TEA’s BIBLE

Encyclopedia

Tea Encyclopedia

The world's teas, with their origin, liquor color, and how to enjoy them.

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Origin map

● Click a marker to jump to that tea. On desktop, zoom with Ctrl(⌘)+wheel and drag to pan; on mobile, tap "Interact with map" first (27 straight-tea origins).

Straight

Straight

Single-origin tea leaves where the name of the region becomes the brand. This is the essence of black tea, allowing you to experience the unique characteristics of the tea garden and the season.

Darjeeling

Origin
North India
Liquor color
Orange
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as straight tea

Features a unique aroma known as muscat flavor. Available by estate at specialty shops.

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Assam

Origin
North India
Liquor color
Clear, deep red
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as milk tea

High in tannins with a mild flavor and rich aroma.

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Nilgiri

Origin
South India
Liquor color
Deep Orange
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as milk tea or in blended variations

Fresh and crisp aroma with a robust flavor.

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Uva

Origin
Southeastern Sri Lanka
Liquor color
Bright Red
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as a milk tea

Rich and invigorating flavor with a fragrant aroma. One of the world's three great black teas.

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Dimbula

Origin
Central Sri Lanka
Liquor color
Orange
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as iced tea or in variations.

Soft aroma reminiscent of roses and a mild flavor.

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Nuwara Eliya

Origin
Central Sri Lanka
Liquor color
Orange
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as straight tea

Refreshing aroma and robust flavor.

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Candy / Kandy

Origin
Central Sri Lanka
Liquor color
Bright Red
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as a variation tea or iced tea.

Mild astringency with a rich flavor.

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Ruhuna

Origin
Southern Sri Lanka
Liquor color
Deep Rich Red
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as a milk tea

It has a unique smoky flavor with little astringency.

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Keemun

Origin
Anhui Province, China
Liquor color
Light Orange
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as straight tea or milk tea

Features an orchid-like smoky flavor. Known as the Burgundy of Chinese tea. One of the world's top three black teas.

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Kenya

Origin
Kenya
Liquor color
Deep Red
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as iced tea or milk tea

Smooth, rich, and sweet without astringency.

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Java

Origin
Java Island
Liquor color
Bright Orange
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as iced tea or milk tea

Mild flavor with consistent quality.

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Knyam / Kanyam

Origin
Nepal
Liquor color
Orange
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as straight tea

A rare tea with a rich aroma, reminiscent of Darjeeling. (One of the author's favorites)

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Raming

Origin
Thailand
Liquor color
Dark Brown
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as straight tea or iced tea

Characterized by large leaves.

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Georgian

Origin
Georgia (formerly known as Georgia)
Liquor color
Deep Orange
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as straight tea

Characterized by a sweet flavor.

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Rize

Origin
Turkey
Liquor color
Dark Brown
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as chai or straight tea

A tea with very low export volume.

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Galle

Origin
Southern Sri Lanka
Liquor color
Bright Orange
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as iced tea, straight tea, or milk tea

Floral aroma.

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Dianhong / Yunnan

Origin
Yunnan Province, China
Liquor color
Shimmering Golden Red
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as straight or milk tea

Rich in golden tips, sweet and mellow.

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Jin Jun Mei

Origin
Fujian Province, China
Liquor color
Clear golden orange
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed straight (infuse multiple times with a small amount)

A premium Chinese black tea made exclusively from new buds, featuring a honey-like sweet aroma.

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Ilam

Origin
Eastern Nepal
Liquor color
Bright Orange
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as a straight tea

A vibrant and floral highland tea grown next to Darjeeling.

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Sikkim

Origin
North India, Sikkim
Liquor color
Bright Amber
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as a straight tea

A rare high-altitude tea known for its Temi tea garden. Elegant aroma reminiscent of Darjeeling.

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Dooars

Origin
North India, West Bengal
Liquor color
Deep Red
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as a milk tea

Grown in the lowlands between Assam and Darjeeling. Smooth and mellow.

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Sun Moon Lake Ruby (No.18)

Origin
Nantou County, Taiwan
Liquor color
Clear Ruby
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed straight

Taiwan Tea No. 18. Unique aroma reminiscent of cinnamon and mint.

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Honey Black Tea

Origin
Taiwan
Liquor color
Bright Amber
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed straight

A natural honey aroma created by leaves bitten by leafhoppers.

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Japanese Black Tea

Origin
Japan (Shizuoka, Kagoshima, and others)
Liquor color
Gentle Orange
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as a straight tea

Domestic black tea with mild astringency and soft sweetness.

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Malawi

Origin
Malawi (Africa)
Liquor color
Bright Red
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as iced milk tea

One of Africa's most historically significant tea regions with a clear and bright flavor.

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Rwanda

Origin
Rwanda (Africa)
Liquor color
Deep Red
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as a milk tea

A fresh and rich African black tea from high altitudes.

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Vietnam

Origin
Northern Vietnam
Liquor color
Dark Orange
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as straight or iced tea

Light and smooth with minimal astringency. Famous for its lotus aroma.

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Flavory

Flavory

Black tea infused with the aromas of flowers and fruits. It is generally recommended to enjoy it straight to fully appreciate the fragrance.

Earl Grey

Leaf
China, Ceylon, etc.
Liquor color
Dark Orange
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as straight tea or iced tea.

Aromatic with bergamot (citrus). The most famous flavored tea.

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Lapsang Souchong

Leaf
Fujian Province, China
Liquor color
Deep Orange
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as iced tea or milk tea

Features a smoky flavor with a pine aroma and an oriental scent.

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Montagne Bleue

Leaf
China and Ceylon
Liquor color
Dark Brown
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as straight tea or iced tea

A mix of lavender and various fruit flavors.

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Baikal

Leaf
China and Ceylon
Liquor color
Dark brown
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as straight tea or iced tea

A flavor enhanced with bergamot aroma and orange juice.

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Ambre

Leaf
China and Ceylon
Liquor color
Deep Orange
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as iced tea or straight tea

Flavors of honey and orange.

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Caramel

Leaf
China and Ceylon
Liquor color
Dark Brown
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as straight tea, iced tea, or milk tea

Features a sweet caramel aroma.

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Framboise

Leaf
China and Ceylon
Liquor color
Deep Orange
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as iced tea or straight tea

Sweet and tangy aroma of raspberries.

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Grandbois Vanille

Leaf
China and Ceylon
Liquor color
Dark Brown
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as straight tea or milk tea

Rich vanilla aroma.

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Apple

Leaf
China and Ceylon
Liquor color
Orange
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as straight tea or iced tea

Aroma of apples, just as the name suggests.

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Quartier Latin

Leaf
China and Ceylon
Liquor color
Deep Orange
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as straight tea or iced tea

Aroma of lavender.

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Rose

Leaf
China and Ceylon
Liquor color
Bright Orange
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as straight tea

An elegant aroma of rose petals.

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Peach

Leaf
China, Ceylon, etc.
Liquor color
Bright Orange
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as iced tea

Juicy and sweet aroma of white peach.

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Mango

Leaf
Ceylon, China, etc.
Liquor color
Deep Orange
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as iced tea

A luscious sweet aroma of tropical mango.

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Cinnamon

Leaf
Ceylon, China, etc.
Liquor color
Dark Brown
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as a milk tea

Spicy and sweet, with a warming cinnamon aroma.

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Lychee

Leaf
Ceylon, China, etc.
Liquor color
Bright Orange
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as straight or iced tea

Refreshing sweet aroma of lychee. Becomes even more vibrant when chilled.

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Lemon

Leaf
Ceylon and others
Liquor color
Bright golden
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as iced tea or straight

Refreshing lemon aroma. Truly shines when served iced or with soda.

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Muscat

Leaf
Darjeeling, Ceylon, etc.
Liquor color
Light Orange
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as straight or iced tea

Elegant sweet aroma of muscat.

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Tropical

Leaf
Ceylon, Kenya, etc.
Liquor color
Bright reddish-orange
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as iced tea

Tropical flavors of passion fruit and pineapple.

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Mint

Leaf
Ceylon, China, etc.
Liquor color
Bright Orange
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as iced tea

Refreshing mint aroma, perfect for hot seasons.

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Strawberry

Leaf
Ceylon and others
Liquor color
Bright Red
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as straight or iced tea

Sweet and charming strawberry aroma. Pairs well with ice cream and sweets.

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Chocolate

Leaf
Ceylon, Assam, etc.
Liquor color
Dark reddish-brown
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as a milk tea

Sweet and fragrant cocoa aroma. Rich when brewed with milk.

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Jasmine

Leaf
China and others
Liquor color
Bright Orange
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed straight

A floral aroma of jasmine flowers. Elegant when enjoyed straight.

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Ginger

Leaf
Assam, Ceylon, etc.
Liquor color
Deep Orange
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as straight or milk tea

A warm, spicy aroma of ginger. Perfect for chilly days or chai.

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Mixed Berry

Leaf
Ceylon and others
Liquor color
Bright Red
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as iced tea

Sweet and tangy berry aroma, perfect for iced or fruit teas.

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Blend

Blend

Black tea made from a blend of various tea leaves. The combinations vary by manufacturer, resulting in countless blends.

House Blend

Leaf
Various regions
Liquor color
Bright red
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as straight, iced, or with milk

A classic blend that is easy to drink every day, focusing on balance.

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Iced Tea Blend

Leaf
Ceylon - Various Regions
Liquor color
Bright Red
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as iced tea

A specially blended tea designed to minimize cloudiness when chilled.

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Summer Blend

Leaf
Ceylon, Darjeeling, etc.
Liquor color
Bright Golden
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as iced or straight.

A light and refreshing blend, perfect for summer.

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English Breakfast

Leaf
India and Ceylon
Liquor color
Deep Red
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as a milk tea

A blend created for morning tea, characterized by its astringency.

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Royal Blend

Leaf
India, Ceylon and various others
Liquor color
Dark brown
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as milk tea

The blend ratios vary by manufacturer.

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Orange Pekoe

Leaf
Ceylon variety
Liquor color
Bright orange
How to enjoy
Varies by product

Easily confused with grade OP, but this is a blend name.

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Classic Blend

Leaf
China, Taiwan, India
Liquor color
Deep Red
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as a milk tea

Well-balanced bitterness and astringency.

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Afternoon Tea

Leaf
Assam, India
Liquor color
Deep Red
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as milk tea or iced tea

Smooth flavor.

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Irish Breakfast

Leaf
Assam region
Liquor color
Dark reddish-brown
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as a milk tea

Rich and robust, with a higher Assam content than traditional English blends.

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Prince of Wales

Leaf
China (primarily Keemun)
Liquor color
Bright Amber
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed straight

A light and elegant blend based on Keemun.

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Russian Caravan

Leaf
China (Keemun, Lapsang Souchong, and others)
Liquor color
Deep reddish-brown
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as straight or milk tea

Subtle smoky aroma. A blend with a story rooted in caravan journeys.

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Ceylon Blend

Leaf
Various regions of Sri Lanka
Liquor color
Bright red
How to enjoy
Best enjoyed as straight, iced, or with milk

A blend of tea leaves from various regions of Sri Lanka. Clear and versatile.

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