Most people aren't tea experts, so consider this tasting a broad education.
Pick two black teas, an oolong, two green teas and a blended tea. Herbal tea, such as rooibos and chamomile, are not true teas, but are tisanes or infusions, as they don't include tea leaves - just flowers, fruits, herbs, roots, seeds or spices, author Dina Cheney notes. Pick a tisane if you like, but be clear that it's not a tea.
Rachel Sherrar, of the Teavana mall chain, suggests a white tea (such as silver needle), a green tea (such as Rose of Suzhou), an oolong (such as Iron Buddha Oolong), a black tea (such as Golden Monkey), a rooibos/red tea (such as South African Rooibos) and a mate (such as Mate Vana).
White tea, considered the purest and rarest, is also the most expensive: Silver needle costs $18 for two ounces, the minimum amount that can be purchased at Teavana.
The kitchen is the best spot for a tea tasting, as you will need to brew each tea and serve it immediately.
Line up the packages of tea next to six kettles (ask friends to bring theirs) in the order in which you plan to try them. Set down very small (ideally matching) bowls, each filled with a teaspoon of a different type of dried tea leaf to evaluate the appearance. Label them with their names and numbers, according to the order in which you'll try them, from mildest to strongest in flavor.
On top or next to each tea package, place a small bowl, into which you've measured the right amount of dry tea for brewing (1 teaspoon per 3/4 cup). In front of each tea package, place another small bowl for the wet leaves, which can be brewed again.
Teas to taste
1 & 2. Black teas: Darjeeling (medium-bodied astringent from India) and Ceylon (subtle, not astringent, from Sri Lanka) or Lapsang Souchong (smoky, oaky and strong from China and Taiwan)
3. Oolong: Ti Kuan Yin (Iron Kuan Yin; intense, fruity and flavorful from China) or Formosa (redolent of ripe peaches from Taiwan)
4 & 5. Green teas: Matcha (thick, velvety and bitter from Japan), Sencha (grassy, tannic tea from Japan) or Dragon Well (most esteemed green tea in China; hay-like, sweet and vegetal)
6. Blended tea: Jasmine (green or pouching floral tea from China or Taiwan) or English Breakfast (strong, rousing blend of two or three black teas from England) or Earl Grey (two or three black teas, scented with bergamot oil, from England).
