So...where do I start?

If you’re interested in books, I’d recommend the Harney & Sons Guide to Tea, by Michael Harney. It’s very accessible and unpretentious, and goes a bit into tea history and production, but focuses on exploring different types of teas with directions and tasting notes. It’s a fun, quick read, and I was able to get it at the library.

If you just want to taste a bunch of different things, I’d look for some sites that have reasonable/free shipping and that offer sample sizes (0.5oz or less). That way you don’t end up with a lot of something that’s not to your taste, and you can try a wide variety of stuff without spending a lot of money.

Here are a few different sites to look at, that do small quantities with reasonable shipping:
http://greatbritishteastore.com/collections/samplers
http://what-cha.com/
http://www.teavivre.com/
http://www.zoomdweebies.com/
http://yunomi.us

I’m sure others can add many more. The stash sales thread can also be a good way to try out a bunch of different things for little money.

Something to pay close attention to and experiment with is water temperature and steeping time. They have a tremendous impact on the flavour of your cup, and it’s not something that tea bag manufacturers tend to give good directions on.

I have accumulated a list of awesome tea themed informative articles, ranging from beginner to advanced https://www.facebook.com/notes/tea-drinkers/tea-article-collection-for-all-your-reading-needs/543535942409150

Also this list of companies that sell samples https://www.facebook.com/notes/tea-drinkers/tea-companies-that-sell-sample-sizes/610722495690494 though I need to update it with some new companies, just have not had the time :(

I second Analina’s suggest for Harney & Sons Guide to Tea, it is an awesome book. :D

Thank you both! I’ll check everything out when I get off work/on my weekend. Look for tea books at the library….what a novel idea. xD I guess I get a little overwhelmed by all the things I don’t know, it paralyzes my thinking.

If you would like to explore an assortment of unflavored teas from various countries, I recommend Upton Tea Imports. I especially favor them because they sell small samples (10-15g) for only $1 (or more, depending on the quality).

http://uptontea.com/shopcart/home.asp

As for books about tea, my favorite is “Tea: History, Terroirs, Varieties” by Kevin Gascoyne, et al.

Good luck! And welcome to Steepster :]

For info on Japanese teas, I recommend my blog: www.myjapanesegreentea.com

I have tea reviews, articles, and interviews.

Best of all, it’s free : )

Always very exciting to welcome a tea explorer. There is so much to experience and one of our recommendations would be to consider a variable temperature tea kettle. Steeping different types of tea at the right temperature is so important for optimal flavors, subtle notes and aroma. Here’s a how-to article on considerations when buying an electric tea kettle:
http://everythingfortea.com/tea-info/best-electric-tea-kettle/

We second the recommendation, "Tea: History, Terroirs, Varieties” by Kevin Gascoyne, et al. Now in its 2nd edition!

Enjoy your journey!

Keep an eye on the sales threads also, for deals. Most of them include their samples in the sales so it can be a good deal (although not necessarily because sometimes the free shipping threshold is pretty high) so they can be worth checking out.

You could also try out one of the Traveling Tea Boxes (TTB) or a tea subscription. There are threads for both of those to join.