Tea, the favorite drink of many, is more than just a beverage. It is an accessory, one perfectly suited to a variety of events and seasons. Finding your favorite brews, however, can be a challenge, particularly when many stores carry the same few brands. So let’s take a look at 7 independent tea companies and some of their unique blends, and get you started on the path to building your own tea collection.
1. August Uncommon Tea
As tastes grow and evolve, culinary experiences have shifted with them, offering new flavors and styles for diners around the world. In many ways, however, the world of tea has shied away from this shift, holding fast to time-tested preparation styles, ingredients and more. Gina Zupsich and Aaron Shinn, founders of August Uncommon Tea, seek to shake up the status quo of the tea world with their array of wholly original, flavor-focused blends. From fruity to spiced to smoky, their teas run the gamut, providing options for a wide range of personal tastes. With so many offerings, however, choosing one (or more) teas can be difficult. As such, I chose to fall back on my preference for both strong, smoky teas and brightly flavored brews, and ended up trying four distinct and delightful options:
- Mood Indigo, composed of a black tea flavored with orange, vanilla, berry leaves and more. While the smokiness of the tea stands out, it is far from overpowering, and makes for an enjoyably bracing morning cup.
- Black Metallic, made from a mix of lapsang souchong, yunnan black tea, oolong, violet, rose and more. It is perhaps something of an acquired taste, with the lapsang souchong making it a relatively strong brew, but it is particularly delicious when iced and tempered with milk.
- Dark Iris, a peach- and pistachio-flavored oolong that is deliciously sweet and, surprisingly, reminiscent of peach jelly rings—in short, a perfect dessert accompaniment.
- The Library, an assam tea flavored with caraway, almond and cocoa. These elements combine into a stunningly rich and unique blend that remains a pleasant presence on your taste buds long after you’ve drained the cup.
Pick your perfect August Uncommon brew HERE.
2. Camellia Sinensis
Tea traditions from around the world are brought together at the Camellia Sinensis tea company. Their story began in 1998, when founder Hugo Americi opened his first tea house, inspired by the Asian tea culture-steeped Bohemian lounges he had discovered while exploring Prague. From its conception, the company grew steadily, acquiring multiple new locations, an online store, and three new partners: Jasmin Desharnais, Francois Marchand and Kevin Gascoyne. Through study, travel and Gascoyne’s intimate knowledge of Indian teas, the team’s understanding of and passion for tea flourished, building the foundation for the unforgettable, traditional blends they’re known for today. Now, nearly three decades after its founding, Camellia Sinensis is a standout figure in the tea world, with several notable awards to its name and a range of tea classes, books and more available for customers.
With such a compelling history and array of accolades, expectations for the company’s teas are high, and they don’t disappoint. Camellia Sinensis offers a wide range of teas with a similarly varied group of origins, from China to India to Quebec, with my personal favorites being their Lapsang Souchong and One Night in Rio blends. The Lapsang Souchong black tea is intensely smoky, shocking your tastebuds with its rich, distinct flavor. It’s the perfect wake-up brew, and can easily be mellowed out with the addition of some milk and honey. Prefer something lighter for those hot summer days? One Night in Rio is the ideal choice, particularly when iced. The mix of coconut, pineapple and Indian black tea evokes refreshing Pina Coladas, offering a burst of sweet fruitiness with every sip.
Explore the history and offerings of Camellia Sinensis HERE.
3. Lake Missoula Tea Company
When looking for a diverse array of high-quality teas, few shops are better than the Lake Missoula Tea Company. Opened in 2012 as a tea bar one floor above a local Masonic Temple, the family-owned business now operates both an online shop and a brick-and-mortar tea bar in downtown Missoula, Montana. And where does the company source its teas? Well, over the years, founders Heather and Jake Kreilick have developed relationships with tea farms around the world, from Indonesia to the Andean Mountains. Their darjeeling supplier is particularly unique, running a woman-owned tea farm while also leading rewilding efforts on her land. And the Kreilicks don’t let these widely sourced leaves go to waste. Every order is placed in small amounts, delivered directly and properly stored for quality, ensuring each product is as fresh as possible.
With my love of floral notes, I was particularly intrigued by their seasonal LGBTea and Rose Chai, two blends that turned out to be incredibly delicious. The LGBTea is a celebration of Pride Month—and with its mix of marigolds, cornflowers, pink peppercorns and more, it certainly looks the part. Flavored with cocoa, coconut and orange alongside these colorful additions, it’s sweet and comforting without being overwhelming, a perfect refreshing sip. The Rose Chai, on the other hand, is much richer and spicier, but just as soothing. With a mix of three base teas alongside flavorings such as rosebuds, cardamom and clove, it’s a warm hug in a cup, and one I could drink all day long.
Take a look at Lake Missoula Tea Company’s unique blends HERE.
4. Plum Deluxe
Do you love flavored teas, both new blends and old favorites? Then Plum Deluxe may just be the shop for you. From traditional blends such as Earl Grey to comforting favorites like orange cinnamon to new experiences such as their Peach Bellini Herbal Tea, there’s something for everyone. Each mix is designed to evoke memories, craft experiences and match moods, offering you a relaxing moment in an otherwise busy day. It’s a personal touch imbued into every aspect of the business by founder Andy Hayes, one borne of a love for his mother’s zest for life. His memories of her and his desire to bring together a community of like-minded tea lovers have allowed him to create a truly special niche in the tea world.
Choosing just a few favorites from Plum Deluxe’s extensive catalogue is almost impossible, but after a great deal of back-and-forthing, I managed to pick two I’ve truly enjoyed. Their Strawberries & Cream Black Tea (with Rose) is summer in a cup, a stunning dance of sweet and floral notes that perfectly emulates its namesake. It’s delicious both iced and hot, and is well-served by a small splash of cream. And the Porch Sippin’ Pecan Black Tea is delightfully nostalgic, reminiscent of the fresh, hot cinnamon sugar nuts I buy from markets whenever I can find them. It is, in my personal opinion, the ideal rainy-day accompaniment, warming and soothing and richly decadent all at once.
Choose your favorite Plum Deluxe tea HERE.
5. The Great Mississippi Tea Company
From farm to table, The Great Mississippi Tea Company is bringing you blends for moments that matter. The company was born of both necessity and inspiration, a combination of post-Katrina devastation and Jason McDonald and Timmy Gipson’s interest in business and farming. After visiting a tea plantation in South Carolina, a new idea took root: the pair began considering whether they could create high-quality teas close to home. 40,000 thriving tea plants, top-notch machinery and a small, skilled labor force later, they’ve done just that.
The Great Mississippi Tea Company doesn’t produce a vast array of products, but rather focuses its efforts on just under twenty high-quality, home-brewed blends. From peach to chai to mint to apple, every tea it produces is both sustainable and delicious, ensuring you can purchase with your values as well as your preferences. But how do you know which tea to try? Well, if you’re as torn as I was, you can always pick one of their tea boxes. Personally, I was drawn to their 4 U.S. Grown Blended/Flavored Tea Collection, which contains 1 oz each of some of their most popular flavored teas:
- Mississippi Mud, a black magnolia, chocolate and hazelnut tea, is rich and malty, and I’m always happy to go back for another cup.
- Colonel Grey, another black magnolia-based tea, also contains a mix of bergamot, orange peel, lavender and sage for an elevated Earl Grey experience.
- Mississippi Mint, a combination of green tea, spearmint oil, Kaffir lime trea leaves and sage, is wonderfully refreshing when iced.
- Clairee’s Chai, a mix of black magnolia, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, cloves and peppercorns. In short, the quintessential fall drink.
Sample The Great Mississippi Tea Company’s delicious brews HERE.
6. Trader Nicks Tea Co.
Sometimes, I want tea that’s as fun as it is delicious, and Trader Nicks Tea Co. delivers on all fronts. Founded in 2019 by Nick and Nicolette Spears, this online shop is full of immersive fun, flair and flavor. Each unique blend is imaginative, tied to a nostalgic piece of pop culture for a creative twist tea enthusiasts of all ages are sure to love. And the offerings are as delicious as they are delightful, crafted with high-quality leaves sourced directly by the couple. These leaves are then blended and packed into personally designed bags in their Orlando-adjacent facility before being photographed and tested by the Spears, ensuring unmatched quality in every product they release.
From their range of whimsical options, I ended up most enamored with three blends. The first, Queen’s Royal Pear, pays respect to Genovia’s national fruit with its mix of pear, cinnamon and clove flavors. The balance of sweet fruitiness and sharp spice is a wonderful contrast, and I’ve found myself drawn to it as a morning tea. The second, Lights on the Bayou, was inspired by the bayou nights and culinary delights of The Princess and the Frog. A mix of bananas foster, caramel rum and chamomile, it’s a lightly sweet dessert tea that is well served by a dash of milk. And the third tea, Ghoulish Delight, pays homage to our favorite spooky mansion and its ghostly occupants. Black tea, pu’erh, toffee, cocoa and almond combine into a richly flavorful medley that ensures you’ll want to stick around for a long time to come. Just remember to bring your death certificate.
Indulge in one of Trader Nick Tea Co.’s imaginative blends HERE.
7. Wild Coast Brew
Like all the best creations, Wild Coast Brew began with an idea. Co-founder Micha Silvius had career roots as a farmer and chef, offering farm- and forest-to-table experiences for her guests. Herbal tea crafting had always played a role in her career, and over time, Micha and her partner, Dan, began considering whether tea making could become something larger. Thus, the seeds of Wild Coast Brew were planted, and the company only grew from there. Using imaginative archetypes, the pair crafted accompanying natural tea blends, experimenting with different combinations and preparation methods to create the perfect final product. From harvest to packaging, each stage of their process is as sustainable and waste-free as possible, keeping their impact on the earth to a minimum. But at Wild Coast Brew, sustainability is only the tip of the iceberg. What truly drives the company is its collaborative, activism-focused spirit, one that encourages long-lasting connections and a deep understanding of the world around us.
I’m not typically a great fan of herbal teas, but Wild Coast Brew proved to be a wonderful exception. The Creator, a blend of fireweed, lemongrass, peppermint, ginger and more, tastes like mint tea with an exceptionally distinctive twist. It’s smooth, spiced and soothing all at once, offering a bright, clean taste with every sip. And, as a nature lover, the beautifully drawn octopus on the front means I’ll absolutely be keeping the container long after the tea is gone.
Discover Wild Coast Brew’s array of herbal and black teas HERE.
Featured image for this article provided by Camellia Sinensis.
