Humble Tea Leaf has been writing about tea outside the mainstream since 2011 — mostly from New York City, sometimes from much further. Fifty-plus posts later, here’s the shortest path through them, depending on what brought you.

New to loose leaf tea?

Start with the three things that make the biggest difference in the cup: how to store tea, the water you use, and where to buy good tea online. Then try one of the gentlest teas to fall in love with: Silver Needle white tea or Pouchong.

Looking for tea in New York City?

The 5 best tea shops in NYC is the overview. For specifics: Puerh Brooklyn in Williamsburg, matcha spots across the city, tea and dim sum in Chinatown, and how bubble tea has changed in 15 years.

Curious about matcha?

What you should know about matcha explains why not all matcha is equal. Then where to buy authentic Japanese matcha online and where to drink it in NYC.

Drinking tea for your health?

5 health benefits of tea is the grounded overview. For herbal infusions with a story: St. John’s wort, ginkgo leaf, Sagan Dayla from Siberia, and ginger milk tea.

Into tea history and culture?

Taiwan’s high mountain oolong, the ancient tea trees of Yunnan, why the world says “tea” or “cha”, and 5 good books on tea history. For Russia and Europe: Russian tea culture, antique samovars and tea silver, and a quiet tea house in Brussels.

Want a mug that actually works?

Years of testing tea infuser mugs and tumblers, Yixing clay teapots, and why glass beats plastic.

Still looking?

Browse by category — NYC Tea, Knowledge, Field Notes — or read how this blog started.