The best selling and best known tea in the world is probably Lipton's "Yellow Label". That does not, at least in the opinion of this critic, make this enormously popular tea anywhere near being the world's best tea. Yellow Label is a blended tea and the truth of the matter is that the very best teas are "varietal", that is to say, come from specific locations, from specific types of trees and, regardless of whether they come packed loose in boxes or in tea-bags, have a highly distinctive character.

Although Early Grey and English Breakfast teas have been available for many years, relatively few tea drinkers are familiar with some of the other varieties of teas that can be easily found - sometimes in specialty shops and sometimes even in supermarkets. True tea lovers learned years ago that one of the best ways to decide on which teas most suit our personal tastes for different moods and different times of the day is to buy first a box of this, then one of that, and then one of another, until all have been sampled and each of us decides on the various teas that most please us.

Following is a list of teas that I suggest trying.

• From China include China black, which is well known for its deep color; Lapsang Souchong which is noted for its smoky aroma; Jasmine tea, that is scented by the addition of jasmine flowers; Oolang, a low cafeine tea with a delicate aroma; and Earl Grey, which is a blend of Chinese teas flavored with bergamot.
  
  
• From India and Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), be sure to try Darjeeling, which is sometimes called "The Champagne of Tea"; English Breakfast tea, which is a full bodied blend of Ceylon and Indian teas; Irish Breakfast, a rich strong tea from the Assam region of India; Ceylon Breakfast, whose golden color and rich bouquet make it especially good for making ice tea; and Orange Pekoe, which is noted for its smooth flavor.
  

As a rule, the teas that go best with milk (cream should never be used with tea) are English Breakfast, Irish Breakfast and Ceylon Breakfast. Those best served without milk are Lapsang Souchong, Jasmine, Darjeeling and Vintage Darjeeling.

© Daniel Rogov