A few ways to select a tea

Select a tea by category, region, taste or TCM character

At TeaHong.com, we try to put ourselves in our customers’ shoes. Different people have different priorities. Each sees the world differently. Naturally when it comes to selecting a tea, your criteria may not be the same as that of any other tea drinkers. That is why in addition to the usual display by price, name or popularity, we group our tea selections in different ways so you can see them in the context that is closest to how you think when selecting a tea:

• by the tea category • by the tea region • by the taste character • by the TCM character

Selection by the tea category

The most common way to group different varieties of tea is by the category of processing method with which they are produced. Some call it Tea Classification, others Tea Categorisation. We think the later label is semantically more accurate.

Many connoisseurs and tea specialists organise their collections with this concept.

In addition to the five main categories: Green, Black, White, Pu’er ( Post-Fermentation ) and Oolong teas, we have included some subcategories such as matcha, cha bing, organic teas etc for easier focus for those who are looking for these.

Need more info about a category before seeing the products? Here are some articles:

• Green tea: What are green teas and what makes ours special
• Black tea: Black tea like it used to be. Before industrialisation…
• White tea: A white tea is defined by its biochemistry, not its colour
• Pu’er tea: The peculiar category of pu’er
• Oolong: Oolong — the gran cru of teas

Tea selection by the region

In addition to what a different terroir would yield, the very nature of the local tea cultivars, tea processing cultures and more importantly, the strong heritage and development of local techniques all contribute significantly to the simple looking dry leaves that could be manifested into that totally different, yet equally engaging epicurean experience. We work directly with producers in this renowned origins:

Tea selection by the TCM character

Eating right is core to maintaining health…

This is for those who understand the needs of answering the voice of the body. A well customised and balanced personal collection helps to maximise tea’s health benefits, in addition to the gastronomic qualities you desire. That is why at Tea Hong, we also categorise our collection by traditional Chinese medicinal character.

Tea selection by the taste character

Teas are like raw gems

At Tea Hong, we try to curate an all compassing array of supreme quality selections that represents the finest of different regions and their archetypical taste profiles. Yet even the finest of the most pristine teas are subject to the manifestation by the brewer. It is like a raw piece of gemstone waiting to be shaped in order to show its true beauty. Explore these treasures. Make our teas shine.

Experience and explore

Begin by tasting a few selections using various infusion styles to gain more specialist understanding of the finesses and differences. Relate this with your personal preferences and you will gradually carve out a direction in building your own repertoire of tea. This will be your very own line that best suits your taste and your needs. With repeated usage your senses and perceptions will deepen. This will empower you with the connoisseur skill to easily master yet more varieties to continue to gain levels in the vast world of tea.

Information on a tea page

Detail information on each tea page includes a description, taste profile, infusion tips and a few properties described with icons. This article gives a general orientation in case you want to prepare yourself before browsing.

or refer to what other people think

NN

verified purchased

5/5

Creamy, sweet, light on the tongue yet heavy on the roof of the mouth, with plenty of nuance in its flavor profile acros...
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s a broad temperature range. I like cooler temps, where I find some subtle notes of kiwi fruit and osmanthus flower that intertwine nicely with the more overt notes of seaweed and pastry dough. There’s a hint of salt, a gentle spritz of ocean water, that adds vibrancy to a flavor profile that is otherwise very creamy, doughy, and coats the whole mouth with a thick and expansive sensation of umami. The aftertaste is spectacular, the finish is clean, and in every way this is a top-tier ceremonial-grade matcha.
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6 months ago

Reply 1

Leo Kwan

Store manager

It is most joyful to read from our most actively reviewing user to write about our matcha as well. Thank you! This is qu...
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ite a gem, isn't it? For this item, we gather the leftover and spill offs from packaging for our ushucha and matcha latte as options for our daily drinks as well. Life is good.
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Uji Organic Matcha Sasameyuki, premium ceremonial grade, 30 g

NN

verified purchased

5/5

This is a stunning tea, one of the very best black teas I've ever had. It's the Nepalese equivalent of Oriental Beauty. ...
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The wet leaf explodes with aromatics that sink into the cup, and linger persistently in the aftertaste. The symmetry between these three is what makes this tea such a winner in my opinion. What I smell is what I taste, and what I taste lingers long after the tea has been sipped. It sounds pretty simple, but to achieve such a tightly-woven experience with any kind of tea requires a very high level of skill. This is clearly an extremely well-made tea. The flavor profile is incredibly thick, round, smooth, and sweet, with an amazing viscosity and a long-lasting sweetness. The high altitude of Nepal and the beautiful terroir is clearly captured in these leaves as well.
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2 years ago

Imperial Topaz, organic matured Nepal hand-rolled black tea, 50 g

NN

verified purchased

5/5

This is the best Ba Xian money can buy, and the most sophisticated and elegant representation of the cultivar that any d...
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ancong aficionado could ever hope to stumble across. Be prepared to break up with your current-favorite Ba Xian because this one will put it to shame and save you money at the same time. Ba Xian of this caliber always costs more than $1/g, and the price of this one is clearly a reflection of an excellent relationship Tea Hong has with an amazing grower/processor. The depth of the flavor profile is astonishing, and the clarity between each layer of flavor is unparalleled. There's so much going on, and all of it retains its clarity across the full session whether I brew this up gongfu-style or Western-style. No matter your preference or skill level, this Ba Xian will consistently return some of the best cups of tea you'll ever have in your life. Thick and juicy, luscious fruity flavors with heady floral accents and pervasive undertones of honey that stitch together a flawless experience, starting with the aroma coming off the dry leaf to the very last wafts of aromatics that you can lift off the bottom of an empty cup as it cools. This dancong is forgiving where others are finicky; it retails its clarity where others become muddied, it goes the extra mile where others become exhausted. The body is fully developed and the spine is strong, it will never offer a disappointing experience. This Ba Xian is truly a gift.
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4 years ago

Reply 1

Leo Kwan

Store manager

It is great comfort to read from a user who can so explicitly understand the rarity and value of this selection. It does...
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take ample exposure to what’s available in the market, consistent brewing skills, as well as the talents of a sensitive palate to write this comment here. My deepest appreciation.
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Eight Immortals Wudong, Phoenix dancong oolong, 40 g

Jeffery Leong

Reviewer

5/5

A True Delight to Taste & Smell Senses! There are a few teas that truly delight the senses. This is one of them! Th...
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e tasting notes are varied, blending on top of one another, subtle and yet distinctive.
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5 years ago

Reply 1

Tea Hong

Store manager

Indeed, Honey Orchid Supreme is the best loved tea even within the company!

Honey Orchid Supreme, classic Phoenix dancong oolong, 40 g

Mrs Ngo

Reviewer

5/5

2011 vs 20122011 was sold out so I got this 2012 but was surprised the two years don't taste the same. This is good and ...
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has floral taste but I like the more fired taste of 2011 much better. Do you have more fired taste for 2013 or 2014?
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13 years ago

Reply 1

Siu PB

Store manager

Da Hong Pao with deeper baking Hello Mrs Ngo, Both firing styles have their own followers and that’s why we are trying ...
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out which is more preferred by our customers. There is also a direction that we go both way, though this will not be too easy for us to maintain our inventory. I’ll certainly make a score for you for preference of the deeper baking style and hope your group will win before we decide which way to go. (original response posted on 2015-2-25 under a different website environment where the response was taken as a product comment. Amended now for the hierarchy of posting structure, but cannot change the date back to the original posting date)
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Red Cloak Grande, Wuyi yancha oolong, 40 g

Show more reviews (279)

Or if you want to see the product with the most reviews, on any product catalog page, simply sort to view products with the most reviews, or by popularity to see which are the best selling ones. Or simply go to our best sellers page.

Have fun browsing. In case of questions, jot us a line here: Contact us.