our teas
Zen Tara Tea has brought together an exceptional range of teas for your enjoyment. A brief overview of the main tea categories is provided below with links to the full list of teas, their descriptions and purchase options.
THE BASICS:
-
All of our teas are loose leaf teas packed in opaque, resealable stand-up pouches to keep out light and moisture and retain the freshness of the tea available in 2, 4 and 8 oz. pacakages. Generally speaking, a 2 oz. bag of tea makes 17-20 cups depending on the size of the leaf (this does not include multiple infusions that can be brewed from many green, white, oolong and pu-erh teas).
-
Secure purchases can be made with major credit cards via PayPal. The payment process is handled on the Paypal site, we do not retain or have access to any of your personal or credit card information other than the ship to address.
-
A FREE tasting sample is included with every order to enable you to try new teas before buying them. Please indicate what type of tea you would like in the "Special Instructions" message box of the PayPal order page or leave it up to us to surprise you.
-
Orders of $50 or more FREE shipping.
GO DIRECTLY TO: black teas, green teas, oolongs, white teas, flavored teas, herbal teas, chai's, flowering teas
BLACK TEAS - Black teas are among the most popular teas in the U.S. and Europe thanks in part to historical conditions dating back centuries. While green and white teas have always been the preferred types of tea in Asia, these minimally processed teas did not easily endure the long trek from China to Europe. Further oxidation of the tea leaves into what we now call black teas better preserved the tea during the long shipping voyages from the east to the west.
Black teas have a rich flavor and strong body while still allowing a nuanced complexity to shine through. The approximate caffeine level for an 8 oz. cup of black tea is around 40 mg. - less than half that of a typical cup of brewed coffee. (For additional information on caffeine levels of all types of teas compared to coffee and other beverages follow this link)
Our popular black teas include: Darjeeling, Assam, Keemun, Nilgiri, Lapsang Souchong, English Breakfast, Irish Breakfast, Ceylon and Earl Grey.
The Complete Zen Tara Black Tea List
GREEN TEAS - Green teas offer an almost infinite variety of intricate flavor profiles ranging from light, slightly sweet and vegetal to herbaceous, grassy and earthy. The natural flavor of green teas is further enhanced through regional processing techniques and precise handworking passed along from one generation to the next.
Green tea has become more popular in the United States driven largely by a lot of recent scientific studies that have documented the health benefits of green tea. It would be unfortunate if new green tea drinkers only felt compelled to drink green tea for its healthful properties rather than appreciating the pleasing tastes these teas can offer. The first time green tea drinker often notices only the first note vegetal flavor of the green tea until the tasting palette adjusts and the more complex nuances of the various types of green tea become more discernable. In addition to the inherent health benefit of green tea (and all teas) the caffeine level of green tea, (20 mg.) is generally half that of a black tea.
Some of the most famous green teas: Sencha, Dragonwell, Gunpowder, Chunmee, Genmaicha, Kukicha and Mao Feng.
The Complete Zen Tara Green Tea List
OOLONG TEAS - If green teas can be thought of as "newly rediscovered" teas in the United States increasing in their popularity then oolong teas may fall under the category of "soon to be discovered". Among the most complicated teas to manufacture they are not easily categorized. Depending on their processing, they fall within the tea spectrum between a green and a black tea.
In general, oolong teas are usually made from the larger tea leaves of the China varietal tea plant. The tea leaves are partially oxidized (between 35% to 75%) and this variation allows for a lot of customization and control over the processing of the tea leaves to create a unique flavor profile. Oolong teas are an appealing choice for tea drinkers looking for a tea not quite as strong as a black tea but more nuanced and less vegetal in taste than a green tea. Many of our oolong teas have flavor profiles unique to their area of cultivation and processing and develop loyal followings as customer favorites. The caffeine level of oolong teas depends on the level of oxidation and generally is in the range of 30 mg., midway between black and green teas.
Explore our selection of oolong teas: Wuyi, Tie Guan Yin Jade, Osthmanthus, Milk and Two Dragon.
The Complete Zen Tara Oolong Tea List
WHITE TEAS - The fine silver hairs that cover the tea bud as it forms at the tip of each stem account for the name "white" tea. White teas are made from these harvested unopened buds and sometimes very new leaves that have just slightly opened. Hand picked, the buds vary in size depending on the area where the tea is grown. Traditionally, white teas have only been grown in a few provinces in China with the Fujian province generally recognized as producing the finest white teas. The amount of white tea able to be harvested in a growing season is limited in comparison to most other teas and the most exceptional white teas are among the rarest and most expensive of teas.
Minimally processed, the freshness of white teas is important to insure the best flavor from the tea leaves when brewed. White tea is generally a very pale green to golden color tea with a light, soft, smooth flavor. This lighter flavor range can appear weak when contrasted with more robust black, green and oolong teas and usually it is best to taste white teas on their own merits and let your palette adjust to the subtle qualities of the tea. The caffeine content of white teas when brewed is the lowest of all true teas, generally around 10-15 mg. per cup.
Our exceptional white teas: Silver Needle, Snow Bud, White Peony, Peach Blossom, Melon and Pomegranate.
The Complete Zen Tara White Tea List
SCENTED or FLAVORED TEAS - Many types of tea can be enhanced with added natural flavors or ingredients to create a unique and very pleasant cup of tea. Zen Tara offers scented or flavored teas whose additional ingredients are carefully selected to maintain the integrity of the organic status of our teas. Many of these flavored teas have been the favorites of tea drinkers around the world for centuries.
Some of our most popular flavored teas: Earl Grey, Jasmine Green, Moroccan Mint, Black Currant, Peach with Ginger, and Mandarin Citrus.
The Complete Zen Tara Flavored Tea List
HERBAL TEAS (Tisanes) - Though not a true tea, botanical blends or herbal teas are flavorful, healthy and (usually) caffeine-free alternatives to traditional teas. Tisanes are master blended to combine botanical ingredients that compliment each others unique tastes. Frequently, the flavor of the tisane is matched to similar health benefit properties such as being a calming influence, soothing digestion, or other desired benefit.
Among the most popular herbal and botanical blends are: South African Rooibos, Chamomile Lavender, Ginger Lime Rooibos, Licorice Root and Hibiscus.
The Complete Zen Tara Botanical Blends and Herbal Tea List
CHAI TEAS - A traditional tea from India, Chai is usually a black tea blended with spices (often including cinnamon, cloves and cardamom). After steeping or boiling the tea milk and honey or sugar are added for an invigorating cup of sweet and flavorful tea.
Our most populars chai's are Masala, 500 Mile and Maghreb Minty Green (which uses a green tea rather than a black tea).
The Complete Zen Tara Chai List
FLOWERING DISPLAY TEAS - Flowering Display teas are enjoyed for the visual presentation they create while steeping. Young tea leaves (usually green or white tea leaves) are bunched and hand-tied or rolled to create distinct shapes. In heated water the leaves unfurl to create a unique shape of a tea base and a sculptural floral assembly. These teas are best enjoyed in a glass teapot or wineglass so that the tea has room to open and the display can be easily seen.
The Complete Zen Tara Flowering Teas List