Short answer: Start with the kind of cup you want. For a strong cup with milk, pick a black tea like Assam. For a light, grassy cup, pick a green tea like Sencha. For a cup at night, pick an herbal tea like rooibos or peppermint. Herbal teas do not come from the tea plant, so they have no caffeine.
The three groups
Black and green tea come from the same plant. The maker changes how much the leaf is processed. Black tea is processed more. Green tea is processed less. Both have caffeine.
Herbal tea is a different thing. It is made from flowers, roots, leaves or spices. Peppermint, ginger and rooibos are common examples. Most herbal teas have no caffeine. Check the label if this matters to you.
Black tea
Black tea gives a full, rich cup. It takes milk well.
- Organic Assam. Assam is a region in India. It makes some of the most full-bodied black teas in the world. Most estates there use conventional pest control. The estate behind this tea does not. It comes in a box of 20 individually wrapped sachets for $13. See Organic Assam.
- Organic Earl Grey. A blend of Assam and a tea from southern India, flavored with natural oil of bergamot. Because the base teas are organic, the aroma is light and the lemon note of the bergamot stands out. A 4 oz loose tin is $14. See Organic Earl Grey.
- Organic English Breakfast. A classic morning black tea. A box of 20 individually wrapped sachets is $13. See Organic English Breakfast.
Green tea
Green tea tastes lighter. Use water that is hot but not boiling, or the tea can turn bitter.
- Organic Sencha. A Japanese green tea from the Wazuka valley. Organic tea is hard to find in Japan, so this one is worth a look. A 4 oz loose tin is $29. See Organic Sencha.
- Organic Bancha. A light, clean green tea from China, made in the Japanese way. A 4 oz loose tin is $12. See Organic Bancha.
- Organic Gunpowder. Rolled leaves with a sharp, charred taste. A 4 oz loose tin is $14. See Organic Gunpowder.
- Organic Everyday Matcha. Matcha is green tea in powder form. The leaves are shaded for weeks before harvest, then ground on stone. You whisk the powder into water. You do not steep it. It comes in a 1 lb bag for $61, so it suits a household or a cafe. See Organic Everyday Matcha.
Herbal tea with no caffeine
- Organic Rooibos. Rooibos is called red bush in South Africa. It looks like tea and has no caffeine. A box of 20 premium teabags is $9. See Organic Rooibos.
- Organic Peppermint. Brisk and fresh, hot or iced. The listing says it is sourced from Oregon. A box of 20 premium teabags is $9. See Organic Peppermint.
- Organic Ginger Turmeric. Ginger and turmeric root with apple, beetroot and lemongrass. It makes a ruby-colored cup that works hot or iced. A tin of 20 sachets is $9.45. See Organic Ginger Turmeric.
- Organic Passion Plum. Sweet plum and cinnamon. A bag of 50 sachets is $19.99. See Organic Passion Plum.
Blends for milk and spice
Two loose blends work best with milk, like a latte.
- Organic Chaga Chai. Chaga mushroom with warming spices. The maker suggests milk and a little honey. An 8 oz tin is $19.20. See Organic Chaga Chai.
- Organic Golden Milk. A spiced blend with adaptogens. The maker says it has a kick of spice. An 8 oz tin is $24. See Organic Golden Milk.
Both blends carry a warning from the maker. If you are pregnant or nursing, take medicine, or have a medical condition, ask your healthcare provider before you use them.
Iced tea
Fresh Brew pouches each make 2 quarts of iced tea. Choose from Organic Green with Coconut, Organic Green with Citrus and Ginkgo, and Organic Plain Black. Prices start at $9.98 for a pouch pack. See Organic Plain Black Iced Tea.
Which form to buy
- Teabags: the fastest. A box of 20 is usually $9.
- Sachets: a bag of 50 is usually $19.99. Good if you drink tea every day.
- Loose leaf: the most choice, and you need a strainer or infuser.
Not sure what organic means on the label? Read how to check a USDA organic claim. The same checks work for tea.
Last updated October 2026.