TeaChat

I was wondering if anyone knew of sources where on might obtain some tea samples? I'm not looking to get something for nothing, but I noticed that Just4Tea.com is willing to send bloggers review samples, and someone else on the board offered to send another member some if shipping was covered. I'd like to expand my tea repotoire but before investing too much in certain types, I'd like to try small samples. Not every vendor has them.

Any suggestions?

TeaSpring is rather good in that it sells most tea in 25g sizes.

Proinsias wrote:TeaSpring is rather good in that it sells most tea in 25g sizes.

Thank you Proinsias.

Teaspring is very nice for Green tea's, but if you want to step it up Jing Tea shop (the Chinese Jing), also offers 25g samples, and I would encourage them over Teaspring for Oolong teas.

It is a bit harder to locate the Samples from Jing Tea shop but browse around their site long enough and you will see a link that will lead you to samples. (Note not every tea is offered in a sample but most are).

Nada might also be worth trying. Not for green tea but for old, cooked, roasted etc. Most stuff available by the gram.

I hear the Den's sampler is well worth the 3$, I think they'll refund the $3 on your next order.

+1 for TeaSpring for Chinese greens! I remember when I was expanding my horizons, this was my first international vendor ... except maybe O-Cha. I was blown away by how realllly freakin' good Chinese greens can really be.

My only regret was how realllly bad the domestic vendors' Chinese greens had been by comparison.

Again, thanks folks, I appreciate the feedback. Just finished a snappy Darjeeling and I ready to head home. Have a great weekend!

Proinsias wrote:[
I hear the Den's sampler is well worth the 3$, I think they'll refund the $3 on your next order.

It is absolutely worth it. And they refund if your order is above 17$ I think. On my first order it has already been refunded.

My vendor searches showed that a lot of them offer samples. Some have sample sizes of their teas, some have sample packages, some give free samples with every order.
If you'd like to compare whites or oolongs or greens or anything I again would recommend Nothing But Tea. I ordered a sample package of their whites.

TeaChat is a very good source for vendor-addresses. So just give them a try.

Thanks Marco.