Drinking a cup of Zingerman's Universe O'Tea won't change your life and it won't eliminate all your excess stress. If, on the other hand, you have been on the quest for truly terrific tea like we have, the flavor of fantastic tea before the hype hit, then these teas are for you. For over twenty years we've focused our energies on finding the best of the varietals, what the tea trade calls "self drinkers." These are the equivalents of France's great estate wines: single-estate Darjeelings and Nilgiris, amazing Chinese greens, whites and oolongs and an array of herbal infusions. It's our firm belief that anyone willing to commit the time to do some attentive tasting will be paid back with a lifetime of tea drinking pleasure. Great teas like these are for everyone. Enjoy! Ari

Green

Earl Green
The "green" alternative for people who like Earl Grey. Pouchong tea leaves scented with bergamot. Refreshingly good either hot or iced.
$15.99/tin

Genmaicha
This very unexpected combination is a Japanese specialty—steamed green tea with puffed rice. Genmaicha brews up to a golden infusion with a toasty aroma reminiscent of popping corn. Warm, mouth filling flavor with a nice smooth finish.
$11.99/tin

Organic Dragon Well
One of the classic Chinese teas, named for the dragon that lives in the well at Hangzhou. Beautifully crafted, old-style tea from Zhejiang—the sword-shaped leaves and buds are a testament to the artisanal production. This is a mellow tea with a refreshing bittersweet flavor that has hints of fresh cut grass and toasted chestnuts and a surprisingly savory finish.
$15.99/tin

Sencha Superior
A very special tea picked in early spring in the Shizuoka District in Japan. Beautiful green leaves brew up to an elegant, sweet, green and grassy cup that is smooth and savory. The chicken soup of the tea world.
$19.99/tin

Organic Hojicha
A unique roasted Japanese green tea. The light brown leaves brew up to a sweet, amber colored infusion with an aroma of buckwheat and seaweed. Very savory and very good with meals.
$11.99/tin

Black

Organic Earl Grey
Unlike so many Earl Grey blends, in this one you can really taste the tea as well as the citrus. Our version of this old familiar is made with Yunnan black tea leaves used in perfect balance with the essence of bergamot, the lovely Sicilian citrus whose flavor is the distinguishing component of Earl Grey. As distinguished as Charles Grey, the British Earl it was named after.
$12.99/tin

Organic Golden Yunnan
One of the most elegant black teas we've ever tried. Subtle, sophisticated sweetness and a long, long finish. Ari's favorite morning tea.
$14.99/tin

Organic Keemun Golden buds
An exceptional tea that's unlike any other we've tasted this season. Made with young tea buds, it's is bright and full flavored with rich notes of ripe dates and pine. It has strength, body, aroma, a hint of astringency and a fine, long finish. A rare and special tea.
$19.99/tin

First Flush Darjeeling — Rohini 2007
The first picking of the season, First Flush Darjeeling is a very special tea. This year we've chosen tea from the youngest estate in Darjeeling. Rohini Estate, named after the river that flows by the gardens, is situated at altitudes ranging from 2700-5000 feet. Fresh, gentle and almost citrus bright to taste, it finishes clean and pleasantly astringent.
$16.99/tin

Second Flush Darjeeling — Bloomfield Estate 2007
From the Bloomfield estate just outside of the town of Darjeeling, this elegantly balanced second flush Darjeeling brews a fantastic cup. Hand-picked in mid summer, the 2007 harvest produced an exceptional vintage — fruity and full of flavor, with rounded notes of muscat and apricot. The bass notes sing with depth and leave a lingering flavor that you'll want to enjoy any time of day.
$14.99/tin

Nilgiri — Havukal Estate 2007
Frost teas are especially vulnerable to early season dips in temperature — one cold night and the whole crop is lost. Fortunately for us, the Havukal tea garden's first 2007 harvest not only survived the cold nights, it emerged from winter as an exceptionally brilliant crop. Its beautiful, gently malty aroma is accompanied by a flavor that starts off slightly sweet and follows through with the classic clean and slightly astringent finish that Nilgiris are famed for. With toasty nutty flavors to add to its complexity, we think you can drink this tea all day. Ask Ari, he does.
$14.99/tin

Assam — Mangari 2007
The Marangi Assam may very well become your favorite morning tea. With a complexity comparable to that of red wine, this tea is bold enough for milk, yet delicious in it's own right. The Marangi tea gardens are known for producing some of the best tasting teas coming out of Assam. The 2007 harvest lives up to their reputation. The resulting brew produces a beautifully aromatic cup that is at once creamy and spicy with a classic Assam maltiness. Teas from this garden often fetch record prices at auction — try it for yourself to see what all the talk is about.
$12.99/tin

Ceylon — Kenilworth Estate 2007
This tea is renowned amongst enthusiasts for its exquisite taste. Kenilworth Estate, one of the oldest tea gardens in the Dimbulla region of Sri Lanka, is nestled high in the foothills of the rainy western slopes. Harvested in March during the dry season, the long, wiry leaves brew up a deep amber cup with excellent body, a natural sweetness and hints of oak. Excellent on it's own or with a touch of milk.
$9.99/tin

White

Organic Silver Needle
The most sought after white tea in the world, it's harvested only a few days a year in the north of Fujian province in China. This is a clear, light, golden infusion with a rich body, unique savory aroma and sweet mellow finish. A very refreshing after dinner cup.
$12.99/tin

Oolong

Amber Dragon
Sometimes known as the "Champagne of Teas", this very special oolong is light and toasty with an aroma of burning autumn leaves. Exceptionally delicious.
$13.99/tin

Iron Goddess of Mercy
One of the most treasured oolong teas in the world. Iron Goddess of Mercy got it's name because it is said to have cured a very sick Chinese emperor of a mystifying illness after his best shamans and herbalists had failed to find a remedy. Big, toasty flavor that hints of roasting barley. Eye opening and exclamation-provokingly good.
$19.99/tin

Organic Wu Yi Oolong
From the Wu Yi mountains of Fujian, China, the birthplace of oolong teas. Light and very smooth with hints of toasted nuts and sesame.
$9.99/tin

Blends & Infusions

Organic Jasmine Pearl
One of the best jasmine teas we've ever tried. Only the most tender green tea leaves and buds are used to make this beautiful tea. Dragon Pearl tea leaves are hand rolled into tiny, exquisite pearls and mixed with real jasmine blossoms. The blossoms are then removed by hand, leaving infused aromatic "pearls". An exceptionally sophisticated cup.
$18.99/tin

Masala Chai
An old South Indian traditional recipe, ready to be brewed with milk and sugar. Organic black tea leaves spiced with black pepper, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and whole pods of green cardamom. A comforting and nourishing cup.
$12.99/tin

Roots
One of our best selling herbal infusions. Oils of orange and tangerine, lots of ginger, a hint of licorice along with rosehips, orange peel, schizandra and hibiscus that brews up to a scarlet red infusion. A spicy, citrusy blend of herbs that's sure to get you rockin'.
$11.99/tin

Organic Unity
A surprisingly unified blend of unexpected and diverse flavors. Unity is a blend of cardamom, lemongrass, peppermint, licorice, citrus essences and a bit of black pepper. It's sweet and spicy, soothing and stimulating all at the same time.
$9.99/tin

Organic Golden Chamomile Blossoms
From Egypt, where it was dedicated to the ancient gods for it's healing properties, this exceptionally good organic chamomile has pineapple aromas and a rich, refreshing, complex, honey-like flavor. A bright and clean cup that's both calming and delicious.
$7.99/tin

Morrocan Mint
A standard in the bazaars of Morocco in North Africa, this is a blend of organic Chinese green Gunpowder tea and peppermint leaves. Moroccans always brew it with lots of sugar. Smoother and mellower than most and a great way to bring the elusive taste of North Africa to your table.
$9.99/tin

Scarlet
A veritable plethora of organic dried fruits and unusual herbs — blueberries, rosehips, organic South African honeybush, cherry, hibiscus, schizandra, orange peel, passion fruit, mango, cranberries. Scarlet makes a deep red brew that is bright, fruity and tart. As feisty as its celluloid namesake.
$16.99/tin

Organic Peppermint
Peppermint from the Pacific Northwest is considered the most aromatic and potent in the world. This brew has a big flavor and aroma. A soothing cup that is reputed to promote clear thinking and focus.
$7.99/tin

Organic Rooibos (red bush)
A wonderful herbal beverage from the Cedarberg mountains in South Africa. Red Bush (or Rooibos in Afrikaans) leaves make a delicate red brew. Naturally caffeine free, gentle flavor.
$9.99/tin