Adagio Teas' gourmet bags combine the superior flavor of loose tea with the convenience of a dispoable bag. High-end tea is in a category of its own, said Michael Cramer, a former investment banker who founded Adagio, "It's more like the new wine because of the new varietals," he said, adding that even though teas (other than herbal teas) are all from the same plant, "it differs in how it is grown and processed in the hands of an artisan, and that's how it becomes interesting."

Black tea, currently the most popular tea in the US, was originally producced out of necessity rather than taste. When European traders first started exporting tea from China, green tea was all that existed. Many merchants found that the green tea leaves, due to the long, arduous trip back from Asia, would lose freshness. Exporters would oxidize the leaves to lengthen preservation, thus creating a new variety with a different flavor. Because this was the only way they could enjoy tea for centuries, black tea remains the favorite for most Westerners.

Green tea is an unoxidized tea. It has recently enjoyed resurgence in popularity, thanks to recent scientific findings touting its health benefits. But Green Tea has been around for thousands of years, as the first tea to be discovered. While most beginners only notice the "spinachy" flavor that green tea conveys, upon many tastings, more complex and sophisticated nuances will become apparent.

Beverages made from infusing hot water with herbs and plants, often called Tisanes (a French word for "herbal infusion"), are usually dried flowers, fruits infused with boiling water. No actual tea leaves are included. Historically imbibed for medicinal reasons or as a caffeine-free alternative to coffee and tea. Herbal teas are gaining in popularity around the world.

Oolong tea is a semi-fermented tea that is principally grown in Chaina and Taiwan. Oolong tea falls somewhere between Green and Black teas, and can resemble either (depending on the way that is is processed).

White Tea is producted on a very limited scale in China and India and has yet to make a significant impact in America. It is the least processed of all tea varieties, made with out steaming or pan-firing. But to connosisseurs, "White" is considered the apotheosis of tea. Most white teas employ only the best leaves and bud from each tea plant at each harvest.