10 Best Tea Samplers in 2022 (Twinings, Ahmad Tea, and More)
This same movement is just starting to take root in the US. But whether or not tea-drinking ever becomes a culture in our coffee-driven, restless society, tea is a great subtly tasting, light alternative to a typical strong cup of joe. However, it’s difficult to know how to begin and find a good sampler for yourself. So we’ve got some words of advice, as well as some brands we’d like to introduce you to—with T2's Famous Five Sampler taking top place.
Quick List - Top Tea Samplers
T2
Sweet and Wacky Blends Will Sate All Your Flavor Needs
Whittard of Chelsea
Taste of Both Classic Giants and Trendy Blends from the UK
Ahmad Tea
Wrapped in Foil to Preserve Freshness and Bold Flavor
Rachael has been a lifestyle blogger for more than six years, with tea always the center of fun at Tea with Rachael. She regularly attends tea-related events in the UK and USA and reviews a wide range of different teas from companies around the world on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and her site. Rachael is a content, communications and marketing specialist, a history and ancient history geek, lover of dance, film and theater, and passionate about vintage and sustainable fashion. She lives in Teddington, South West London, with her husband and their cat, Max, who is quite popular on Instagram!
mybest US' editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in the US in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
- 10 Best Tea Samplers Ranking
- No. 1T2 | T2 Tea Five Famous Five Assorted Tea Sampler Gift Box
- No. 2Whittard of Chelsea | Whittard of Chelsea A Taste of Tea (40-Count)｜40 teabags
- No. 3Ahmad Tea | Ahmad Tea Classical Variety Gift Box (60-Count)｜60 teabags
- No. 4Twinings | 48 teabags
- No. 5The Republic of Tea | The Republic of Tea Ultimate Green Tea Bag Assortment Jar｜45 teabags
- 5 more products
- What Characteristics Do the Different Kinds of Tea Share?
- More Tea Selections
- In Collaboration With Tea Blogger Rachael
How to Choose Tea Samplers
Whether you're new to tea or a tea aficiando, it never hurts to get some advice on the best kind of tea to buy. You'll want to consider how many flavors you want, what kind of tea leaves you're buying, the company's philosophy, and the packaging.
Since we wanted to find out the best things to consider from a resident expert, we contacted tea connoisseur Rachael to help us understand what to look for in a good tea. Her notes and our research is all gathered below for your perusal!
Try Starting With Six to Eight Teas
If you are just now picking up your first cup of tea, try for a sampler with a bit more variety. The more tea you sample, the likelier you are to discover your tastes and preferences. Rachael says anything from three up to ten types of tea is acceptable, with six to eight being that sweet spot.
This also holds true if you are sampling a new or heretofore unknown brand. You may be knowledgeable about tea—but even the same type of tea or similar blends can taste different at the hands of different makers, so it’s better to try a wide selection to see what the new brand is capable of.
If you’re confident you know what you like, then you can hone in on a type of tea you’re partial to—maybe try a tea sampler that only offers green teas, but in unfamiliar varieties. Or you may go for samplers that are centered around a theme; it may focus on warming winter blends, for example, or tea meant to soothe and put you to sleep.
If you’re not already a bit of a tea aficionado, then it’s good to get a feel for the different teas, but it can get a bit confusing if you’re trying too many different ones. It’s great if there’s a range of different teas—so some black teas, some green teas, some oolong, and some white teas, for a change of flavor, and even some herbal blends.
Decide Between Whole or Broken Leaves
For Convenience and Savings, Get Bagged, Broken Leaves
These have lost a good amount of the essential oils and aroma they had when they were full leaves. Because of that, more tannin is released when the tea is steeped, and you get a more astringent, bitter flavor.
However, broken tea leaves in filterbags are the easiest to steep, often requiring nothing but hot water and a mug. You can also just throw a teabag in your pack and enjoy a cup of tea whenever the fancy strikes. But we will admit that broken tea leaves aren’t your best option if you can afford the time and extra care loose leaf tea requires.
With loose leaf teas, you get a real depth of flavor and some really interesting blends—and you can also make up your own blends. But if they’re good quality tea bags, I will quite happily have them. I think most tea brands are moving away from the dust-filled tea bags and looking to provide a better quality of tea leaf, better quality of blend.
It’s a little bit more of a sustainability issue. It’s actually best for the environment if you’re using loose leaf teas. But also, a number of brands are bringing out very eco-conscious versions of tea bags—no bleach, no plastic.
Tea Aficionados, Experience Full Flavor With Whole Leaves
If you’re experienced with tea–and have the equipment needed to brew it–you can go even further. You can buy loose leaf tea that just comes in a tin, which requires that you measure it out and make it properly–using perhaps a Teavana PerfecTea maker, a steeper, a tea strainer, or an infusing basket.
There’s a number of different gadgets that you can get [for loose leaf teas]—you can get different types of steepers; you can get tea pots with steepers built-in, which are very handy and make the whole process quicker. And if you know where to look, there’s also some lovely organic tea bags that you can get that come in a box.
They’re just very simple, quite large bags that you directly put the loose leaf tea into. And you can just rest them in your cup or mug in the same way that you would with a tea bag—or, indeed, put them in a tea pot.
Consider Flavored Teas For Extra Zest or Sweetness
If you like the concept of tea, but aren’t a huge fan of plain tea, don’t worry. There is an abundance of flavors for you to try, like Moroccan Mint and lemon tea. It seems like each month, tea makers are coming out with more wild varieties, like Salted Caramel, Wild Raspberry Hibiscus, Ambrosia Plum, Blood Orange, and Mountain Rose.
With these teas, you get exotic flavors without having to resort to artificial sweeteners or mounds of sugar—although you can, of course, add milk and sugar to these as well, if you like!
There’s traditional chai, but there’s also a number of blends that are a play on chai that mix in some cinnamon, some musk spices—quite comforting flavors for the winter. Also, there are a few really good blends now that are so fruity and so full of flavor that you don’t need sugar. Some of them are also quite soothing if you’ve got a sore throat.
Benefit from a Robust Informational Section
It’s not something you think about often, but words can enhance your drinking experience. Some samplers come with information about where the tea was picked, how it was produced, and the brands themselves. This knowledge can lead tea initiates to new discoveries and more tea that they find enchanting.
Pick Up Facts and Sustainability Information from Labels and Websites
So before you purchase, read the product description and the provider’s site, if they have one. Check for sustainability and information about the people who toil to bring the tea to you. It’s not only ethical, but it's also a fun experience—and you might pick up some facts that will help you make informed decisions about tea in the future.
I think there’s been a big push towards sustainability and having eco-friendly tea products, whether it’s the tea bags or the packaging that the tea samplers come in. And about the people who brought that tea to you—there’s a lot of emphasis on bringing that to life for the people who are drinking the tea.
There’s also always brewing instructions, different ways to use it—recipes for cocktails and making yourself other blends [that you can find as well].
Eco-Friendly Brands Recommended by Rachael
If you're interested in buying from brand that put eco-friendliness on the forefront, then Rachael mentioned Niko Ceylon, We Are Tea, and teakruthi as particularly noteworthy. Unfortunately, they don’t offer any sampler packs, but once you are well on your tea journey, please pay them a visit.
Niko Ceylon Tea provides plenty of information with their tea packaged in a simple, elegantly designed bag. 3% of their sales go towards the Tea Leaf Trust (educational projects for Sri Lankan children working tea estates) and Reforestlk (reforesting Sri Lanka).
We Are Tea provides sustainable packaging in their plastic-free and biodegradable. Teakruthi has ceylon teas straight from Sri Lanka and their products are sustainably grown.
Rachael also mentioned the Tea Tourist for their subscription service—so if you're looking to learn more about tea and get a huge selection of new ones to try at the same time, take a look!
The Tea Tourist subscription service is pretty impressive. They send out a large selection each month from a number of different brands all across the UK. And they have a lot of information about the provenance of the tea—the people who made it, the people who distributed it.
Packaging is Crucial if You Want Your Tea Leaves Fresh
Tea storage is perhaps one of the most underrated aspects of enjoying tea. When tea isn’t packaged properly, it quickly loses its taste and aroma. Airtight containers help retain freshness and prevent any of these pesky troubles.
When tea is stored in a container that isn’t airtight, it absorbs the aroma of whatever food is close to it—so you could get pork and onion-accented afternoon tea. Airtight containers keep out these odors, as well as humidity. When tea comes in airtight container, it can be kept on the kitchen counter or in the fridge (recommended for green teas).
I think the emphasis is on the tea distributers to package it in the right way and make the most of the freshness for their customers. Most brands now seal their tea leaves up very carefully, either in foil or in sealed packaging within a tin or within a box. There’s a lot of emphasis on freshness for lighter teas, like an oolong or a white tea, too.
10 Best Tea Samplers Ranking
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | T2 T2 Tea Five Famous Five Assorted Tea Sampler Gift Box | | Sweet and Wacky Blends Will Sate All Your Flavor Needs | |
2 | Whittard of Chelsea Whittard of Chelsea A Taste of Tea (40-Count)｜40 teabags | | Taste of Both Classic Giants and Trendy Blends from the UK | |
3 | Ahmad Tea Ahmad Tea Classical Variety Gift Box (60-Count)｜60 teabags | | Wrapped in Foil to Preserve Freshness and Bold Flavor | |
4 | Twinings 48 teabags | | A Massive 48 Flavors So You Can Pick and Choose Your Favorite | |
5 | The Republic of Tea The Republic of Tea Ultimate Green Tea Bag Assortment Jar｜45 teabags | | Well-Balanced Green Teas from an Adventurous and Ethically Sourced Tea Provider | |
6 | Tea Forté Tea Forté 28-Count Loose Tea Sampler (28-Count)｜28 teabags | | 24 Fragrant Loose Leaf Blends, Measured Out for Your Convenience | |
7 | Teamonk Global Teamonk Global Tea Samplers Assorted Collection (5-Count)｜10 teabags | | One of Each Variety of Finely Crafted Teas | |
8 | Numi Numi Organic Tea Variety Pack, Numi’s Collection (16-Count)｜16 teabags | | Ethically Sourced Organic Teas With Variety and Flavor | |
9 | Heavenly Tea Leaves Heavenly Tea Leaves Tea Sampler｜9 tins | | An Orderly Selection of Loose-Leaf Teas | |
10 | Tea and the Gang Tea and the Gang Meet the Gang Pack (11-Count)｜11 teabags | | Unique Teas with a Wide Range of Personalities |
T2T2 Tea Five Famous Five Assorted Tea Sampler Gift Box
Sweet and Wacky Blends Will Sate All Your Flavor Needs
A general theme of fruits, flowers, and berries runs throughout most of the pack, melding into a sweet fragrance that needs no extra sugar. Three out of five of the pack are black tea based, so it's especially good if you love black tea with a twist.
There are, of course, more traditional blends, as well as assorted variety packs centered around different themes–such as breakfast teas from around the world or soothing herbals. Rachael also recommends their subscription service, “which reflects the fun around the brand.”
Whittard of ChelseaWhittard of Chelsea A Taste of Tea (40-Count) ｜ 40 teabags
Taste of Both Classic Giants and Trendy Blends from the UK
It comes with traditional black teas, such as English Black and Earl Grey, and lighter green teas, such as Jasmine and Mint. It's all rounded off with a trendy twist, in the form of sweet, fragrant blends—both flowery and fruity.
So you get the best of both worlds—modern and traditional. Rachael also mentioned Whittard’s subscription service. It’s luxurious, and the first pack includes a nice steeper and a lovely little silver spoon.
Ahmad TeaAhmad Tea Classical Variety Gift Box (60-Count) ｜ 60 teabags
Wrapped in Foil to Preserve Freshness and Bold Flavor
The teabags are wrapped in foil to maintain freshness. That’s probably why the flavor is so deep and bold; even those who usually drink loose leaf will admit that this still brews up a good, easy cup. Should you like this provider and wish to try more, there are other themed variety packs as well as funkier infusions and whole leaf pyramids.
A Massive 48 Flavors So You Can Pick and Choose Your Favorite
Twinings is also one of those quintessential UK tea brands, with a history dating back to the 1700s. With such a long history, you know that they must have great-tasting teas. Their sampler offers a massive 48 different flavors, with one teabag of each flavor included. If you're indecisive or want to try out a ton of teas, then this is definitely for you.
Classic flavors, such as English Breakfast and Earl Grey are included, but you can also try out more off-the-beaten-path flavors like Buttermint and Orange and Cinnamon Spice. Note that this is not a gift box, so the package it comes in is not the nicest, but reviewers really love the variety.
The Republic of TeaThe Republic of Tea Ultimate Green Tea Bag Assortment Jar ｜ 45 teabags
Well-Balanced Green Teas from an Adventurous and Ethically Sourced Tea Provider
There are fruit, berry, and herb blends, as well as decaf thrown into the mix, so you can try them all and see how the different components complement each other.
The Republic prides itself on being both socially and environmentally responsible. It is part of The Ethical Tea Partnership and supports a number of nonprofit groups. It’s a simple but important way of giving back, just by enjoying your afternoon tea.
Tea FortéTea Forté 28-Count Loose Tea Sampler (28-Count) ｜ 28 teabags
24 Fragrant Loose Leaf Blends, Measured Out for Your Convenience
The unique gourmet teas, like caramel nougat, pear cobbler, and honey yuzu, are a delight for the senses. They pack a heady fragrance, as the blends feature various fruits and blossoms.
If you are just beginning to dip into teas, descriptions of each brew are printed onto the box—giving you something to read and learn as you steep. Just be sure to either have an infusing basket or tea strainer to make the tea right.
Teamonk GlobalTeamonk Global Tea Samplers Assorted Collection (5-Count) ｜ 10 teabags
One of Each Variety of Finely Crafted Teas
The teas are loose leaf in pyramid bags, delivering to you a rich aroma. There is just one of each tea sachet, which might appeal if you aren’t much of a risk-taker. Teamonk has also partnered with Fairtrade certified plantations and the Rainforest Alliance to bring us sustainable, ethical leaves.
NumiNumi Organic Tea Variety Pack, Numi’s Collection (16-Count) ｜ 16 teabags
Ethically Sourced Organic Teas With Variety and Flavor
The teas can be earthy and pungent with spice, or very fresh and bright. It’s a healthy and lovely pack to experiment with—and tea initiates just may find a new niche. Numi also prides itself on its ethnically sourced teas, with even its boxes made mostly of post-consumer waste.
Heavenly Tea LeavesHeavenly Tea Leaves Tea Sampler ｜ 9 tins
An Orderly Selection of Loose-Leaf Teas
Reactions were varied—most found the teas fresh and flavorful. However, at times, the lids can come loose, and there’s nothing worse for tea leaves than being drowned in air and humidity. You also need a high-quality steeper to properly handle some of the teas.
However, Heavenly Tea Leaves does pride itself in its organic, sustainable leaves—as well as its reusable and biodegradable materials. These are all things that make this brand part of our top 10.
Tea and the GangTea and the Gang Meet the Gang Pack (11-Count) ｜ 11 teabags
Unique Teas with a Wide Range of Personalities
The Rat Race is a tongue-in-cheek spin on English Breakfast. The Nurse is a healing blend—rooibos mixed with honey and lemon. It’s certainly far from traditional—but while this pack might not serve as an amazing starter pack for newbies, it’s an eye-opener to aficionados seeking something new.
What Characteristics Do the Different Kinds of Tea Share?
Green Tea: Bright Taste, Light Caffeine
The result? The leaves don’t turn as brown or withered, but rather stay a shade of green. Green tea tends to be lighter than black tea, and it also has about half the caffeine.
There are many different types of green tea, with flavors ranging from mild to quite smoky. Two common flavors are jasmine green (light and airy) and gunpowder green (smoky).
If you like the fresh grassy taste, there’s a number of green teas that have that depth of flavor. I think what's important is how you brew green tea. You really shouldn’t steep it for very long because, otherwise, the leaves get burnt and it can get a very bitter taste. Whereas black tea, I will steep for as long as possible to get a really, really strong cuppa.
Black Tea: Robust Flavor, Strong Caffeine
The most famous may be Earl Grey. Earl Grey combines the citrus tones of bergamot to black tea leaves like Ceylon or Darjeeling.
I find black tea comforting. It’s a robust flavor; the strength gives me a little bit of a lift. Obviously, there’s a bit more caffeine in the black tea as well, so that can be a helpful boost—particularly first thing in the morning or in the afternoons.
Oolong Tea: Between Green and Black Tea, Varies in Taste and Aroma
Oolong is known for the distinctive shape of its leaves. They can be curled into tight balls, twisted, or in thin strands. This shaping of the leaves can affect steeping and the taste of the tea. Leaves that are tightly rolled can be steeped several times, while those that are lightly twisted tend to lose flavor more quickly and can be steeped only once or twice.
I find oolong very light and refreshing. It’s a nice alternative if you want something that’s a little bit more like a black tea, but you don’t want milk with it, for example. It's got a lot of the health benefits and the flavor that you would expect from a green tea. And you don’t need to steep it for very long.
White Tea: In Color and Taste, It’s the Lightest of Them All
White tea might be made from immature leaves or normal tea that is minimally processed. As a general rule, however, white tea is pale in color with a gentle, breezy taste.
To me, white tea is a bit like an oolong, really. It’s a little bit like a cross between a green tea and a black tea. It’s got that light, refreshing taste, [and is] something that can be enjoyed without milk.
It goes very well with sweet food, so if you are having a traditional afternoon tea with cakes and pastries, it will accompany them very well because the flavor’s not so intense that it takes away from the flavor of all the different treats.
Herbal Tea: To Relax and Heal
Here, though, the title of “tea” is somewhat misleading, as there are no tea leaves in these beverages (hence the zero caffeine). Instead of steeping tea leaves, you steep herbs like rooibos or flowers like chamomile or peppermint leaves, and since the resulting beverage is similar enough to tea, that’s what we call it.
There are so many different herbal teas out there now that have been designed for the health benefits. And if you’re wanting to avoid caffeine and you’re still wanting a nice hot or iced tea, there’s a number of different ones out there that are nice to try.
For example, Lavender and ginger teas can be quite nice iced as well and mixed into cocktails if you’re wanting alcoholic drink. So there are all different ways you can use them.
More Tea Selections
If you already know exactly what tea you love, are looking to buy a bigger size, and need a bit of help picking, then we've got other guides we'd love to introduce you to!
In Collaboration With Tea Blogger Rachael
This expert reviewed the contents of the buying guide for accuracy and provided factual corrections when necessary. They did not participate in the product selection process, nor are they affiliated with any of our choices unless explicitly stated so.
Top 5 Tea Samplers
No. 1: T2｜T2 Tea Five Famous Five Assorted Tea Sampler Gift Box
No. 2: Whittard of Chelsea｜Whittard of Chelsea A Taste of Tea (40-Count)｜40 teabags
No. 3: Ahmad Tea｜Ahmad Tea Classical Variety Gift Box (60-Count)｜60 teabags
No. 4: Twinings｜48 teabags
No. 5: The Republic of Tea｜The Republic of Tea Ultimate Green Tea Bag Assortment Jar｜45 teabags
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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