What should my first loose leaf tea be?
Four candidates and the case for each, judged on how hard they are to get wrong rather than on how impressive they are. Both cost little and both are near-impossible to ruin, which matters more than either being impressive.
tea
What is being compared
Point by point
| Aspect | English Breakfast | Hojicha |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment needed | A mug and a basket. Nothing else. | The same. |
| Water temperature | Boiling. | Near-boiling. Neither needs a thermometer. |
| How it fails | Astringent if over-steeped, and milk fixes it. | Barely fails at all. |
| Who it suits | Anyone who drinks tea from bags. | Anyone who dislikes green tea or wants low caffeine. |
The short answer
Both are near-impossible to ruin and cost little. Buy small quantities of two rather than a large quantity of one — comparison teaches faster than repetition.
Not a ranking. TeaHQ publishes no ratings and does not know your occasion.