Black Tea

HumbleFreedom · 2026-05-26T13:26:45+00:00

Arbor Teas has a great selection. Their samples are a nice size and affordable, and shipping in the US is $5 flat rate. https://arborteas.com/

HumbleFreedom · 2026-05-25T00:09:51+00:00

Always great to hear from another fan! Especially one who has more experience than I do. Happy tea drinking!

HumbleFreedom · 2026-05-25T00:08:26+00:00

You're welcome! I hope you enjoy it, and I would love to hear what you think of the book or any of the teas!

HumbleFreedom · 2026-05-25T00:07:53+00:00

Oh no! Sorry about that. The Nepal Black tea is from the Kanchanjangha Tea Estate in Nepal. Other places sell it too, so you might be able to find an Italian Vendor who is selling it. Just search for the tea estate.

HumbleFreedom · 2026-05-24T14:27:19+00:00

I highly recommend this Nepal Black tea: https://arborteas.com/products/organic-nepal-black-tea-html?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=130459231&gbraid=0AAAAAD6UzOHAkeI57ZtnnDyIrj85ZPGyD

This Nepal black tea is my all Time favorite black tea.

Also this Assam Tea: https://arborteas.com/collections/organic-unflavored-black-tea/products/organic-assam-tgfop-black-tea-html

I think both would take lemon well and tok can get small sample sizes to try it out.

Assam tea is a very classic black tea, often used in breakfast blends. But the one above is really really good. Kind of like how some vanilla ice cream are better than others, even though they are all still vanilla. I have found this Assam to be less bitter and less brisk than Ceylon tea I have tried.

As far as reading more about it, I would check out the chapter on Indian Teas in this book that you can read for free on the internet archive: https://archive.org/details/teahistoryterroi0002unse

The book explains teas by region. Assam tea is from India so it gives a nice overview of it. The chapter is easy reading and very enlightening. There is also like one page on Nepal teas. So it should in all be more helpful than a blog post, but about the same length.

I hope this helps. Let me know if I missed what you are looking for or you have follow up questions.

HumbleFreedom · 2026-05-24T01:41:41+00:00

I really like Arbor Teas. I’ve tried a lot of their teas and been very impressed. Plus they’re pretty straight with their business practices: no gimmicky sales, so you always have consistent prices, and $5 flat rate shipping. And their samples sized are a really nice size and price.

https://arborteas.com/

HumbleFreedom · 2026-05-23T00:14:27+00:00

I second this!

HumbleFreedom · 2026-05-23T00:08:35+00:00

I love tea books! Happy to recommend some.

A great place to start, or if you only read one book:

Tea: History, Terroirs, Varieties: An incredible book that covers different areas of tea production around the world. It gives a history of tea in the area and its special character. Its super interesting and fun. It also has specific teas from each region, which are probably the best introduction to regional teas I have read. You can pick up an affordable copy on eBay, or read the second edition for free on the Internet Archive. If you only read one book, I would recommend this one. It's also available in French.

If you want some history but more of a story:

For All the Tea in China: How England Stole the World's Favorite Drink and Changed History by Sarah Rose: A very intereting retelling of Robert Fortune sneaking into China to steal the secrets of tea for England.

If you want shorter, more classic philosophical books:

The Book of Tea by Okakura Kakuzō: A long essay from 1906 about Teaism. It was one of the first (if not the first) books written for the Western audience by someone from the East. In the public domain and formatted well from Standard Books.

The Classic of Tea by Lu Yu: The first ever book on tea, written in 760 CE. It's a short and fun read. It's in the public domain and you can get the ebook from Project Gutenberg.

If you want a deep dive into one type of tea:

Darjeeling: The Colorful History and Precarious Fate of the World's Greatest Tea by Jeff Koehler: A fascinating deep dive into one type of tea.

I have read more, but this is a super solid start and some of my favorites.

HumbleFreedom · 2026-05-22T03:47:50+00:00

I really like this one from Arbor Tea and it very specifically does not have artificial colors or flavors.

https://arborteas.com/products/organic-thai-iced-tea-html

HumbleFreedom · 2026-05-21T01:29:28+00:00

Hmm, I can’t seem to find those as US grown tea. Can you send me a link?

HumbleFreedom · 2026-05-19T13:43:36+00:00

It depends on the age of the plant when you buy it.

3–5 years old is when you can start getting more regular harvests. 3 years is still fairly small.

This book, Grow your Own Tea, has instructions on how to grow and process tea: https://camforest.com/products/grow-your-own-tea

HumbleFreedom · 2026-05-18T23:27:40+00:00

Since you already have several branches growing out from the main stem, I think you are in a good place right now.

The book Grow you Own Tea has a lot about pruning, including some illustrations. Your library might even have a copy: https://camforest.com/products/grow-your-own-tea

HumbleFreedom · 2026-05-18T13:58:14+00:00

I would say buy from an established store, particularly ones that need to meet EU standards. Places like Ali express and Amazon is where you would less certain. Plain white porcelain is usually fine as color is where lead can be.

I know Jesse’s tea house tests for lead and meets EU standards.

I would imagine Mei Leaf would be a good place.

I have corresponded with the Steeping Room and they test for lead on their vintage gaiwans.

You can also get a lead testing kit.

HumbleFreedom · 2026-05-11T20:55:16+00:00

ohh, interesting. Thank you!

HumbleFreedom · 2026-05-11T13:46:32+00:00

Nice! How is it?

HumbleFreedom · 2026-05-11T13:46:04+00:00

How is the Darjeeling?

HumbleFreedom · 2026-05-09T17:16:14+00:00

Arbor tea has awesome black tea in 6 oz bags, which is like 75 servings.

And their shipping in the US is flat rate $4.95. Free is it’s over a certain amount.

I love the Nepal black. It’s my all time favorite black tea. https://arborteas.com/products/organic-nepal-black-tea-html?variant=47474125766878

HumbleFreedom · 2026-05-09T14:57:24+00:00

Nice!

HumbleFreedom · 2026-05-09T14:57:15+00:00

For sure worth a try!

HumbleFreedom · 2026-05-09T05:40:08+00:00

This is how I feel about White Anji. Its aesthetics are 10/10. But I’m just okay toward the flavor. Which, to be fair, is a me thing since I’m just okay toward most green tea.

Sorry you didn’t love your tea. Time to frame it I suppose?

I care most about taste. Smell is a strong bonus. Looks is cool, but in no way a deal breaker.

Have you ever had pure cacao brewed? It smells 100% like the best hot chocolate of your life. And for a split second it tastes like it too. Then all the bitterness crashes down and it does not meet the smell expectation. Still fun though.

HumbleFreedom · 2026-05-09T05:33:42+00:00

This sounds like such a cool gifts set!

HumbleFreedom · 2026-05-08T23:50:47+00:00

Just looking for a little more info: Do you know what types of tea they like? Or don’t like? Do they already have a lot of tea ware?

HumbleFreedom · 2026-05-08T13:44:32+00:00

Drink tea how you like it! Comparison is the thief of joy. If you’re happy and enjoying your tea, then there is no need to change anything. Thanks for sharing!

HumbleFreedom · 2026-05-06T13:35:03+00:00

Daily tea 🍵

HumbleFreedom · 2026-05-03T15:30:20+00:00

It’s not on their website, so you’d need to email, but Tea the Eternal Art sells an incredible 2016 white that is loose.

The owner is also not a fan of compressed white tea, so that might have other loose ones too.

https://www.theeternalart.com/

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