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New to Tea?
Welcome! The world of tea can seem vast and complicated, but at its heart, it's just hot water and a leaf. Here is everything you need to know to get started.
Welcome! The world of tea can seem vast and complicated, but at its heart, it's just hot water and a leaf.
What Exactly is Tea?
Understanding the true nature of the leaf.
One Plant, Infinite Flavors
All "true tea" comes from a single plant: Camellia sinensis. Whether you are drinking a delicate white tea, a vibrant green matcha, or a robust black tea, it all begins with the exact same leaf.
The stunning variety in flavors—from grassy and floral to malty and smoky—comes entirely from how the leaves are handled after they are picked. This process is primarily guided by oxidation, exactly like how an apple turns brown after you bite into it.
What about Herbal Tea?
Things like chamomile, peppermint, and rooibos don't contain any leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant. Technically, these are called "tisanes" or herbal infusions. They are naturally caffeine-free and beautiful in their own way, but are fundamentally different from actual tea.
What You Need
You don't need expensive equipment to brew incredible tea.
Good Leaves
Ditch the supermarket tea bags. Loose leaf tea offers infinitely better flavor and structure. It minimizes bitterness, retains natural oils, and most importantly, high-quality leaves can be steeped multiple times revealing different flavors each round.
Fresh Water
Tea is 99% water. If your tap water tastes bad or is heavily chlorinated, your tea will taste entirely flat. Use filtered or soft spring water for the best results. The difference between tap water and spring water is instantly recognizable.
Simple Vessel
Before collecting rare ceramics, test the waters. A standard mug and a stainless steel basket infuser are perfectly fine to start out with. When you're ready to upgrade your extractions, try a traditional gaiwan.
Ready to find your tea?
Not sure where to begin? Let the Tea Concierge find a hand-picked flight of highly-rated, affordable teas seamlessly matched to your palate and budget.
Want to dive incredibly deep into the underlying chemistry and thermodynamics of tea?
Read the full Academy modules