3 New Types Of Tea To Try

Relaxing with a nice cup of tea is a beautiful way to start your day, end your day, or simply take a moment for yourself in the middle of the day. While you might reach for the familiar Tetley’s or PG Tips to steep for your cuppa, there’s a whole world of tea varieties out there. From flowery oolong to fermented Pu-erh, these teas are sure to delight.

1. Wuyutai Osmanthus Oolong Tea

Oolong teas are lightly oxidized, so they’re lighter-tasting than black tea and less bitter. They’re less astringent than green tea, and many of them are noted for their complex floral or woody flavors. This osmanthus oolong tea is enhanced by the delicate flavor of osmanthus flowers and has a sweet floral scent that carries through into the brew. Osmanthus is often compared to the taste of apricots or peaches, so there is a subtle sweetness to the flavor of the tea. This is a loose-leaf tea that tastes best when the leaves have lots of room to expand, so you might want to pick up a basket strainer as well!

2. Ambassador’s White Lion White Ambrosia Tea

White tea is the most delicate kind of tea. Using only the youngest tea leaves, this tea is minimally oxidized to preserve the incredibly light herbal flavor. White tea is often accompanied by flower blossoms and fruit, and White Ambrosia is no exception. The white tea leaves are paired with safflower, coconut, and pineapple to create a naturally sweet tropical flavor perfect for spring or summer… or winter if the cold weather blues have you craving a tropical escape. This tea is packaged in pyramid-shaped bags, which are biodegradable and sized just right for the tea to unfurl.

3. My Zen Tea Mini Pu-Erh Cakes

Pu-erh tea is a drinking experience unlike any other. These tea leaves are fermented before being pressed into cakes, and the resulting drink is rich, earthy, and dark. Most Pu-erh is aged as well as fermented, which improves the flavor and quality of the tea. They often have roasted or sweet undertones to their flavor, which emerge during the aging process. Because these are cakes of compressed tea, you don’t want to use the whole cake at once. Instead, you should use a tool like a butter knife to flake off enough tea for a cup. You can put the leaves directly in the cup, or if you want to keep them contained, use a tea strainer or tea bag.

All of these fine teas, and many others, are available at NineLife. Start your exploration of the world of tea today!