What's your favorite tea?

What's in your teapot?
Image: FreeFoto.com

I just heard about a new "competition" called the Tea Bloggers' Choice Awards, and thought it would be fun to participate.  At first I thought I would need to choose my favorite tea blogs (but there are so many!) and nominate them for an award, but the "competition" is actually between tea blends, not companies or blogs.  Here is the explanation from the Association of Tea Bloggers website: 

"What are the TBC Awards?

The TBC Awards are independent awards of the Association of Tea Bloggers (ATB) determined by members of the Association of Tea Bloggers and their readers to celebrate favorite teas of the online tea marketplace.

- The awards showcase favorite teas of the online tea community

- The awards reveal useful info on tea consumer preferences

- It is NOT a list of “best” teas. Awards do not necessarily reflect a tea’s quality

- The awards encourage interaction between bloggers and their readers, strengthening their voice in the tea community

- The awards point new tea drinkers to teas they may also enjoy

Winners are announced once per year. Winning companies receive a formal statement of their tea having won a particular category and an official winner’s seal/logo that can be used in association with that product."

I've put the word "competition" quotation marks because it's not necessarily a contest between the various tea companies, but between the tea blends themselves.  Loose-leaf teas, teas in tea bags, flavored, unflavored, and herbal teas all count.  Here are the categories: 

Black teas

1. Unblended, Unflavored

2. Blended and/or Flavored

Green teas

3. Unblended, Unflavored

4. Blended and/or Flavored

Wulong (Oolong) teas

5. Unblended, Unflavored

6. Blended and/or Flavored

White teas

7. Unblended, Unflavored

8. Blended and/or Flavored

Pu'er teas

9. Unblended, Unflavored

10. Blended and/or Flavored

Herbal teas (no camellia sinensis ingredients)

11. Herbal blend

12. Single herb

I have several favorites for more than one category, but I don't drink all of the different kinds of tea regularly, so I don't know that I can choose a favorite for all the categories.  That's where you, dear readers, come in.  What are your favorite teas?  I'll compile the votes, and whichever tea or blend gets the most votes for each category will get a nomination from us at The Cup That Cheers!  I'll post again when the results are announced to let you know the overall winners.  I'll need your votes by Thursday, August 30th, so I can compile and send them in by the end of the month!