Davidson's Organics Yunnan Black Loose Leaf Tea

This is a surprisingly smooth and naturally sweet black tea with subtle honey notes and hints of mint or tarragon. It's not your typical bold, peppery breakfast tea—instead, it's more refined and contemplative, with a light, clean taste that doesn't need any sugar or milk. Many reviewers mention the pleasant nutty and herbal undertones, plus it brews into a beautiful copper-golden color.

It's a bit finicky, honestly. The good news is it's naturally smooth and forgiving if you don't oversteep it. The bad news? Go past about 4 minutes and it can turn muddy and lose that delicate sweetness. Several reviewers mention you need to pay attention to steep time. The upside is that with a 16-ounce bag, you'll have plenty of tea to practice and dial in your perfect brew.

Absolutely—it's actually excellent for cold brewing, sun tea, and iced tea. Multiple reviewers specifically praise it for this purpose. The natural sweetness and smooth flavor profile work beautifully when brewed cold, and you don't have to worry as much about oversteeping when using the cold brew method.

Yes, this is one of the most frequently mentioned strengths. Six reviewers specifically call out the excellent value and price point for getting a full pound of high-quality, organic loose leaf tea. The leaves are large, fresh, and aromatic—not dusty or broken—which is impressive at this price tier.

It's a great choice for beginners because it's naturally sweet enough to drink without any additions, so you don't need to worry about getting the sugar-to-tea ratio right. The large bag gives you lots of room to experiment and learn. Just remember to watch your steep time—set a timer for 3-4 minutes and you'll be fine. It also works well for simple cold brew, which is very forgiving.

A few things: it doesn't resteep well using Western brewing methods (one steep and done), it doesn't play nicely with milk if that's your thing, and you really do need to watch your steep time to avoid a muddy, bitter cup. Some tea enthusiasts also recommend doing a quick rinse of the leaves before the first steep for optimal flavor. It's also not a strong, bold breakfast tea—if you want that peppery kick, look elsewhere.