Selection of Tea

Determining and selecting tea is important for appreciating tea as a whole and acquiring some 'tea-related' skills. below is a guide to help you search for what you really want.

Organic Tea

What is Organic Tea?

Organic varieties are grown without the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers. The soil is enriched with natural compost and a layer of mulch retains the moisture while providing extra nutrients as it breaks down.

This growing method is more labor-intensive but produces superior quality tea. Tea competitions in China, Japan, and Taiwan have consistently chosen organic teas as the best teas of their class. These competitions are held “blind” so that the judges can only use taste, aroma and color as the judging criteria.

In addition to the improved flavor, the organic varieties are also higher in health promoting polyphenols and catechins. These are the antioxidants that provide many of the health benefits that tea is famous for. Scientific studies have shown that these compounds are found in higher concentrations in good quality tea. Organic tea is also better for the tea farmer. Tea plants can live more than 100 years, and organic farming methods allow the tea plants to remain healthy for the duration of their lifespan.

This means that the farmer has less expense in replacing tea plants.

How to select real organic tea

When you pick up a package of tea that is labeled “organic” how can you be sure its real or just a coy? For one thing, there are several governmental and non-government agencies that certify products as being organic.

Organizations like the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) have certification programs that examine the growing practices of a particular tea plantation and issue certificates to those that meet their requirements.

Packaged organic brew is required to meet the standards of the certifying agency, so look for tea that has the label of a recognized agency.

Above all, however, you should rely on your taste buds to tell you whether a tea is really organic. It should titillate the taste buds with complex flavors and subtle delights.

If it is not superb, it is probably not organic. You are paying a premium for this tea, so accept nothing short of the best.

Fine Grade, High End Tea

Depending on where you live, finding top quality high end tea to make a great tasting cup or pot of tea may be challenging. You may be tempted to investigate the offerings of the neighborhood coffee house or a food store that offers an electic sampling of teas.

If your area has a specialty retailer or tea house, you may be more apt to find the freshness and grade you desire.

To find a good place to buy teas, ask for referrals from friends who are tea connoisseurs or from those who own specialty restaurants and may be aware of fine tea distributors in your area.

If there is no retailer in your area, check the web for online tea companies who specialize in high end tea. Evaluate the online seller by using much of the same criteria listed below.

Buying a small amount of tea for your first purchase and evaluating its taste will enable you to see if you want to purchase more from the online seller.

Regardless of where you buy your fine, high end tea, here are some important things to consider before making a purchase.

• If there are only a few types of tea on sale, this suggests that it is not the retailer’s primary focus and doesn’t get the attention it deserves.

• Good retailers store loose leaf teas in large airtight containers and sell them by weight. You should be able to buy any quantity of tea you desire from the retailer.

• If the tea is located in the back of the store or away from prominent displays, you may want to find another place to buy tea where it is a more important product offering for the retailer.

• What type of tea accessories, books, pots and other gift items are sold. This is an indicator of the seller’s focus on high end tea.

• Are the countries of origin, estates and any other information provided for each tea type?

• Do the store owner and staff appear to be well- educated about fine tea varieties, origins and proper preparation?

• Does the retailer have fresh brewed high end tea available to sample and purchase? If not, then you may want to look elsewhere.

Before you buy, ask to see the actual bulk tea and check for dry leaves that have a slight shine and pleasant appearance. There should be no stems or pieces mixed in with the leaves. 

For your first purchase from any retailer, buy a small sample to make sure you are fully satisfied with its quality, grade and taste before buying larger quantities and other varieties.