Here's my favorite tea...
I've been exploring the world of tea for about 5 years and have tried just over 200 teas of nearly all tea types. There is one tea that I've consistently gone back to since I have discovered it. It is a sheng puer from Yunnan Sourcing. I have an interesting relationship with this tea. I have never thought of this tea as wildly complex or as an experience. Instead, it has balance with just the right amount of intrigue to work as a daily drinker. I'm always happy to drink this tea.
2020 Wu Liang Mountain (the pic of this post)
Tasting notes: Thick texture; mineral, wood, and sweet body; citrus and herb high notes; a bitter-to-sweet aftertaste transformation.
Don't feel bad. If you enjoy your tea, then it's a good tea!
Any recommendations for a newbie to start off with ๐?
That's a tough question. It depends on how much you can spend and what you are looking for.
I recommend samples, that way you can try many types of tea without too much money or commitment. You can try a single tea from each tea type and explore from there.
Yunnan Sourcing website does many samples. That's just my go to, but I know there are many other sites others would recommend. For more black tea blends, like your English breakfast, try Upton Tea Imports.
But if want even less of a commitment than that, try just spending more for your tea from the store than you usually do. Price does equal quality for most teas you'll buy. Trying whole leaf tea will get you higher quality teas as well.