The Best Teas We’ve Tasted

Fortnum & Mason, a London department store that opened its doors in 1707, has been making its Royal Blend black tea since 1902, when it was first created for King Edward VII. A blend of Assam and pekoe, this tea featured everything a black tea should have: a rich, golden amber color and a smooth, almost smoky flavor with a welcome acidity on the finish. It shines where most ordinary black teas in tea bags fall flat. Royal Blend Tea does well with a splash of milk.

Honey Bug Bite Oolong from Third Culture Bakery was our favorite among all the teas we tested. Its name, according to the company, comes from the bugs that bite the tea leaves and cause the plant to secrete its signature honey-like flavor. Indeed, this deep amber cup of tea seemed to shimmer with a malty sweetness.

One of our testers noted that Honey Bug Bite Oolong was “grounded by a robust oolong flavor, but with rich, caramelly brown sugar notes that fill it out. It leaves no tastebud or olfactory bulb untouched, but not in an aggressive way.” The marriage of oolong and the honey flavor reminded us somewhat of a Chenin Blanc, so white wine fans might enjoy this one.

The potent but surprisingly delicate aroma of this blend of jasmine silver needle tea, lavender, rose petals, and orange blossom hits your nose straight out of the bag. It creates a mild yet flavorful tea that is brimming with floral notes and a light, pleasant astringency. One tester said White Wedding had “a subtle but lovely finish of flowers and greenery.”

Kettl works directly with small tea farms in Japan to source teas that are otherwise unavailable in the US; it has perfected its farm-to-delivery chain so that the tea arrives without losing aroma or its stunning, vibrant green color, which is an indicator of freshness.

Uji Genmaimatcha is a blend of sencha, matcha, and toasted brown rice. It’s umami-rich and remarkably fresh, with a background nuttiness from the roasted rice. Testers kept passing this bag back and forth until everyone had stuck their nose in and sniffed the lushness of the contents several times.

Yamamotoyama’s Jasmine Tea comes in a deceptively plain box; inside is a full-bodied tea with a hint of honeysuckle and an almost fruity sweetness, with a bright finish. The flavor and the scent come through clearly, and the tea is strong enough to keep you going throughout the day. We particularly like the convenience of tea bags without any loss in flavor or potency.

For those who try to avoid caffeine or like to drink tea right before bed, this chai brings big flavors without the buzz. The organic red rooibos chai from Big Heart Tea Co., a woman-owned business in St. Louis, is spicy and sweet, thanks to a pungent blend of spices (including ginger, cardamom, and black pepper) and mellow honey-tobacco notes from the rooibos (a naturally decaffeinated leaf). And if you believe what they say about the herb tulsi, the first ingredient in this blend, the tea is not only an aromatic pick-me-up but also a mood booster.

Tazo’s Passion makes a standout iced tea. Its vibrant, inky claret flavor and candy-like aroma only tell half the story. A blend of hibiscus, rose hips, and orange peel, Tazo Passion opens with a bright and refreshing tartness. Then notes of citrus and spice emerge from the background. Tazo suggests that you can prepare it hot as well, although we didn’t particularly like it that way. This tea is also caffeine-free, which means you can drink it throughout the day (or all summer long).

When you drink a glass of Southern sweet tea, it’s almost certainly from Luzianne; the brand has been making iced tea for well over 100 years. This tea’s almost toasty flavor and smoothness also makes it a standout unsweetened and separates it from scores of other inexpensive black tea.

Eminently drinkable, refreshing, and caffeinated, this well-balanced tea can be brewed cold in the fridge with a lemon slice or brewed hot and diluted with ice for a little more astringency. It conveniently comes in larger-size tea bags for brewing by the pitcher, so you can drink it all day long.

Unlike most tea, matcha usually comes in the form of a fine powder that is whisked to a silky consistency. Ippodo’s Horai Matcha is known in tea circles as a gateway matcha. It’s deep, grassy color looks almost unreal—in a good way—and you might find yourself staring at your cup before drinking it. While other matchas in this price range may have an oxidized, brownish tinge, Horai Matcha almost glows green.

One tester said it “tastes smooth, rich, and buttery with very little bitterness.” It’s not uncommon to find high-grade matcha priced at about $60 for an ounce, but Ippodo’s Horai Matcha remains relatively affordable and is beloved by experts and newcomers alike.

This article was edited by Marguerite Preston and Annemarie Conte.