My Top 5 Teas of 2025
Okay okay, I know it’s only October, but I don’t think my list will change before the year ends. And if it does, I’ll edit it later!
This year has honestly been a big one for me when it comes to tea. I fell in love with a whole category that I didn’t like at all the past few years. But here’s the thing, I always tell myself to keep trying things more than once, because you never know when your taste buds will change.
And I’m so glad I gave this one another shot, because now it’s one of my favorite kinds of tea …fermented tea (pu-erh).
This year, I’ve been drinking both raw and cooked pu-erh, and honestly, I never thought I would be this obsessed with them over the year. I also have a few other teas, like matcha and oolongs, that made the list this year too. So let’s get into it. Here is my Top 5 Teas of 2025!
1. Honey Bomb (Crimson Lotus Tea)
Honey Bomb is from Crimson Lotus Tea, a tea shop here in Washington State. I first tried it at the Pacific Northwest Tea Festival, and honestly, I have to thank my friend The Tea Potato for that. He guided me to their booth and recommended it, and I’m so glad he did because it was amazing.
We all ended up buying some, and I even shared it with my parents, who aren’t usually fans of fermented teas — but they loved this one too!
Honey Bomb is a raw fermented tea from 2024 that was grown and processed in Yunnan, China, the heart of pu-erh tea production. Even though it’s still really young, it already has such a beautiful flavor. It’s lighter, more floral, and has a sweet honey note that you don’t normally expect from fermented tea. You still get a little bit of that fermented aftertaste, but it’s not overwhelming.
I can’t wait to see how it tastes after it ages for a few more years — I’m definitely planning to order more!
2. Natural Okumidori Matcha (Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms, Japan)
This Natural Okumidori Matcha is from Obubu Tea Farms.. the same place I interned! I’ve talked about them before, but seriously, they’ve taught me so much about tea.
When I was there, I actually didn’t like this matcha that much. I found it a little too bitter, so I mostly used it for lattes instead of drinking it straight. But after coming back home and trying it again, I completely changed my mind.
Now, I love it. It has a mild, nutty flavor with a hint of bitterness that I actually enjoy. I think the water here (different minerals, different pH) changes the flavor a bit, plus I’ve gotten better at making it. I don’t usually make matcha lattes anymore, I drink it straight, and this one has become my go-to.
3. Cooked Fermented Tea cake (Shu Pu-erh)
So yeah, you can see a bit of a theme here, deeper, richer flavors have definitely been my thing this year.
This one is a cooked fermented tea (shu pu’erh), and honestly, it might be one of the most comforting teas I’ve had. It tastes like cherry wood, smooth, rich, woodsy, earthy, and just a little sweet.
Now, this one I’m talking about was a gift from my friend, who bought it back in 2010 15 years ago and aged it themselves. It’s amazing, and I’m savoring every bit of it. All I really know about it is that it’s called “Taste,” and it’s from the Landsun Tea Company in Yunnan Province, China. It was made in 2008, but when I looked for it online, I couldn’t find anything about it.
What I do know is that most aged shu pu’erhs develop those same woodsy, earthy, and cherry-like notes, so even if you can’t find this exact one, you can definitely discover something similar.
4. Earl Grey
Okay, this might surprise some people, especially since I mainly drink loose leaf teas, but Earl Grey has made it onto my favorites list this year.
Recently, I’ve been drinking it more in the mornings. It’s easy, flavorful, and just helps me wake up without overthinking the brew.
The one I drink right now isn’t loose leaf (I know, I know), but it’s actually really good and super easy to get, I pick it up at my local grocery store. I’m still on the hunt for a great loose leaf Earl Grey, but for now, this one hits the spot. the name of the tea company is Bigelow.
5. Autumn Oolong
Now this one completely surprised me. I’ve never been that into oolongs, but this Autumn Oolong totally changed my mind.
It came from a sampler pack that showed how the same oolong processing can taste different depending on the season, there was a spring, summer, autumn, and winter version. Out of all of them, the Autumn Oolong was my favorite.
It tastes like chocolate and lavender. Rich, floral, and slightly sweet, with a smooth finish that makes it incredibly comforting to drink. It’s the kind of tea that just makes you stop and savor it for a moment.
The Winter Oolong from that same pack actually came in second place for me, it had beautiful apricot notes that were bright and delicate. But that autumn one? It completely stole my heart this year.
Honorable Mentions
- Jasmine tea: I’ve always loved jasmine teas, they reminds me of my childhood. I used to have jasmine tea all the time at Chinese restaurants, and that floral, sweet aroma always takes me back.
- Hojicha: Forever one of my favorites, especially in autumn and winter. It’s cozy, roasty, and low in caffeine. I also love giving it to people who are new to tea, it’s such an easy one to fall in love with.
those are my Top 5 Teas of 2025!
I’ve tried so many teas this year that it’s hard to remember them all, but these ones really stood out. My taste has definitely changed. I’ve gone from lighter, grassy teas to deeper, fermented, and richer flavors.
How about you? What have been your favorite teas this year? Have your tastes changed too?
As always, keep exploring, and keep sipping enjot tea-Jordan 🍵
My top 10 from 2024 was on YouTube.
