An older man with white hair and a beard sitting at a luxurious table with a glass teacup and teapot as an example of tea drinking for beginners.

What You Need to Start Drinking Quality Tea Today

Are you curious about tea drinking for beginners, but don’t know where to start? This blog’s for you.

Whether you want to cut back on coffee, create a new ritual, or just try something new, tea is a great place to start. Tea is rich in history and flavor. There’s a tea for every kind of personality and taste. 

If you’re new to drinking tea, consider this your official invitation and guide. You’ll learn all about the origin, health benefits, and teaware essentials to begin your new exciting tea adventure today. But, first — what exactly is tea?

What is Tea?

A close-up of fresh rolled tea leaves in a bamboo tray being sorted by the hands of a tea artisan.

Not all the teas you see in the grocery store aisle are actually teas — which is important to know as you ease into tea drinking for beginners. True teas come from the Camellia sinensis plant. They come in varieties like black, green, white, oolong, and pu-erh. 

Unlike wine — which grows different grapes for different kinds of wine — all tea comes from the same tea leaf. Once the leaves are harvested, they can be rolled, oxidized, roasted, or treated in such a way that they become a variety of tea. Green tea is oxidized the least, and pu-erh and black teas are oxidized the most.

There are also herbal teas or tisanes that don't include tea leaves. These are made from herbs, flowers, and botanicals like mint and chamomile. Even though they aren’t technically tea, they still hold a ton of health benefits and can be equally as delicious as real tea.

What Are the Health Benefits of Tea?

A woman with blong hair sitting with her knees up in a corner chair while sipping on a cup of tea.

All teas might come from the same plant, but not all teas have the same health benefits. We’ve covered some of the amazing benefits of green tea, black tea, oolong tea, and herbal teas in previous blogs — these are an excellent resource with plenty of health info for tea drinking for beginners. Here are some of the most common reasons people start drinking tea for health:

  • - Antioxidant-rich teas aid your immune system and overall health
  • - Teas offer a stable energy boost and are a great substitute for coffee
  • - Green and black teas have been linked to anti-cancer properties
  • - Some teas like rooibos may help aid an irritable stomach
  • - Tea may help prevent cavities and supplement oral health
  • - Drinking tea can help with hydration
  • - If taken plain, tea can help with weight loss and regulate blood sugar levels
  • - The ritual of drinking tea can help with mindfulness and mental health

Essential Tools for Tea Drinking for Beginners

A young woman with dark hair preparing tea in multiple teapots.

You don’t need all the bells and whistles to get started. Here are some of our favorite tea time essentials for tea drinking for beginners: 

Loose Leaf Tea

A canister of loose leaf organic Earl Grey tea leaves from Teabloom.

Private Garden Earl Grey Loose Leaf Tea - $16.95

If you want a more flavorful and healthy tea, choose a USDA Certified Organic loose-leaf tea. They are not only more delicious, but they are made from higher-quality ingredients than conventional bagged teas. If you really don’t want to measure loose-leaf tea, these compostable sachets are made with plant-based materials.

Tea Mug

A glass tea mug with a stainless steel infuser as a tea drinking essential for beginners.

Radiance Double Wall Glass Mug With A Lid & Infuser - $24.95

A tea mug is an excellent choice for tea drinking for beginners. You can steep a single cup of tea for one. We suggest a tea mug made from borosilicate glass, because it’s easy to care for, dishwasher safe, and highlights the purest flavor of your tea.

Teapot

A traditional-shaped glass teapot for tea drinking for beginners.

Blossoms Classic Glass Teapot - $19.95

A teapot is also a wonderful choice, especially if it’s made from borosilicate glass. With this kind of teapot, you can forego the kettle and boil your water on the stove directly in your teapot. 

Tea Infuser

A stainless steel art-deco inspired tea infuser for tea drinking for beginners.

Blossom Stainless Steel Loose-Leaf Tea Infuser - $8.95

A tea infuser is included with some tea mugs and teapots to help catch your tea leaves. Once your tea is done steeping for the correct time — more on this below — you can simply remove the tea infuser from the teapot or mug with little fuss. This tool is excellent for tea drinking for beginners and can be used to remove loose leaf tea or sachets.

How to Choose Your First Tea

A top-down view of seven glass teapots with seven different varieties of tea.

One of the most exciting parts of tea drinking for beginners is choosing the kind of tea you’ll try first. Tea comes in thousands of different flavors. Here are some helpful tips for choosing a tea based on your current preferences: 

Do you love coffee? Try Earl Grey, Darjeeling, or English Breakfast.

Do you want a calm, soothing tea? Try White Ginger Pear, White Vanilla Nougat, or Lemon Mint Chamomile.

Do you like floral notes? Try Jasmine Pearls, Rose and Raspberry, or Floral Rooibos.

Do you appreciate earthy flavors? Try Jade Oolong, Sencha Medley, or Select Masala Chai.

Do you enjoy fruity flavors? Try Black Currant Nectar, White Ginger Pear, or Peach Bouquet.

How to Steep the Perfect Cup of Tea

A closeup of a person’s hands pouring tea into glass teacup as a ritual for tea drinking for beginners.

One common mistake of tea drinking for beginners is steeping your tea leaves for too long or in water that’s too hot — which can make your tea taste bitter. At the same time, steeping your tea in water that’s not hot enough makes your tea taste weak. 

Steeping tea might sound complicated, but — trust us — it’s easier than you think. Follow the steeping instructions on the package. You can also find all the info you need in these helpful blogs: 

Here’s a short cheat sheet for temperatures and steeping times: 

  • - Black tea — 200-212°F, steep for 3-5 minutes
  • - Oolong Tea — 185-195°F, steep for 3-5 minutes
  • - Green tea — 170-180°F, steep for 2-3 minutes
  • - White tea —160-185°F, steep for 4-5 minutes
  • - Herbal tea — 200-212°F, steep for 5-7 minutes

Tea Tasting Tips

A closeup of a young woman with dark hair and bangs smelling a steaming cup of hot tea.

How do you make the most of tea drinking for beginners? Focus on the smell, taste, and texture of the tea.

Once you steep your tea, look at the color of the broth and breathe in the aroma. Next, sip the tea and notice the flavor. Finally, take another sip, and feel the texture — or the mouthfeel — of your tea. 

Sipping your tea mindfully and with intention helps you slow down and appreciate the complexity and character of every tea you try. You can add tea rituals as a meditative moment in the beginning, middle, or end of your busy day.

Start Your Tea Journey Today

A beautiful display with a glass teapot on a stand, and a table with fresh flowers and accessories for tea drinking for beginners.

When it comes to tea, try to stick with a quality loose-leaf or sachet that will taste better than tea bags and simultaneously elevate your health and wellness. Store your tea away from moisture, light, and strong smells. 

You can re-steep most tea leaves — especially complex varieties like oolongs and pu-erhs — which are meant to be enjoyed for multiple steeps. 

And, if you dislike your first tea choice we encourage you to continue exploring! You may love the boldness of black tea but aren’t fond of the earthiness of green tea, or vice versa. 

Keep experimenting and trying new varieties. With thousands of teas available, you’ll find a favorite in no time.

Are you searching for quality, affordable teas and teaware? Teabloom is the perfect place to start your journey in tea drinking for beginners. 

Their exclusive teaware collections highlight the best flavors in your tea and elevate your health and wellness. With sustainable teaware and responsibly-made teas, you can feel great about your tea routine from day one.

Start your tea journey today with Teabloom.

www.Teabloom.com