Skip to content
FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS ABOVE $100
SMALL BATCH BLENDS
TWO FREE TEA SAMPLES WITH EVERY ORDER
CURATED BY INDIAS FIRST TEA SOMMELIER
FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS ABOVE $100
SMALL BATCH BLENDS
TWO FREE TEA SAMPLES WITH EVERY ORDER
CURATED BY INDIAS FIRST TEA SOMMELIER
FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS ABOVE $100
SMALL BATCH BLENDS
TWO FREE TEA SAMPLES WITH EVERY ORDER
CURATED BY INDIAS FIRST TEA SOMMELIER

Tea Around the World: Unusual Teas You Haven’t Heard Of

Tea is a global beverage, but while we’re all familiar with classics like black, green, and herbal teas, there’s a world of unusual and unique teas waiting to be discovered. Each culture has its own tea traditions, and some of the lesser-known varieties offer fascinating flavors and experiences. Let’s take a trip around the world and explore some truly uncommon teas.

First up is butter tea from Tibet, also known as Po cha. This savory tea is made from tea leaves, yak butter, water, and salt, creating a rich, broth-like drink. Butter tea is deeply ingrained in Tibetan culture, providing warmth and sustenance to people living in cold, high-altitude regions. The high-fat content is said to help with energy and endurance, making it both a warming drink and a meal in itself.

In Myanmar, tea isn’t just for drinking—it’s for eating, too! Laphet, or fermented tea leaves, are a national delicacy often served as a salad. The tea leaves are fermented in clay pots underground for months, then mixed with peanuts, sesame seeds, garlic, and chilies. It’s a zesty, savory dish that offers a whole new way to enjoy tea.

Yerba mate from South America is another fascinating tea with a unique social culture. This tea, made from the leaves of a holly tree, is traditionally sipped from a gourd using a metal straw called a bombilla. Mate is enjoyed in social circles, with friends passing around the gourd, and its energizing properties make it a popular alternative to coffee.

Lastly, Pu-erh tea from China is a fermented tea that has a deep, earthy flavor. What’s special about Pu-erh is that it gets better with age, much like fine wine. The fermentation process creates complex flavors, and some aged Pu-erh teas can fetch extremely high prices at auction.

Exploring unusual teas from around the world is not just a way to expand your palate—it’s a journey into different cultures and traditions that show how deeply tea is woven into daily life across the globe.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published..

Cart

Your cart is currently empty.

Start Shopping

Select options

Shopping from India?
We have a dedicated store which serves in your country. Would you like us to take you there?