Teas

Assam
This robust, malty tea is from the northeast Indian state of Assam, where over 800 tea gardens are cultivated. It is often manufactured for breakfast and is suited to the addition of milk. Look for a mellow tippy grade to accompany afternoon tea meals. 

Darjeeling
A delicate, slightly green black tea, Darjeeling hails from the Himalayan foothills of India. Eighty-six gardens in Darjeeling produce exceptional, and expensive, teas known for their distinctive muscatel overtones. The four yearly pickings are First Flush, Second Flush, Rainy Teas, and Autumnal Flush. These delicate, light teas are best infused for no more than four minutes.

Golden Yunnan
China’s Yunnan province has produced exceptional teas for more than 1,700 years. This gorgeous black tea displays big golden buds and uniformly shaped leaves that brew to a rich, dark reddish-black liquor that has a molasses-like sweetness and a malty finish. Show the dry leaves to your guests for added appeal.

Ceylon Orange Pekoe
Many tea blenders offer a tea called orange pekoe. It is not a blend and has nothing to do with oranges. Orange pekoe (OP) is a grade of uniformly long pointed tea leaves, usually from either India or Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon). Look for a single-estate Ceylon OP tea for all-day consumption—with or without milk.