I used to think choosing good tea meant knowing what to look for.
The right origin. A respected producer. Beautiful leaves. A good harvest. Maybe even a price tag that made me think, “This must be worth it.”
Over time, I realised I was making tea shopping much harder than it needed to be.
Because what does “quality” actually mean?
For some people, it might mean rare leaves from a particular mountain. For others, it might mean organic farming, careful processing, or a tea that has been produced using traditional methods.
All of those things can matter.
But for me, quality has become much more personal.
I want tea that I actually look forward to drinking.
That sounds almost too simple, but I think we forget it.
I have bought teas because everyone seemed to love them. I admired the packaging, read the tasting notes, and convinced myself I was going to enjoy them.
Then the tea sat in my cupboard.
Meanwhile, there was another tea I kept reaching for because I simply liked how it tasted.
That taught me something.
A tea can be technically excellent and still not be the right tea for you.
I also pay more attention now to how the tea makes me feel after drinking it. Not in the exaggerated wellness sense, but in a much simpler way. Does it suit the moment? Do I enjoy the flavour? Would I happily make another cup tomorrow?
Those questions tell me far more than a fancy description ever could.
Of course, I still care about where my tea comes from. I want to know that the leaves have been handled thoughtfully and that the people behind them are respected. Understanding the journey from tea garden to cup makes the experience more meaningful.
But I no longer believe quality has to be complicated.
Sometimes quality is a beautiful tea that rewards careful attention.
Sometimes it is simply a tea that makes an ordinary afternoon better.
And sometimes, honestly, it is the tea you keep coming back to even when there are dozens of other options sitting in the cupboard.
Maybe that is my definition of quality now.
Not the tea everyone tells me I should love.
The tea I genuinely do.
— Maria Tan
On tea, culture, and everyday rituals.
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A Tea Table in the Clouds: The Westin Singapore High Tea Review
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Stop Chasing Tasting Notes: Tea Isn’t Wine and That’s a Relief
I have a small confession to make. Sometimes I have absolutely no idea what I am supposed to be tasting. A tea description might promise orchid, honey, toasted nuts, stone fruit, and something wonderfully mysterious called a “long mineral finish.” I take a sip. I taste tea. And then I start wondering if everyone else…
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Chinese Tea Sets: Beautiful on the Table, But How Do They Brew?
There is a small arrangement on the table this evening, and I have not touched it yet. A pale bowl with a lid resting slightly askew. A round pitcher beside it, waiting to be filled. Cups no larger than a thumb and two fingers, lined up like a quiet sentence. The surfaces catch the last…
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Floral Teas Are Not “For Beginners”—They’re For People With Taste
There is a curious assumption in tea culture that I have never quite understood. If you are new to tea, you begin with something floral. Jasmine. Rose. Osmanthus. Lightly scented blends. Then, supposedly, you move on. You discover roasted oolongs. Aged teas. More complex leaves. Stronger flavours. Eventually, you become a “serious” tea drinker. I…
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How to Make Cold Brew Tea: The Slow Method for a Smoother Cup
There is a jar on the top shelf of my refrigerator that I did not need this morning. I filled it last night, before the kitchen went dark. Loose tea leaves, cool water, a lid resting loosely on top. Then I closed the door and left it alone, the way you leave bread to rise…
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Milk Tea Isn’t “Ruining” Tea—But Some Milk Tea Is Ruining Milk Tea
I have noticed that few things can start an argument among tea drinkers quite as quickly as milk. Mention adding milk to a good tea and suddenly everyone has an opinion. Some insist that milk covers the flavour of the leaves. Others will tell you that certain teas were practically made for it. I have…
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There Are Always Good Things to Eat at The Marmalade Pantry
The afternoon rain had just eased when I climbed up to Level 4 of ION Orchard, home to the Marmalade Pantry Ion. Outside, Orchard Road was doing its usual thing: too many people, too much noise, everyone somewhere to be in the bustle of the city. Inside, at a corner table, someone was pouring tea…
