Staff Favorites
We're passionate about tea and love every opportunity to share that passion with our customers. Below is a list of our favorite teas, along with our cupping notes and a little bit about ourselves and our tea experiences. Enjoy!
KAREN
Since the early 70s, I have always loved to drink breakfast style teas with milk, no sugar. When I first came to Upton Tea in 1995 and started to discover the depth and variety of fine loose leaf tea, I found myself drawn to the teas I could drink plain - the refined Darjeelings, the spicy Oolongs, the clean greens and the delicate whites. I still enjoy a rich black tea for breakfast most of the time and then move on to lighter bodied teas for the rest of the day. I do love the taste of tea but it is the aroma that I find uplifting and inspiring!
Sakhira Estate Second Flush SFTGFOP1 Tippy (2025) Nepal
TM104: I developed a real passion for teas from Nepal back in the fall of 2018 when I researched and wrote about this beautiful land and its history with tea. Because the tea growing area in Nepal sits right over the border from Darjeeling, India, the teas share a similar flavor profile. With its amber-gold cup and smooth, complex flavor, this first flush offering is no exception to that. A rich fruity aroma invites that first sip, which reveals floral and nutty notes, complemented by a refreshing citrus quality. Like Darjeelings, this tea is finicky about steeping so I recommend no more than 3 minutes or it gets astringent. So delicious!
Ho-ji Cha Kamakura Organic
TJ41: Rich and warming, this roasted Bancha tea is the perfect toasty cup in the fall. Steep for 3 minutes at 180F and be rewarded with a flavorful cup that gives you a feeling of being wrapped in a cozy fleece blanket. Make a thermos and bring it on your next fall outing!
REBECCA
I confess to starting out with strong coffee from the time I was old enough to drink it. The occasional cuppa served well as a comfort beverage. It was not until 2002 and at the insistence of converted family members that I began to make the transition to loose tea. Made easier, I suspect, by the aid of some good Pu-Ehr and Assam teas. Today I still favor the strong cups but have vastly expanded my range thanks to the education I've received over the years from fellow staff members and Upton customers.
Earl Grey Lavender Black Tea
NT12: I love everything about this floral twist on a classic. The seamless blend of bergamot and lavender make for a refined combination and a lift for the senses. Check out our Lavender Fields Forever blog for some great information about the history and properties of lavender and A Blog about Fog for a fantastic recipe for a Lavender London Fog!
Lumbini Estate Breakfast FBOPF
TC43: A definite daily go to for me. Such a velvety smooth, full-bodied cup. It is as complex as it is rich, with notes of toast, honey and malt, and it takes really well to milk and sweetener. The perfect morning fortification.
JOHN
My introduction into the world of tea started in my thirties as an interest in drinking green tea for its health benefits. This meant drinking plain tasting grocery store tea. After receiving a mug infuser as a present from my mother and doing research online, I started to learn about loose leaf tea and discovered Upton Tea Imports (I was a customer of Upton Tea long before I became an employee). My early tea favorites were the vegetal Japanese Sencha and the Chinese gunpowder teas, which I still enjoy. After a few years of sampling many different teas, I discovered how much I enjoy very robust, dark, earthy, or toasty teas, which for me means Pu-Erh, Oolongs and Lapsang Souchong. My favorite tea experience is sitting down on a cold autumn or winter Saturday afternoon and enjoying multiple cups of Pu-Erh or Oolong teas while reading.
Chai Spice Black Tea
NT33: The flavor of the spices as well as the aroma of this tea gives me a nice lift in the afternoon. I sometimes drink this tea iced and add evaporated milk.
China Pu-Erh Tuo Cha, Size 1
ZH30 -Strong, dark with a slightly smoky and musty flavor. This tea has a heavy mouth feel and has a taste that is unlike most other teas. This is the tea that I prefer to drink on a weekend afternoon when I have time to savor a strong flavorful tea.
STEF
My relationship with tea began when I started sixth grade. Deemed too young for coffee by my mother, I drank grocery store black tea with cream and sugar every morning. As much as I enjoyed my routine, it was not until years later when I began to branch out and try loose leaf teas that I truly fell in love. I started with Japanese greens and traditional breakfast blends, but my colleagues at Upton Tea have coaxed me out of my comfort zone and now I enjoy an eclectic variety of teas from around the world. I firmly believe that a good cup of tea, regardless of origin, strength or variety, can turn your whole day around.
Balasun Estate Second Flush FTGFOP1 Ch (2023 DJ-139) Darjeeling
TD228: I love this stellar Second Flush Darjeeling from the 2023 harvest season, which is only available in a limited quantity. I’m going to miss it when it’s gone. The Margaret’s Hope Estate is one of the finest estates in the Darjeeling region, and this tea does not disappoint. With its sweet toasty profile, rich with yummy muscatel, it smells and tastes like autumn.
China Special King Pai Mu Dan
ZW102: When I began experimenting with the Gong Fu style of steeping tea, I found myself enjoying White tea more than ever. These premium silver buds are light, sweet and refreshing, with complex notes of melon and honey that develop with each steeping.
China Mandarin stuffed with Shou Pu-Erh
ZH03: Just look at this incredible little dried orange, stuffed with the finest aged Pu-Erh. This unique tea would make a great gift, but I keep a packet stocked in my pantry to savor on rainy days or to prepare for friends who are curious about loose-leaf. One orange yields a 4-cup pot. It is satisfying to break up the thin, crispy peel to ensure that the tea and citrus peel can expand and infuse, making for a flavorful cup. A tea experience you won’t want to miss!
BEV
Working at Upton Tea Imports for the past 18 years has given me the opportunity to explore and learn about the many different teas from around the world. Being that I like an occasional cup of coffee, the teas I am drawn to are the darker, full-bodied teas.
Honey Oolong
ZO77: The honey flavor, along with the smooth finish, makes this one of my go-to teas. From first thing in the morning to afternoon, it is a tea I enjoy all day.
Peach Sky Black Tea
NT98: The black tea flavor goes well with the peachy aroma and flavor. This tea is great iced and is refreshing on those hot summer afternoons.
TANYA
Tea was a beverage not frequently offered in my household growing up. I knew tea to be crushed particles in a bag attached to a string and staple, which was quite often passed up for something more culturally acceptable, such as a cappuccino. It wasn't until many years later, after a long day of hustle and bustle, that I had my first tea-mind experience. After a delicious Moroccan feast, my guests and I had the privilege of witnessing and enjoying a traditional Moroccan tea ceremony. The ornate teapot poured at notable height, and alas, in my cup was a warm, foamy cup of green tea. Intrigued by the deliberate technique, I sipped this intoxicating beverage and suddenly felt centered and at peace. Little did I know that it was the start of a tea journey that would soon take me all around the world.
Sakhira Estate Second Flush SFTGFOP1 Tippy (2025) Nepal
TM105: This exquisite second flush was hand-plucked at the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains. Boasting a bright amber cup, it is delightfully packed with citrus and melon notes while also finishing honey-sweet. Nepalese teas are on the rise and THIS tea is no exception!
China White Jasmine Silver Needles
ZJ98: This selection from our Great Tea Race category is heavenly. Everything about this tea is special from the delicate hairs on the young leaf to the meticulous scenting process. Each time I select this cup, I am treated to the sweet fragrance of jasmine flower as it permeates the air. The tea itself is light and finishes silky-smooth. It truly is a joyful cup.
China Oolong Fine Grade
ZO103: As an Oolong enthusiast, I cannot say enough great things about this tea. The meticulously handcrafted leaves are stunning, with a rich woodsy aroma. Notes of nuts, oak, and stone fruit fill the velvety smooth cup with enticing flavor. Similar in complexity of flavor as the premium Rock Oolongs but at a fraction of the price, this is the perfect Oolong tea for your everyday cup.