I’ve always been a tea drinker. I’ve been drinking teas ever since it was diluted and given to me in a bottle when I was still in my walker! Being Chinese and having dim sum as a traditional weekend ritual, it is difficult not to separate myself from this very Asian beverage of choice.
Although I’ve been drinking tea for almost all my life, I’ve been a gourmet tea drinker since 2008. March, to be exact. It was the soft opening of FOUR Restaurant and I was invited to dine there before it was open to the public. I could order whatever I wanted to (including one alcoholic beverage) and everything was on the house. I ordered green tea to finish off my meal and it was simply AMAZING! It was light but fragrant with citrus notes and a hint of pineapple. The tea bag was even made out of organza instead of its usually Lipton-style paper bag (or whatever the material is??). I asked the server what brand it was and she brought the box out to show me… thus began my love for gourmet teas! 
Check out my top 5! (in no particular order)…
1. Mighty Leaf
The one that ignited my love for gourmet teas. Available at Longo’s, Pusateri’s and any higher-end supermarket. Must try Green Tea Tropical. If you are unsure of the one that’s right for you, try the Green & White Tea Variety which comes with Green Tea Tropical (5), Organic Spring Jasmine (5), Organic Hojicha Green Tea (3) and White Orchard (2).
2. Distinctly Tea
I received Distinctly Tea tea as a wedding favour a few summers ago and it took black tea to the next level. It was Lychee Black Tea– a bold black tea taste with just a hint of lychee. I’m not a fan of heavily-scented fruit in my tea but this is just right! I’ve since ordered more lychee black tea leaves and Jasmine pearls. The drawback of Jasmine pearls is that it is really mild and you need to steep a lot of it to get it to taste good.
3. David’s Tea
I got this sampler gift set for my birthday this year and I LOVE it! I love the box and the little individual compartments. I love how each tea sample is unique and I love how I can use the box after I’m done with the teas to store other things (although it might smell like leaves afterwards!). I bought agave nectar honey sticks yesterday from David’s Tea and I’m excited to stir it in my tea.
4. Revolution Tea
I discovered this at Chapters this afternoon. I went on their website hoping to find the cute teapot I saw but no luck! Instead, I found THESE!
It comes in WHITE too!
5. Tazo Tea
Starbucks uses this tea in their shaken black tea beverage (which the BF and I always order). To save $, I bought a box of AWAKE with a bottle of CLASSIC SYRUP and have made pitchers of iced tea for the past two weeks. One tea bag lasts a LONG time and I don’t add that much syrup in it so it’ll last longer. I feel so frugal I just clicked the “AWAKE” tea from the link on the sidebar and this creepy old-man-hands just served a cup of piping hot tea to me on their website! CHECK IT OUT (or err… maybe don’t?). At least they could’ve screened the hands more thoroughly at their hand modeling audition! Geez.
There you have it! My first “Fab Five” post. There will be PLENTY more to come. Have a great Monday! 
!) It also has to be something that I don’t offer regularly and that is unique.
