to you, I am
a tea enthusiast

I really like drinking tea. While I'm trying to avoid drinking the tea powder from the teabags and prefer loose teas, I am far from being called a tea connoisseur. Hence, my self-claimed tea enthusiast status (I also like a term "théophile" from Palais des Thés).

I never have just one type of tea open and have a dedicated shelf just for the teas at home. Living in the UK and still having strong ties with Russia and France obviously influences the brands which can be found on that shelf: Rosevear, Whittard of Chelsea, Bird & Blend, Yorkshire Tea (just for the biscuit brew!), J.A. Braithwaite's, Hebden Tea, Fortnum & Mason, Palais des Thés, Mariage Frères, Kusmi Tea, Méert, Кантата, Мойчай.ру, and probably some others I missed while writing this text.

Some of my notes on the smell and taste of the teas I try + other tea-related content can be found on Telegram: @oogl_tea (all in Russian).

• On my 25^th birthday:
  I attended The Willow Tea Rooms in Edinburgh after climbing Arthur's Seat and had a typical British Afternoon Tea ceremony with a great view of Edinburgh Castle
• Most probably, I drank tea from a samovar once in my life:
  and this was at a cafe in Moscow's Ostankino Park called «Русский чай» (Russian Tea), which seems to be shut down now
• I attended a Chinese tea ceremony in Beijing:
  when I was 13, and, to be honest, I don't remember much of it
• The oldest and most expensive tea I tried:
  Лаохэ Баочжун Лао Ча (1985) from Taiwan in 2025
  (Lao Hei (?) Baozhong Lao Cha - black wrapped in paper aged tea)

For some of the tea brands, I decided to challenge myself to try each of the teas they offer (and so far did not succeed 100% with any). For such purposes, I made separate pages with "bingo cards" which I update once new teas are announced or I try something new. This feels like a never-ending task 😅

Here are a few things I use myself and recommend to others

• Le Creuset 350ml stoneware mugs keep the tea warm the longest, have great colours and are among my favourites
• Emma Bridgewater half pint mugs have cool designs and shapes
• Søstrene Grene stainless steel tea strainers similar to those from T2 Tea
• Bird & Blend measuring spoon that I use every day
• Jesse's Teahouse two-cup travel teapot set is perfect for outdoors tea drinking, I got mine gifted for Christmas 2025 and keep using it whenever I have a chance
• Milton 750ml vacuum flask for the hot water (for the travel teapot) or just brews
• the simplest kettle and a water thermometer to regulate the water temperature
• eTeaket gaiwan set for ceremonies at home, but plenty of other shops sell them
• Bird & Blend tote bag which says "this is my tea bag"

Below is a list of some of my favourite teas in no particular order (currently updated):

• Yunnan black tea: Golden Spirals (Золотые спирали) from Cantata
• Darjeeling: Autumnal Flush Darjeeling from Rosevear
• Flavoured black tea with citrus notes: 7 Citrus Russian Blend (Goût Russe 7 Agrumes) from Palais des Thés
• Flavoured black tea with rose notes: English Rose from Whittard of Chelsea; China Rose Petal from Taylors of Harrogate; Orient Bouquet (Bouquet d'Orient) from Unami Tea
• Flavoured black tea with hazelnut notes: Hazelnut Tea from Rosevear
• Flavoured oolong with chestnut notes: Roasted Chestnut Oolong from Rosevear
• Ivan Chai (willowherb): GABA Ivan Chai (Габа Иван-чай) from Moychay
• Flavoured rooibos: African Sunset Green Rooibos from Rosevear
• Teabags: Biscuit Brew from Yorkshire Tea
• ...