I’m a mixed race Asian-American, so I’m used to taking my tea without sugar. But when a health crisis sent me home back to the States, in pain and exhausted from my medical practice in Korea, I spent some time studying the art of the tea sommelier under the Canadian Tea Association.

Western tea tradition involves a lot of sugar.

Unfortunately, sugar doesn’t do great things for your peripheral blood vessels. Or your pancreas. Or your waistline.

So I was thrilled as a physician when I discovered this amazing, naturally sweet Cream Earl Grey. It makes me feel like royalty, and it tastes exactly as it sounds: robust, classic Earl Grey with a delicious sweet cream flavor, one of the best selling blends from our supplier. Their secret natural flavoring process requires NO added sugar.

Earl Grey on its own is also just really good for you because of bergamot, the natural flavor used to treat the black tea for that special Earl Grey taste. While I haven’t seen any enormous randomized controlled trials, I was excited to discover the Journal of Phytomedicine did a great piece on a 

number of studies showing bergamot helped improve dyslipidemia (high cholesterol), and apparently it even decreased anxiety in rats!

Simple, and beautiful:

• Ingredients: Black tea, osmanthus petals, gluten free natural flavor
• Origin: Sri Lanka
• Antioxidant Level: Medium
• Caffeine Level: Medium

Just want to try once? Head here.

This award winning hand-blended combination is light and floral, refreshing with a smooth, fresh mouth feel.

Rare white tea, prized throughout ancient China, is hand-plucked while still soft and fuzzy on the
bush, before the leaves have matured to green tea, and carefully protected from oxidation. This treasured liquid gold comes only in small 20g and 40g packages. Second only to yellow tea for royalty, this is a perfect gift to show a special someone they are worth the rare things in life.

And floral lavender may benefit those who struggle to find night-time peace: a randomized control trial in 2015 found that lavender improved sleep for college students compared to sleep hygiene alone. Better, a large meta-analysis in 2019 found that while there isn’t good evidence for aromatherapy, oral administration of lavender did decrease anxiety across multiple studies. You can watch our relaxing breakdown of other studies for lavender here (in ASMR style).

• Ingredients: Organic white tea, organic wild lavender
• Origin: Fujian, China
• Antioxidant Level: Very High
• Caffeine Level: Low

Just want to try once? That’s here.

As a fibromyalgia sufferer, I deal with a lot of random pain and nausea. After that physical attack, there’s a mental ache and discouragement that falls like a heavy fog over my entire existence.

So I like a tea that attacks both angles: something that’s evidence-based and good for my body, but also comforting for my mind. Like a winter holiday embrace, or a flannel blanket, for my soul.

That’s this masala chai.

Full bodied black tea enhances South Indian masala spices with cinnamon, cardamom notes and lively ginger. Used by sages for ages, the chai blend continues to maintain popularity for its natural, almost Christmas-y sweetness.

It’s also good for that wellness you crave when seeking out ASMR: cinnamon and cardamom have been found to lower cholesterol, while ginger is consistently used to reduce nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. A healthy body often leads to a more relaxed mind, and in our quest for tingles, that’s never a bad thing.

• Ingredients: Black tea, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon,clove, black Pepper+ white pepper, nutmeg
• Origin: India, Kenya
• Antioxidant Level: High
• Caffeine Level: Medium

Just want to get this tea once? Head here.

TOP 10 Tea-lovers’ Choice at the 2016 Toronto Tea Festival (3Teas)

I enjoy ASMR and – as someone with a high fibromyalgia somatic symptom score – I DON’T enjoy nausea. I chose my supplier’s unique blend of soothing peppermint and lively ginger green tea for both reasons.

Peppermint has been used for everything from nausea to pain relief (it’s in Tiger Balm) to even soothing nipple sensitivity during breast feeding. Ginger is consistently used to reduce nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, and even for things like seasickness. Both compounds are known for the tingly effect they have on the tongue and skin, and combined with the relaxing effect of green tea, they are THE perfect compound for preparation while you listen to ASMR.

• Ingredients: Luxury green tea, Natural dried ginger, Natural dried calendula and sunflower petals, Peppermint
• Origin: Kenya, Japan, Thailand, USA
• Antioxidant Level: High
• Caffeine Level: Low

Just want to try once? That’s here.

Perfect for meditation, this tea literally blooms in your clear glass, unfolding into a vibrant sun-like flower with a beautiful trailing center. Its taste blossoms on the tongue as well, as a smooth peach character unfolds into hints of jasmine and lily.

It’s such a beautiful gift–the moment a blossom, or a person, opens up to you.

Our health survey finds this tea high in antioxidants. There are innumerable studies about the health benefits of green tea, with research reviewers touting its anti-inflammatory action to the point of cancer prevention, and even claiming it can prevent infectious disease. Everyone’s mileage will vary, but who doesn’t want to drink something known for improving cognition? If it’s brain food, it’s gotta be good for stimulating ASMR, too. Watch the video here where we dig into the Pubmed database together to see the research beyond the hype on green tea. We’ll be following up soon with data on chrystanthemum and lilly!

• Ingredients: Green tea, chrysanthemum, lilly+jasmine+osmanthus blossoms
• Origin: China
• Antioxidant Level: Very High
• Caffeine Level: Medium

Just want to try one time? That’s here.

But one thing did live up to the legends: melt in your mouth, rich, tongue-tingling brisket. I don’t think it’s even just the meat. I used to be a vegetarian, years ago, and I’m convinced smoking and roasting makes everything better.

Some ancient Chinese sages agree with me.

A savory tea that pairs well with beef, lamb, gouda cheeses, and mushroom dishes, lapsang souchong undergoes a rigorous smoking process after oxidation. Our unique lapsang souchong offers a rich astringency with the heady aroma of an oak fire–perfect for the distinguished fan who enjoys beard care videos and adventures with brigands.

This pure product contains only one ingredient: powerful, smoked black tea.

• Ingredients: Smoked black tea
• Origin: Fujian, China
• Antioxidant Level: Low
• Caffeine Level: Medium

Just want to try one time? That’s here.

The first time I tried anything similar to pu-erh tea I believe was in Korea, sampling the ferment of a volcanic mountain tea. That twinge of taste adventure on my tongue–it spurred a sense of curiosity, wide-eyed accomplishment, even.

That’s what happens when you try something new, of course. It’s good for the soul.

So I investigated the ancient roots of tea fermentation, and discovered ancient tea from China that sometimes sells for more than its weight in gold, at thousands of dollars–an ancient tea once reserved for emperors only.

Pu-erh tea must be extremely carefully crafted: there’s a big difference, but a fine line, between fermentation, and tea going bad, and only the most careful experts, like those who craft high-end wines and heritage cheeses, know how to create this product.

So what’s it like? Pu-erh is a savory, musty tea that pairs well with sharp cheeses and mushroom dishes, undergoing a rigorous fermentation process after oxidation. Toasted bread highlights simmer under elemental and earthly notes. My tea is lovingly guarded for three years, sourced from some of the purest places in China–and, lucky for you, not priced at emperor-level prices.

This pure product contains only one ingredient: powerful fermented black tea.

• Ingredients: Fermented black tea
• Origin: Fujian, China
• Antioxidant Level: Low
• Caffeine Level: Medium

Just want to try once? That’s here.

For some reason, this one always makes me think of my husband.

I’ve had jasmine tea all over the world, from a tiny, ancient tea shop in Korea, to the urban smoothie hut in a Texas strip mall, and every time, a deep inhale transports me. No matter where I am, I’m now holding his muscular, rough hand and sighing with contentment. The sweet, captivating floral fragrance says love to me more than any rose, and the gentle, but robust, green tea body woos my tongue…

You’re missing out if you haven’t shared jasmine tea with someone you love.

Both jasmine and the green tea plant, contain compounds that induce relaxation–great for ASMR and meditation. You can see the video here on this page to learn more about the benefits of green tea; as for jasmine, while there is definitely more research needed into this plant, I was pleased to discover that jasmine improved wound healing of oral ulcers in rats–definitely a good thing for someone like me with sensitive tissues. Another small study compared massage therapy with and without jasmine, and found that jasmine significantly improved mood and blood flow. And finally, a couple small studies even found that jasmine lowers prolactin, which means it may help fix the side effects of unwanted lactation that can come with anti-psychotic medications or certain body piercings. (This also means that perhaps jasmine isn’t the best flower for women who are pregnant or lactating) It’s a fascinating, natural solution that’s calming and healing for people like me who crave, and need, balance.

It’s also just a very romantic and sweet gift. My tea:

• Ingredients: Green tea, Jasmine flowers
• Origin: Fujian, China
• Antioxidant Level: High
• Caffeine Level: Low

Just want to try once? That’s here.