What are your favorite stores to buy Tea from?

I’ve been really happy with http://www.SpecialTeas.com. And you can order samples for $1 each.

I also did not like the quality of Adagio.

has anyone heard of…
www.tuochatea.com
I’m concerned that one… they are not really in China… there English is just good enough to set off bells because of their use of colloquialism… and 2… they don’t have a location listed… no address no phone number… how do I contact them…. you know what I mean.
Anybody? like em? hate em? Had their baby?

So far, I love any company that sells samplers. Samovar, Upton Tea Imports, Cultured Cup (for Mariage Freres) sell samples and that is very convenient.

Another advantage for Upton Tea Imports: its website feels like an encyclopedia of tea offerings….

I have also had good luck w/California Tea House teas but sadly, they don’t offer samples…I wish they would…

I know what you mean by random online tea stores. I have been let down myself several times before. But I recently tried some teas at an NYC food fair. The company was called Karma Blends. Their site is www.karmablends.com. They dont have a lot of tea blends, but some amazing herbal wellness teas. They supposedly have the best chai latte and some other funky tea blends.

Also, if you like fruity – I would give republic of tea a chance. However, you must make sure that you can return them if they seem old.
Good luck and let us know what you go for!

I recently ordered some samples from the Old Wilmington Tea Co. Their shipping was prompt and speedy, the packaging was quite lovely (including a fancy printed card with a code for free shipping on my next order), and the samples were a very generous size :)

Though the packaging used by Design A Tea is poor in comparison their customer service is a hundred times better than anything I have ever experienced before. I was just going to try the design your own samples but ended up splurging and adding one of their regular teas as well. I was contacted later that evening by the owner who told me that he wanted me to get the most out of my shipping cost so he would add any small tea to my order free of charge. When the package arrived there was an extra design sample as well as a coupon for another free small tea.

I’ll definitely be ordering from both companies again ;)

My current favorite is the Golden Moon.
They have a flat rate of $4.95 shipping.
The teas come in great tins, so you don’t have the added purchase of a tea tin.
Of all the companies I have ordered teas from, this company has the best, freshest tasting tea. They are super speedy in shipping:)

A store that doesn’t get enough press on Steepster is Simpson and Vail. They are not as expensive as Whispering Pines or Verdant but they are excellent. They are a good value. www.svtea.com.