• White tea is a relatively rare and expensive tea.
• This tea derives its name from the dense coating of very fine, white hairs that remain on the plant leaves at their early-spring harvest time, before the leaves have unrolled.
• White tea  is made from the buds or young leaves of the camellia sinensis plant, and is the mildest variety of tea available.
• Because the leaves are so young, they retain a strong concentration of antioxidants (up to three times as many antioxidants as those found in green tea)--great for the skin!
• The resulting tea has a very mild and subtle flavor, and a pale, golden appearance.
• Popular varieties of white tea include silver needle ,snowbud ,pai mu tan  from China, and white Darjeeling  from India.
• White tea is unoxidized.
• This drink is delicious when paired with peach or jasmine flavors.
• Want more information? Check out our white tea guide.

• Green tea  is very popular in East Asian countries like Japan and China, and has been consumed there for thousands of years.
• The tea's high concentration of antioxidants, specifically potent catechins, has given rise to claims that green tea can increase metabolism, lower cholesterol, treat arthrititis, and increase brain and mental functions.
• Green tea comes in a variety of flavors that range from airy and mild to rich and grassy. Check out a few varieties:

• Sencha  and gyokuro  from Japan, as well as China's pi lo chun ,dao ren , and gunpowder green  are popular kinds of green tea.
• Matcha  is a milled green tea around which the Japanese tea ceremony centers. It's also used to flavor other foods like green tea ice cream, Japanese confectioneries, and soba noodles.
• Kukicha  is a green tea comprised of twigs from the tea bush (it's sometimes called twig tea ).
• My personal favorite green tea, genmaicha , is composed of green tea and roasted barley, which gives it an earthy, robust flavor.

• This tea is delicious hot or iced, or combined with flavors like lemongrass  or peppermint .
• Though the US Food and Drug Administration has rejected claims of its health benefits, many people swear by the medical benefits of green tea.
• For more information, check out our guide to green tea.

Oolong tea  brews up a medium yellow to amber and has a moderately strong flavor. Many oolongs, such as pouchong  and tung ting jade , come from Taiwan; they're also sometimes called Formosa oolongs  because Formosa was the Portugese name for Taiwan. Ti kuan yin ,iron buddha , and wuyi  all come from China. This tea is very versatile, and pairs nicely with fruits . It's also frequently flavored with jasmine .

Oolong tea is partially fermented, putting it somewhere between green tea and black tea in terms of flavor and strength.

Editor's note: Iced oolong tea is fabulously refreshing on a hot summer's day--it has none of the sugar of prepackaged iced tea.

• Many of the teas that are popular in the western world derive from black tea, including Earl Grey and English Breakfast.
• Black tea has been fully fermented. It brews up darker and richer than other teas--usually a medium to dark amber. While black tea has traditionally been more popular in the West, green tea has been catching up in recent decades. This variety is, however, stronger and more caffeinated than green tea. It's traditionally served with milk or lemon (not both, unless you're a fan of curdled dairy) and sugar  or honey . A few varieties include rose ,cinnamon , and vanilla .
• Black vs. Green. Black tea is more popular in India and its surrounding areas, and a large number of varieties are from South Asia.
• A worldwide craze. Black tea comes in different forms all over the planet. Check them out:
• From India and Sri Lanka, we get Darjeeling  (lighter bodied, almost sweet), Assam  (robust and malty), Ceylon  (smooth and versatile), and blends such as English Breakfast  and Irish Breakfast .
• Nepal produces several varieties similar to Darjeelings, including Himalayan Splendor .
• From China, we get Golden Monkey ,Keemun  (both fairly robust), pu-erh  (earthy), and Yunnan  (slightly peppery). 
• China also produces a smoked black tea called lapsang souchong, which is something of an acquired taste.
• More popular are spiced Indian chais  (chai is actually just the Hindi word for tea; spiced tea is properly masala chai ): black teas flavored with spices (such as cinnamon ,clove ,black pepper , and cardamom ) served with milk and honey .

• Did you know? Earl Grey  is black tea flavored with bergamot orange. Yum!
• Pick me up, love. Though it derives from the same part of the camellia sinensis plant as the other varieties of tea, black tea is more oxidized; it has the strongest flavor and contains more caffeine. Because of this, black tea is the preferred breakfast pick-me-up for many people.
• For additional reading, check out our black tea guide.

Chamomile  is popularly employed as a mild sedative at bedtime.

Peppermint  has a pleasantly refreshing flavor and can help settle the stomach.

Ginger tea is spicy and usually sweetened with honey .The ginger plant has a host of medicinal applications, including aiding digestion and remedying nausea and other stomach problems.

Hibiscus  brews a bright red  drink and has a pleasantly tart flavor. It's sometimes mixed with rose hips .

Chrysanthemum tea  has a strong floral aroma and light flavor.

Red tea ,rooibos  and honeybush  are all related species of tea  that brew a reddish-amber, caffeine-free drink high in antioxidants.

Medicinal blends  can alleviate a wide variety of symptoms, such as sore throats or headaches.

Forget the health benefits--herbal blends  are sometimes popular for the sole reason that they taste good! Many fruit teas  are popular for this reason.

Organic Earl Grey Shanghai Tea 

The black tea base of this Earl Grey tea comes from the Yunnan provice of China, and has a spicy aroma. Reserved for days you need a little something extra to wake you up in the morning (why don't you just get rid of your regular old plain-Jane Earl Grey, while you're at it?)

Milk Oolong Tea 

I love oolong tea, and I'm fascinated by any kind of "milky" version: oolong tea is typically enjoyed without. Though there is no actual milk in this brew, the sweet, creamy taste is reported to be akin to that of dulce de leche.

Earl Grey Sterling 

With hints of lemon zest, bergamot, and sharp pine, these tea leaves offer a delicate rendition of the average Earl Grey tea.To enjoy as a refreshing variation of your morning cuppa.

Blueberry Rooibos Organic Tea 

Mmmm, antioxidants. When I can't actually get to the nature trail (this is most days), a tangy, earthy, berry-infused rooibos tea could be just as invigorating.

Brioche Tea 

What's the perfect complement to any kind of pastry? A richly self-indulgent tea with notes of nuts, spices and delicious baked sweets, reminiscent of your four-o'clock pastry break. To break out over an afternoon visit from a good friend.

Short and Stout

It's useful to keep a teapot  or two on hand if you like to have several cups of tea at a time, brew loose tea, or frequently pour a cup for friends.

Calling the Kettle

A tea kettle  is no more than a specialized pot for boiling water. You should never brew tea  in a tea kettle.

It's Electric!

An electric water kettle  is more efficient than a stovetop kettle and allow you to measure out exactly how much water you'll need.

Fused Heat

A tea infuser  is akin to a reusable tea bag made of steel: it holds onto the leaves as you pour in hot water. They can be clamshell-like or simply hang down into the teapot.

Strains of Love

You'll need a tea strainer  if you don't use an infuser when you brew: it catches loose leaves as you pour tea into a cup.

Cool and Collected

A tea canister  keeps your loose leaves fresh by storing them in a cool, dry place.

Pinkies Out

Teacups  are usually wide and shallow, so the tea  quickly comes to a drinkable temperature.

Goin' Places

A travel mug  lets you take your tea  on the go and prevents waste by eliminating the need for paper cups from coffee shops. A great way to be environmentally conscious.

Comfy and Cozy

You know you're serious about tea  when you've got yourself a tea cozy . A sort of blanket for your teapot, this will keep a brewed pot warm so that the last cup is still piping when you get to it.

Sweeten the Deal

Honey  straight from the pot  makes an afternoon pick-me-up even sweeter.

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