Frequently Asked Questions

We carry teas from nearly every region in the world in which it grows, and we work with the best tea importers and suppliers, ensuring that we always sell fine quality teas.

The main difference lies in how the teas are processed. Japanese green teas are steamed, producing a dark green, grassy, slightly savory brew that steeps very quickly. Chinese green teas, in contrast, are produced in a variety of ways. A few are steamed, a few are baked, and most are tossed in a device resembling a very large wok. This produces a fresh, fragrant, lighter colored brew with slightly less astringency.

Black, green, oolong, and white teas all contain various levels of caffeine. Tea is a natural crop, meaning is it difficult to determine exact caffeine levels. The table below lists the average levels of caffeine that can be found in different teas.
Black tea: 25 - 90 mg
Green tea: 8 - 36 mg
Oolong tea: 12 - 55 mg
White tea: 6 - 25 mg
All of our Herbal and Fruit tisanes are naturally caffeine free.

The best way to control the strength of your tea is to alter the amount of tea leaves you use rather than changing the brew time. People will often try to let their tea brew a long time to get a strong cup, only to find it tastes bitter. To get the best flavor, you should brew the tea according to the directions (or according to your own taste). Then if you find the tea too strong, try using a smaller amount of tea leaves; if too weak, try a larger amount of tea leaves.

Oolong (sometimes spelled "wulong") is a "partially oxidized" tea existing on the spectrum between green tea and black tea. This is probably the broadest category of tea, and depending on how an oolong tea is processed, it can have a flavor anywhere between a full-bodied, extra-fruity green tea, and a smooth, mellow black tea.

The name "Chai" is the Hindi word for "Tea", which was derived from "Cha", the chinese word for tea. In this case, the Hindi term Chai means a mix of spices steeped into a tea like beverage. The traditional ingredients of a spiced tea blend usually include black tea mixed with strong spices, like cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and black peppercorns. This spiced tea mixture is typically brewed strong with milk and sweetened with sugar or honey.

Use caution when brewing tea in a small infuser. Tea leaves expand as you steep them, making a flavorful cup of tea. For this reason, a small ball or a novelty type of infuser should be avoided. If you choose to use an infuser, a large basket type is the best. Give your tea a chance to bloom.