Here's our FIRST EVER GUEST POST. Informative, and fun!
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One of the best things about the world of
tea is that there are hundreds of tasty teas, from “true teas” like whites,
oolongs and pu-erhs, to tea blends and even herbal teas, to explore. The fact
that there are so many different types to try is one of the things that make
tea fun, as it is likely you will find at least one that you enjoy. The downside
is that purchasing all those teas can get quite expensive. However, if you are
willing to put a little more time and consideration into your search and seek
out samples and tea swaps, you can alleviate some of the cost.
Read
Reviews
Besides tasting teas yourself, one of the
easiest ways to learn about new teas is by reading the reviews of others. The
tea community has a huge online presence, so there are a variety of sites (such
as this one, as well as Rate Tea and Teaviews) that are frequently updated with reviews
of different teas. After you have tried some teas based on the reviews you
have read, you may even be able to narrow down what bloggers seem to have
similar tastes as you so you can rely on their recommendations.
Another option is to read the reviews of a
particular tea on the retailer’s site, and see what other people who have
bought the tea thought of it. However, it is important to keep in mind that
customer reviews can be slightly biased, since they are most likely to review a
tea if they either really enjoyed it or completely disliked it. On the other
hand, tea bloggers generally will share their opinion on any tea they try, even
if it was only mediocre, making them a more reliable source.
Watch
for Sales
One way to get tea at a cheaper price is to
wait for a sale to purchase them. If there is a certain brand you like or are interested
in trying, keep an on their site for sales or promotions. You can also try
following the company’s social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) or
joining their mailing list to find out about special offers, promotional codes
or flash sales.
Seek
out Samples
The nice thing about samples is they are a
great way to try various teas with little or no monetary investment on your
end. Better yet, there are a variety of ways to get samples of tea to try.
One way is to attend
tea related events, like local tea festivals, where not only can you get
samples of both loose leaf and prepared tea, but can also attend classes taught
by industry experts and suppliers.
Retail stores will often hold regular
tastings where you can sample tea in the shop or even take some home and brew it
yourself. However, when you are sampling teas that are already brewed (whether
at a festival or in a store), make sure to ask a lot of questions about how the
tea was prepared. Some vendors flavor their teas with sweeteners, like sugars
and syrups, or brew it with a higher concentration of leaves to make the tea
have a stronger or sweeter flavor. Although this is a bit misleading, it is a
practice quite a few stores participate in, which (as I have learned from
experience) can cause your tea to taste very different when you brew it at
home. While some retailers can be tricky with how they flavor their tea, other
sellers will sometimes include a sweet surprise when you purchase tea from them.
These gifts are usually samples of teas or a discount on your next purchase. Both
of which are great ways to try something new!
You can also utilize the online tea
community for samples. Many bloggers wind up getting more tea samples than they
can drink, so they often have contests or drawings to give away their extras.
In addition, there are several tea review sites that are always interested in
finding new people to review teas to in order to gain another perspective. If you
enjoy writing or blogging, this is a great way to receive free samples since
many of the sites will send you the tea they want you to review. Finally, there
are some bloggers that are just kind-hearted and excited to meet fellow
aficionados who will happily send you samples they come across once they get to
know you.
Swap/Share
with Friends
Again, this is a good time to explore the
online tea community, and check out sites like Steepster,
to see if there are any people who participate in tea swaps in your area. If
you aren't familiar with tea swaps, they are prearranged get-togethers (it’s
best to do these in a public place until you feel comfortable with the people in
your group) where people swap, and sometimes even taste, teas. Usually people
swap teas that have discovered since the last time the group met, extra samples
they may have lying around or teas that they tried and didn't like.
If there isn't an in-person tea swap in
your area, there are also tea groups that swap samples through the mail and
“meet” online via Skype to chat and review teas. Another option is to start a
tea-swapping group yourself. If you love tea, it’s likely you know at least a
few other people (such as friends, family members or co-workers) who enjoy it
as well. If your friends aren't as into tea as you are, this is a great time to
introduce them to it! Start by sharing a couple of teas you like, and even ones
you don’t, since you never know what will appeal to other people. As your
friends get more comfortable with tea, they'll likely return the favor and
share their finds, or be willing to swap teas they dislike, with you. If they end
up having similar tastes, your friends may even be willing to split a large package
of tea so you don't need to shoulder hefty costs alone or worry about getting
through a ton of tea. Besides, tea is always more fun when you have someone to
share it with you so can compare notes.
Brenna Ciummo is a writer
for Seattle Coffee Gear and enjoys sharing her knowledge of all things coffee
and tea. An avid tea drinker, she is always on the hunt for new teas to try.
