How to Choose a Tea Brand That Suits You
A list of well-known tea brands can leave you with more names and little idea of where to begin. Think about the flavour you want, where you will brew and how much time you would like to spend preparing it. Those details make choosing a brand more manageable.
Begin with the tea you want to drink
If you enjoy the taste of tea leaves themselves, look for unflavoured teas in a style that interests you. For floral or fruity blends, start with a familiar aroma, then check whether the base is black tea, green tea or an infusion made from other plants.
Next, consider the format. You might enjoy measuring loose leaves at home or prefer putting a sachet into a mug at work. A promising blend in a format you will use gives you a practical reason to explore a brand.
Read beyond the flavour name
Look at the tea type, ingredients and tasting notes together. A floral or fruity aroma can involve different ingredients, including pieces of plants, essential oils or flavourings. The full recipe tells you more than the name on the front.
For example, Dammann Frères’ Earl Grey Yin Zhen page separates its black tea base, bergamot tasting note and ingredient list. The ingredients explicitly include bergamot essential oil. Each part helps answer a different question about the base and how the aroma is introduced.
This is an example of how to read a product page. Check the details again for any other tea that interests you; a familiar flavour name does not make two recipes identical.
Compare similar formats and amounts
When looking at prices, compare loose teas in similar pack sizes, or sachets with similar counts and quantities. Gift sets may also include tins or accessories, which contribute to the price.
Consider how many cups you would prepare using the recommended amount and whether the pack fits your drinking habits. Starting with an amount you can finish gives you time to learn about the flavour before choosing another pack.
Look at preparation and storage advice
Clear water temperatures and steeping times give you a starting point for brewing. When the tea arrives, check the packaging, the dates marked on the product and any instructions for storage after opening.
If you try several brands, begin with each tea’s own preparation guidance. Then ask which aroma, taste and routine you enjoy. Using one steeping time for every tea may give you an incomplete impression of each blend.
Why Happy Gourmet chose Dammann Frères
Happy Gourmet imports and distributes Dammann Frères in Thailand. We were drawn to the French tea house’s history, its work with floral, fruity and herbal aromas, and the variety that gives people with different tastes something to explore.
This guide comes from that importer’s perspective, using a brand we know to illustrate useful details to look for. Read the history and the work behind the blends if you would like to know more, then let the tea you brew help you decide what suits you.