Yunnan black tea
Dian Hong
滇红
diān hóng
Malt · Cocoa · Honey
Rounded and malty, often with cocoa-like notes. Expect tea with a satisfying body, rather than a drink that tastes exactly like coffee.
Explore this teaA small beginning. A world of tea.
Find your first
Chinese tea.
You do not need to know every tea name. Start with flavors you like, meet three teas to explore and learn to brew your first cup.
Three ways to begin.
Choose the question you have today.
A clearer starting point
Three suggestions, with reasons you can understand. Your preferences lead the way.
Flavor you can picture
Malt, flowers, nuts and fresh greens. Plain descriptions, without a wall of tea jargon.
A first cup you can make
A mug and a strainer are enough to begin. Learn the small adjustments that help.
From curiosity to your first cup.
Tell us what you enjoy
Choose familiar flavors, things you avoid and your daily routine.
Meet your tea matches
See why each tea fits, and what might make it less appealing.
Make a simple first brew
Use a clear starting recipe, then adjust to your own taste.
Your taste is a good place to start.
Find an approachable starting point with our eight-question Tea Finder.
Find my teaGood places to start.
Explore the tea types
Flower-scented tea
Jasmine Pearls
茉莉龙珠
mò lì lóng zhū
Jasmine · Fresh greens · Soft sweetness
Jasmine aroma over a green-tea base. The green tea can become bitter with a long steep.
Explore this teaA toasted oolong starting point
Roasted Tieguanyin
焙火铁观音
Bèihuǒ Tiěguānyīn
Toasted nuts · Warm grain · Orchid
Toasty and rounded, with floral notes behind the roast. Roasted does not mean smoky, and it does not mean caffeine-free.
Explore this teaA little knowledge. A better cup.
All beginner guidesChoosing tea · 2 minute guide
Everyday Chinese tea on a budget
Compare delivered cost, buy small samples and choose a tea you will actually brew.
Read the guide
Brewing · 1 minute guide
How to brew Chinese tea in a mug
A simple, repeatable first cup without a special tea set.
Read the guideGetting started · 2 minute guide
Tea for coffee drinkers: find a flavor you enjoy
Enjoy coffee’s roast or body? Try malty black tea, roasted oolong or ripe pu-erh, compare small samples and make a first cup in a mug.
Read the guideBefore you begin.
Is Tea Finder free?
Yes. You can answer the quiz and view your results without an account or email address.
Do I need a gaiwan?
No. Begin with a heat-safe mug, hot water and a roomy basket strainer. A gaiwan is an optional way to explore small repeated infusions.
Does this website sell tea?
Tea Compass currently focuses on guides and a free selection tool. Where available, seller links take you to third-party websites.