Today tea is second in popularity to coffee in the United States. Worldwide it is number one. And the problem a true connoisseur of tea faces is not one of supply, but of finding the truly distinguished teas among a sea of undistinguished varieties and blends. So now let us help you chart your way to some teas that have already taken their place in history as some of the best... ours.

Green Pearl Tea, Mild, Premium $18.90 A very mild, rich, green tea that gets its name from rolling the leaf in tiny pellets to protect its very sweet, delicate flavor.

Green, Japanese Pan Fired, Premium $26.10 A superbly mellow green tea that is quickly pan fired to stop the fermentation process... A costly process, but worth the effort.

Green Young Hyson - Premium $19.00 Long, tightly-rolled leaves with sweet aroma and long lasting flavor. The word "Hyson" in Chinese means "Flourishing Spring," a type of tea.

Oolong "Black Dragon" - Premium $19.98 A semi-fermented tea, right between green tea and black tea, with all the attributes of both. Very large leaf produces a richly hold flavor. "Black Dragon" in Chinese is Wu-lung. This superb tea is hand-rolled and fired (dried) in baskets over pits containing red hot charcoals. This tea was originally shipped from Guangzhou and Amoy areas in China. This tea is second only to "Iron Goddess of Mercy" Oolong.

Oolong "Iron Goddess of Mercy" - Supreme $35.00 The finest Oolong grown on the face of the earth. Totally superb. This grade is rarely exported out of Formosa... Most goes to Taiwan.

Ceylon (Sri Lanka) - Orange Pekoe - Premium $14.90 Ceylon Produces superb teas. This is a fragrant, long leaf tea with a clear, clean, crisp taste that brews a golden red liquor in the cup. The term "Orange Pekoe" itself is in no sense a description of quality, but rather, refers to a grade of leaf tea resulting from sifting through a sieve having a mesh of a certain, specified size. Hence, a grade of tea termed "Orange Pekoe" could be Ceylon, Japanese, Chinese, Formosan, etc. In actuality, "Pekoe", in Chinese, means "white hair." Originally applied to the earliest tea pickings because of the white "down" on them, it was an Irishman named Walter Lipton who screwed up the term "Orange Pekoe" when he attempted to confuse the public by putting that name on the ultra cheap grade of tea that he sold.

Assam Fancy Premium TGFOP-1 $19.80 Fine reddish-brown liquor with rich, malty taste, this rare Assam tea comes from an exclusive estate in India's Rainy Valley. Full-bodied tea. Assam provence is in the northeast of India and teas are very high-graded. This is a welcome addition to your fine tea collection.

Darjeeling - Fancy - TGFOP-1 $32.50 A name synonymous with superior tea. Darjeeling is the champagne of teas and its several grades remind one of the grades of fine wine. Originally this grade was "Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe - First Flush" (the first pick of the first harvest and only the very top flower bud and two leaves off the whole entire bush). Incredibly flowery bouquet will leave you speaking eloquently of this tea. Superb.

Gold Tipped Darjeeling $75.00 One step above Darjeeling Fancy TGFOP-1 with only 1 leaf and 1 bud from the first flush. Darjeeling itself is a resort town high above sea level in the Himalayan Mountains. This is the highest quality grown. The Rolls Royce of all teas. The finest and most delicately flavored of all Indian teas. Grown at levels as high as 6500 feet... Clean, clear, superb liquor.

English Breakfast Connoisseur Blend $18.00 A full-bodied blend of Keemun Black and Yunnan Black tea, will take milk and/or sugar very well. Bold and strong in the cup.

Connoisseur Irish Blend $24.50 Blended full body and malty Assam, crisp and brisk Ceylon, flavorful Darjeeling, and bold North China Congou Keemun Black. Superb. Serve this, our own family blend, with absolute pride for breakfast, dinner, or at high tea. You'll love this in your collection of teas.

North China Congou Premium Keemun $19.50 Classic breakfast tea, with milk, reminds one of "toast hot from the oven."

South China Congou Premium Yunnan $21.50 Tea from this province in Southwest China was first exported over 1,000 years ago. This black tea is lighter and more delicately flavored than traditional Congou teas. Yunnan was a tea reserved for the Chinese aristocracy and is an exceptional tea.

Lapsang Souchong - Premium - Fancy $22.00 The unique, distinctive taste and aroma of this tea comes from being dried over fires from pine trees so the pine smoke permeates the tea. The unusual aroma and taste are excellent as a change of pace. The word "Souchong" itself denotes a grade of leaf size (large leaf, black tea) made from small bushes whose leaves were allowed to develop to an abnormally large leaf size. The word "Lapsang" means the tea came from the Bohema Mountains in the Fukien province where they dried tea leaves over pine tree fires.

Real Earl Grey - Connoisseur - Fancy $18.90 We cold-press out the oils from the peel of the Bergamot citrus to flavor this superbly scented and flavorful tea. Naturally flavored.

Russian - Connoisseur Quality $16.90 A full-bodied blend of South China Yunnan with North China Keemun added to a touch of Assam gives this tea body and flavor.

Swiss Decaf Earl Grey $19.95 Chemical free decaf scented and flavored with real oil of Bergamot.

Swiss Decaf Ceylon $18.00 With so much flavor you'll never know this is a chemical free decaf.

Swiss Decaf China Keemun $19.00 Excellent breakfast or dinner chemical free decaf. Enjoy any time.