Looking for a good source for tea samplers

Jim,

Upton (

) offers samples for only $1 on most teas (really high-end teas have sample prices of $2 or more). I like it because the size is just enough for a 2-cup pot or two, so I don't have to suffer through too much tea I don't end up liking.

They also offer sample sets that include four similar teas in larger proportion than their regular samples. I've always been satisfied with the quality from Upton, but I've heard people who were unimpressed with them. One problem I will note is that the samples are in envelopes that don't preserve the tea so you have to drink it quickly. Along the same vein, their tins don't seal well. If you choose Upton, you're probably going to want an alternative plan for storing the tea if you aren't going to consume it all right away (you probably wouldn't be able to consume all the tea in one of their sample sets in time).

Hope this helps.

AM

Do *NOT* get any of Upton's sampler sets. They often feature atypical teas (e.g., a first-flush Darjeeling that tastes like a second-flush and a high-fermentation China Oolong), low-grade teas (their Oolong set recently downgraded from Formosa Oolong Choicest to F. O. Choice, though anything under Fancy isn't worth the time or money), and they come in loose-lidded, useless containers (I once completely ruined some $30 Ti Kwan Yin in one, while some $12 Ti Kwan Yin gotten at the same time stored in Holy Mtn's Mihon Can was still perfectly fragrant and tasty).

The only other samplers I have ordered are the pu-erh and Oolong samplers from Holy Mountain. I was altogether happy with the Oolong (save that the Oolong "choice" was not good), and thought that the balance of expensive and affordable teas of similar styles in the set made it very well-rounded. The pu-erh was very nice on the whole, though I think that, considering I had no use for scented tuocha, I didn't get my money's worth. However, their pu-erh sampler offers samples of teas otherwise only availible in largish (and expensive) cakes (the You Zi Cha was odd, but worth trying. The Tibetan Mushroom pu-erh was probably my favorite, though the "large-leafed pu-erh from old trees" was also outstanding).

As to things I have heard of, but not experienced: Specialteas and IPOT offer your standard sampler kits, and ITC usually includes 1oz of four teas, for $20+ (emphasis on the "+"). Recently, IPOT has had a sampler set in which you get two Formosa Oolongs (a Pouchong and a medium-fermentation) together for $50, wheras they would normally cost a little less than $70. Those are a quarter-pound per tea, though. A company known as the Oolong Tea Store offers a free sample of most of its teas, the customer only pays shipping.

The only other unusual thing to mention is that Grey and Seddon offer samplers of their tea for a flat price of $25 per sampler (including shipping, which is noteworthy for an Australian company shipping to the US). These samplers seem well-rounded, but the unusual part is the quantities: they usually include a large amount of one tea (say, 100g) and then smaller samples of several other teas (about 25g per tea). It is unusual for them to offer individual samples of their tea, save with expensive teas (like their Chinese greens and the Da Hong Pao they recently put up).

On the whole, I would advise against samplers. Usually, you can get better teas (ones better-suited to your tastes) and avoid spending money on teas you don't want by ordering individual samples. These are the circumstances under which I would order a sampler: (1) you want

*every* tea in the set (you *will* waste money otherwise, no matter how many other arguments there are in favor of this), (2) either there is a substantial discount (e.g., that IPOT samper I mentioned), you don't know where to start (as in choosing among ITC's green-tea selection), or there are teas in the sampler not availible otherwise as a sample (like a pu-erh cakes).

Good luck to you on your effort to expand your tastes. If only everyone had the time and inclination to do likewise . . .

Many happy infusions,

ZBL

Hi Jim,

We sell samplers of quality Chinese teas in 50 grams size. Quality and freshness are guaranteed. Check us out at

i also concur about not buying sampler sets- many companies sell online with small samples-i enjoy chinese oolongs and scented tea-

i would also suggest going to frequently asked questions and also check out lots of siie to keep one busy for days-

Thanks all for the feedback. I will check out all of these sites.

While Upton may not have good samplers, is their tea better when one purchases larger quantities?

Upton has a very large selection, and I've gotten some very good teas from them.

Agalena

Let me qualify my statement--Upton has good samples, if you're into the kind of tea Upton usually excels in (i.e., Black (red) teas of all sorts). The samples are just about the perfect size--maybe just a little small. I was warning about the sampler kits, which provide much too much of each tea, in addition to the problems I've already mentioned. The samples are sent in little envelopes, not the loose-lidded canisters like the sampler kits. However, it is highly advisable to provide storage for samples (a ziploc bag in addition to the envelope, maybe?).

As I say, Upton is most usually mentioned in connection with black teas (and giant selections). Although I heard that their Lu An Guapian is good, most of their Chinese greens & whites are nothing to write home about. They have a small selection of Chinese Oolongs, none really outstanding.

Their standard $5/quarter-pound Pu-Erh is surprisingly good, at least for a beginning foray into pu-erh. However, the $16 "Celestial Tribute" Pu-erh is not good: it has most of the qualities of a good tea (I think...) but it's all overwhelmed by a weird, overpowering smoothness. It's so silkily smooth that you can't notice anything else; thus, unless you're a BIG tofu fan, I can't imagine finding much in this tea to appeal. It's almost like a production of Hamlet wherin the second spearman from the left tries to steal the show. Smoothness is good in the background, but it cloys easily. Upton is not the greatest pu-erh dealer extant.

They're usually also associated with good high-fermentation Formosa Oolongs. I remember being unimpressed with their "Jade" Oolong, but I was quite a newbie then, and didn't even think to smell the tea. :-)

If I were to start ordering samples, I think I would start with Specialteas, which supposedly has good greens (and oolongs? Their Oolong selection *looks* better than Upton's, but I have not yet tried any).

Good luck,

ZBL

Let me qualify my statement--Upton has good samples, if you're into the kind of tea Upton usually excels in (i.e., Black (red) teas of all sorts). The samples are just about the perfect size--maybe just a little small. I was warning about the sampler kits, which provide much too much of each tea, in addition to the problems I've already mentioned. The samples are sent in little envelopes, not the loose-lidded canisters like the sampler kits. However, it is highly advisable to provide storage for samples (a ziploc bag in addition to the envelope, maybe?).

As I say, Upton is most usually mentioned in connection with black teas (and giant selections). Although I heard that their Lu An Guapian is good, most of their Chinese greens & whites are nothing to write home about. They have a small selection of Chinese Oolongs, none really outstanding.

Their standard $5/quarter-pound Pu-Erh is surprisingly good, at least for a beginning foray into pu-erh. However, the $16 "Celestial Tribute" Pu-erh is not good: it has most of the qualities of a good tea (I think...) but it's all overwhelmed by a weird, overpowering smoothness. It's so silkily smooth that you can't notice anything else; thus, unless you're a BIG tofu fan, I can't imagine finding much in this tea to appeal. It's almost like a production of Hamlet wherin the second spearman from the left tries to steal the show. Smoothness is good in the background, but it cloys easily. Upton is not the greatest pu-erh dealer extant.

They're usually also associated with good high-fermentation Formosa Oolongs. I remember being unimpressed with their "Jade" Oolong, but I was quite a newbie then, and didn't even think to smell the tea. :-)

If I were to start ordering samples, I think I would start with Specialteas, which supposedly has good greens (and oolongs? Their Oolong selection *looks* better than Upton's, but I have not yet tried any).

Good luck,

ZBL

I basically agree with you on all counts. I don't buy the sampler sets because usually, I'm not interested in several of the teas in the set. I prefer to buy individual samples.

I recently tried a sample of Upton's Jade Oolong Imperial, and found it excellent. That was the first oolong I'd tried from Upton so I can't comment on their others. I'm a real fan of lightly oxidized oolongs, and this one was really good. It's pretty pricey though. I also had a sample of their Shou Mei white which I thought was good.

Agalena

We offer fresh packed samplers in our store

We also offer sampler size bags of all our loose teas which is typically enough for 10-12 cups. You can find the samplers here:

Candie Yoder

1-866-799-4005

One highlight:

"Tropical Fruit Tea Sampler #1

This is the best way to try a group of our different Flavored teas. You get 1 oz bags of 5 different loose teas. Teas included: Coconut Pina Colada Pineapple Mango Banana"

I like to make these with lots of sugar, freeze in ice-cube trays, and then whirl in a blender with a little leftover tea. I call it "Daiqui-tea"! It's like a Slurpee for gourmets!

Or perhaps this one:

"Maple Green Tea

The incredible taste of maple coupled with a high grown Ceylon green tea. Superb as an after-dinner tea."

...or topped with mini-marshmallows and crushed Butterfingers after a brisk autumn's outing to the mall.

To Candie's credit, though, I don't feel she's a cynical businesswoman just giving the people what they want -- I believe she truly loves this stuff. Nevertheless, if you use my name "Daiqui-tea", Cindy, I'll sue your ass for copyright infringement.

--crymad

One highlight:

"Tropical Fruit Tea Sampler #1

This is the best way to try a group of our different Flavored teas. You get 1 oz bags of 5 different loose teas. Teas included: Coconut Pina Colada Pineapple Mango Banana"

I like to make these with lots of sugar, freeze in ice-cube trays, and then whirl in a blender with a little leftover tea. I call it "Daiqui-tea"! It's like a Slurpee for gourmets!

Or perhaps this one:

"Maple Green Tea

The incredible taste of maple coupled with a high grown Ceylon green tea. Superb as an after-dinner tea."

...or topped with mini-marshmallows and crushed Butterfingers after a brisk autumn's outing to the mall.

To Candie's credit, though, I don't feel she's a cynical businesswoman just giving the people what they want -- I believe she truly loves this stuff. Nevertheless, if you use my name "Daiqui-tea", Candie, I'll sue your ass for copyright infringement.

--crymad

If your samplers are fresh packed, doesn't that mean you open one of your storage bins to the air each time a customer orders, say, an ounce? And doesn't that accelerate the decay of your product?

/Lew

I have always had good samplers from TeaTraders.