I'm not a tea snob as long as it is a good black tea that tastes good without anything added. My favorite is fresh black tea from Northern India. A friend's Mom has a tea plantation and as long as it hasn't been sitting around too long I like it. I've never purchased any tea off the shelf that can compare. I'm one of those guys that uses two teaspoons of tea per cup and steeps less than two minutes to maximize caffeine and minimize bitterness.