Which Single Garden Tea to Drink When

Single Garden Tea - One of the best things about discovering single garden tea is the sheer range of flavours and tastes. Single garden tea captures the true flavours of some of the planet’s most spectacular places and producers. Some will uplift, some will wake you up and some will even help you get a good night’s sleep. So choosing the right tea for the right time can take your tea experience to the next level.

To help you find out which single garden tea to drink when, here are our team’s top picks for their tea breaks throughout the day:

First Tea Of The Day – Catherine, CEO

For most of us the first tea of the day needs to be rich, robust and get our morning going with a boost – and I’m no exception. Strong black tea with milk is my go-to, and my favourite is our Assam Breakfast– It’s a single origin tea from Assam, India and captures all of the characteristic deep, malty tastes I love from this region. When you add milk, or a milk alternative, it brings out an even creamier texture and highlights the sweeter honey and raisin notes that compliments breakfast foods well, from the fluffy, buttery pastries I sometimes treat myself to, to fried mushrooms on toast.

Catherine’s best breakfast tea recipe:

• Measure 4g or 2tsp of Assam Breakfast per cup (250ml), 100˚C Water, Infuse for 3-5mins; Add milk into the bottom of your mug – I like whole milk and it usually takes up about 20% of the cup; when I pour the tea into the milk it mixes perfectly and I sit down to start my day…

Mid-Morning Tea – Will, Tea Experience

By the mid-morning I’m usually craving something sweet and refreshing. If your day starts with the same old coffee or smoothie then you might want to try something different that’s equally healthy and uplifting. At the moment, I can’t get enough Organic Ceremonial Matcha. This green tea powder is full of beneficial compounds that bring out a calm-focused effect to keep you relaxed. You could try a traditional matcha, whisked with water, for a fully fresh and grassy taste or, as a latte, shaken with oat milk and ice for an even sweeter flavour. I find the taste of matcha pairs well with fresh fruit, nuts and even a sneaky piece of white chocolate if you’re feeling particularly indulgent.

Will’s favourite recipe for a mid-morning, Iced Matcha Latte:

1. Put 2g of matcha and 20ml of room temperature water into a matcha shaker and shake for 15 seconds or 40 shakes.
2. Open the lid and add your milk to the shaker (which still has the matcha and water in it) and shake again for 15 seconds or 40 shakes.
3. Open the shaker gently and pour the matcha latte over ice into your glass of choice and enjoy.

Will’s favourite recipe for a mid-morning

Teas That Lunch – Felicity, Tea Experience

Choosing a tea at lunch of course depends on what food I’m having, there are a few tea pairing rules of thumb though, . For lighter dishes like zesty salads, fish or steamed veggies then Organic Dragon Well green tea is perfect, it’s got lots of sweet, nutty notes and refreshing grassiness with a hint of warmth that balances these dishes really well. For heavier dishes that include cooked meats, strong cheeses or spices then Wuyi Oolong is always a good tea to try. It’s a roasted oolong with more complex notes of rose, caramel and mineral rocks, for a richer taste that will stand up to more intense food flavours.

Try them like this:

• Measure 3.5g or 3tsp of Organic Dragon Well per cup (250ml), 70˚C Water, Infuse for 3mins
• Measure 4g or 3tsp of Wuyi Oolong per cup (250ml), 100˚C Water, Infuse for 3mins

Ultimate Afternoon Tea – Lucy, Sustainability

Scones, jam, cream, cakes and tea, it doesn’t get much better. Afternoon tea is a delicious way to enjoy a cup and although there’s plenty of teas you could choose, I think the ultimate afternoon teas hail from the peaks of Darjeeling, India. Organic Darjeeling First Flush is a floral and fruity spring-picked tea which pairs well with the sweeter, stickier end of the afternoon tea menu, while Organic Darjeeling Second Flush is richer and more malty but still with a crisp and refreshing finish that will lift the dense scones and smoked salmon sandwiches. So for DIY afternoon teas at home or even if you’re splashing out, go for Darjeeling.

Here’s how I like them:

• Measure 4g or 2tsp of Organic Darjeeling First Flush per cup (250ml), 80˚C Water, Infuse for 3mins
• Measure 3.5g or 2tsp of Organic Darjeeling Second Flush per cup (250ml), 100˚C Water, Infuse for 3mins

Single garden tea Darjeeling India

Supper Club Tea – Tom, Head Of Tea

Nothing says fine dining like something fizzy, so for the past four years I’ve been working to combine tea and bubbles into something delicious to enjoy with dinner. The result? Jasmine Pearls Sparkling Tea, made using spring-picked green single garden tea from Fujian, China scented with real jasmine flowers for full jasmine aroma and refined green tea taste. It’s the kind of No-Lo, sugar-free alternative that’s actually adult enough to enjoy with food, with a slightly dry and delicately, bubbly texture that you can drink all night long.

“JING’s sparkling jasmine pearls tea is in a grown-up world all its own.”

Allan Jenkins, Editor of Observer Food Monthly

Bedtime Tea – Matt, Content Creator

I say ‘tea’ but really when it comes to getting a good night sleep after a busy day back in the office, caffeine-free herbal infusions are best. None more so than Organic Chamomile Flowers. It's widely known these daisy-like flower are full of anti-inflammatory compounds, which can relax the body. Our chamomile flowers are freshly picked and slowly dried to retain all their goodness, for a smooth, calming infusion, that's perfect for winding down and helping me get a better night's sleep.

Matt’s go to Chamomile recipe:

• Measure 3g or 3tsp of Organic Chamomile (per 250ml), 100˚C Water, Infuse for 3mins