As well as the single source 'garden' teas listed in the other sections we also offer classic tea blends are recognised internationally for their distinctive qualities. The skill of the tea taster ensures that consistent flavour is maintained.

It is black tea that is most most familiar to us. Black teas are allowed to oxidise during manufacture but there are considerable variations in method. This gives them immense variety of character. We offer black teas from India, Nepal, China and Ceylon. We specialise in tea made by the orthodox method and all are the best quality large leaf grades.

Green Teas have very low levels of caffeine (8.4 mg per cup compared with 25-110 mg per cup for black teas and 60-120 mg for coffee). Green teas are fresher in taste and should be drunk not too strong and without milk. China makes many of its finest green teas by hand. We also stock green teas from Japan as well as green Indian Darjeelings.

Oolong tea (originally known as Wulong), meaning black dragon, are semi-fermented (i.e. semi-oxidised) teas generally grown in low altitude areas of Ali Shan in Formosa (Taiwan) and in the high altitude areas of Wuyi Shan in north west Fujian province of China. They are light and delicate. Oolongs are picked when the leaves are not too young and are processed immediately after plucking. They are always whole leaf teas, never broken by rolling.

These extraordinary teas are harvested for only a few days each year when the buds are white with the down of the new growth. The leaf is just dried and withered and has the lowest caffeine levels of any tea, the tea hardly oxidising at all. It is a very pale tea with a distinctly delicate flavour. White tea should be brewed with boiled water that has cooled for a minute.

Flavoured teas may be made with black, green or oolong teas - ours use black. Natural fruit pieces or leaves are added to the tea. Alternatively flowers, spices are added. All tea readily absorbs other flavours but China teas are particularly well suited to fruit teas, Ceylon teas to those such as Vanilla. All our teas have a very natural and fresh taste. Included in this section are some traditional scented teas.

Tisanes are not teas at all but herbal or fruit infusions. They can be a pleasant and healthy alternative to tea. As most do not contain caffeine, Mate being a noteworthy exception, they can make an ideal bed-time drink. These infusions are usually made from the dried leaf, in the same manner in which teas are made. Sometimes the flower or root of the plant is used. Our range offer distinct flavours and health benefits, recognised for centuries. All our tisanes are supplied loose.

Here you will find infusers for making single cups of tea without fuss and Gift Vouchers and Gift Wrapping which enable you to give our teas as a much appreciated present. Samples of our teas may also be ordered here.

We offer six collections of Grey's large leaf loose teas designed either as an introduction to our teas or as a gift. The selections of four tins or packets are specially wrapped in blue tissue paper and we can include an attractive greetings card - so please let us know what message we should include.