These tea guides walk you through every major type of tea, black, green, white, herbal, chai, matcha, and floral, plus a full guide to lavender tea, with what each one tastes like, how much caffeine it has, and how to brew a cup you will actually enjoy.
When I first started drinking tea, the options felt overwhelming. Bags or loose leaf? Is chai a black tea? What in the world is a tisane? So I wrote the guides I wish someone had handed me: no snobbery, no complicated rituals, just what you need to find a tea you love and brew it well.
If you are brand new, start at the top with black tea and work your way down. If a certain tea has been calling your name, jump straight to it.
1. Beginner’s Guide to Black Tea — Where most of us start, whether we knew it or not. English Breakfast, Earl Grey, and the teas that love a splash of milk.
2. Beginner’s Guide to Green Tea — Fresh and a little grassy, and the one where water temperature makes all the difference.
3. Beginner’s Guide to White Tea — The most delicate of the true teas. If you find black tea too strong, start here instead.
4. Beginner’s Guide to Herbal Tea — Chamomile, peppermint, hibiscus, and friends. Naturally caffeine free and perfect for evenings.
5. Beginner’s Guide to Chai Tea — Black tea warmed up with cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger. My favorite when fall arrives.
6. Beginner’s Guide to Matcha — The bright green powder you whisk instead of steep, and how to make it without lumps.
7. Beginner’s Guide to Floral Tea — Rose, hibiscus, butterfly pea, and other teas as pretty as they are delicious.
8. Your Complete Guide to Lavender Tea — The floral tea that deserves its own guide. Calming, fragrant, and lovely with lemon or honey.
Once you have found your tea, come see my afternoon tea ideas for putting together a tea time worth sitting down for, from a quiet cup on a Tuesday to a full party spread.
Want to Make a Better Cup of Tea?
If you are never quite sure about water temperatures, steeping times, or how much tea to use, download my free Tea Brewing Tips Guide. It is a simple reference to keep handy whenever you are making a cup.