: 5 minutes
- Format: Bagged
Soba, or buckwheat, is beautifully aromatic and smooth when its kernels are roasted, resulting in a caramelized and toasty brew reminiscent of Scotch. Naturally caffeine-free, the Kettl Nagano Soba Cha can be had morning, noon, or night, either on its own or with a splash of milk and a drizzle of honey. The roasted kernels make for a delicately delicious topping sprinkled on frosted cupcakes or iced scones. We can also vouch for other just as magical, roasty blends, like Uji Genmaimatcha (Sencha tea with toasted rice) or Jou Yanagi Houjicha (roasted Green tea).
Key Specs
- Tea variety: Herbal
- Brew temperature: 200°F
- Steep time: 2 minutes
- Format: Loose-leaf
Full-flower teas are as beautiful as they are tasty. For those who love a bit of a show with their cup of tea, this one does the job. The dried chrysanthemum flower springs into a beautiful, golden bloom upon contact with water, filling your cup with fragrance and gently wafting petals.
Key Specs
- Tea variety: Herbal
- Brew temperature: 200°F
- Steep time: 3 minutes
- Format: Loose-leaf
Green Teas
Korean tea company OSULLOC grows its tea in the volcanic environment of Korea’s Jeju Island and makes beautiful blends from ingredients such as camelia, pineapple, rose petals, or tangerine. Serious Eats’ executive editorial director Tess Koman is particularly fond of their Honey Pear blend. “Honey Pear has my heart,” she says. “It’s just lovely from first sip to last and I always look forward to steeping it.” She especially appreciates that it strikes a perfect balance between flora and dulcet.
Key Specs
- Tea variety: Green
- Brew temperature: 158°F
- Steep time: 1.5 minutes
- Format: Bagged
Commerce editor Grace Kelly swears by this whole-leaf tea to brighten up a gloomy day. She especially appreciates the light citron note (think candied lemon peel), giving the tea a lively and fresh flavor without being overpowering.
Key Specs
- Tea variety: Green
- Brew temperature: 212°F
- Steep time: 3 minutes
- Format: Loose-leaf and bagged
Other Teas
Oolong is semi-oxidized with an earthy and malty quality that sits between green and black tea. The Dobrá Tea Honey Oolong is an especially smooth variety thanks to the bug-bitten leaves (remember our bug friends from above?) that bring out notes of honey and plum.
Key Specs
- Tea variety: Oolong
- Brew temperature: 212°F
- Steep time: 1 minute
- Format: Loose-leaf
For more adventurous tea drinkers who want to bring the ceremonial tea experience home, this full-bodied Pu’Er is fruity and tannic with light floral notes. This tea continues to develop its flavors and become cleaner with age.
Key Specs
- Tea variety: Fermented black
- Brew temperature: 195°F
- Brewing instructions: See guided tasting
FAQs
What temperature is best for brewing tea?
Optimal tea brewing temperatures vary from tea to tea. Green and white teas need a lower temperature (175° F to 180° F) so as to not become too bitter, while black teas and herbal tisanes need to be brewed closer to 212°F to capture their full flavor profiles.
Is loose-leaf tea better than bagged tea?
While there’s nothing wrong with tossing a bag of tea into a mug of water to save time, it’s generally understood that loose-leaf teas are higher quality since they contain whole leaves as opposed to torn or crushed leaves. Whole leaves hold more flavor and body, which are released when brewed. However, plenty of tea brands today are challenging the stigma of bagged teas by offering high-quality sachets.
What is the best tea I can buy?
The fuller the leaf, the better the quality. According to tea industry leaf gradings, the size and wholeness of the leaf will directly affect the flavor and clarity of the resulting brew. After higher-graded leaves are gathered and sold, what’s left are called “fannings,” or tiny bits of tea leaves that are then processed into bagged teas we might find on mainstream market shelves.
Are bagged teas bad?
Not necessarily! While there’s a stigma around bagged teas as being “low-quality,” many tea producers and purveyors today put their high-quality teas and tea blends into sachets with convenience in mind for the consumer.
What are the benefits of tea?
While tea has been consumed for medicinal purposes for centuries, recent research validates that certain teas have potential positive health effects, including cardiovascular health, metabolic benefits, and cancer prevention.
Why We’re the Experts
- An Uong is a news and deals writer for Serious Eats.
- Prior to this, she wrote numerous articles as a freelancer for the brand.
- She consulted tea experts and sourced staff opinions to find teas for this piece.
- She’s fond of a cup of Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Tea to end the day.
