In many parts of the world, coffee dominates the scene today, but elsewhere people continue to grow, buy and drink outstanding tea varieties – and East Asia is one of them. If you love Chinese black tea but haven't tried others, it's time to broaden your tastes and enjoy more. The next time you shop and Asian market either online on in-person, spend some time browsing their selection of teas. There you'll find varieties from China, Japan, and Korea that are sure to spark your interest. You can go the herbal and caffeine-free route or opt for more traditionally brewed black teas with caffeine. They are all delicious.

If you look closely, you might become especially interested in some unusual teas produced in Korea. They fall outside traditional notions of teas being divided into herbal and black. For example, two of the better known are corn and barley, and the only way to know if you'll enjoy them is to try a cup. You can also find teas with many health benefits, and antioxidants are among them. It's common to see bedtime tea brands promoting healthy ingredients and health benefits. But no matter what time of day you choose to drink a cup, you'll find them enjoyable. Strong black tea can be ideal for morning wake-ups.

Many tea connoisseurs have continued to use infusers for years and purchase loose leaf tea rather than bags. But an increasing number of rare and premium teas are available in bags, so they make an incremental gain in popularity each year. There's no doubt that disposable bags offer greater convenience, and when there is no sacrifice in tea quality, they can be hard to pass up. Tea has a reasonably long shelf life compared to other products, making it easier to keep a few varieties on hand. Even if you use it slowly, it'll retain its flavor when you're ready to enjoy a cup—all the more reason to try new varieties.

If you enjoy East Asian teas and prefer organically grown products, you have an increasing number of choices. As you may already know, the Yunnan Mountain region in China is known as the growing spot of some of the world's best teas. Some products are marked on the package grown in the Yunnans if you keep an eye out for them. Asian supermarkets are the best place to find them, and you'll likely have several choices. It's nice to shop a broad offering of green tea, black tea, oolong, and white tea. When you enjoy anything, it's fun to experiment and try new things as you can with tea.