Tea

Speciality teas are teas which are not ordinary, there is something special about them. They can be special in many different ways and those ways may differ according to the country in which they are being consumed. For example, in the United States, where green tea represents a small percentage of total tea consumption, it may be considered a speciality tea. However, in Japan, where green tea represents the majority of consumption, it would not be considered a Speciality Tea. Speciality teas may be defined as teas which are of special (high) quality or type. Speciality teas may be blended or unblended. They may even be teas which come from a particular tea estate (plantation) known for high quality - much the same as how some estate wines are highly valued. The definition may also include teas which utilize traditional recipes which are recognized within the industry as being of high quality. In addition,Green Tea or flavoured teas such as Earl Grey (flavoured with oil of bergamot), scented teas such as Jasmine (a green tea which is flavoured with Jasmine flowers), spiced teas (flavoured with ginger), or a tea which undergoes special processing such as a Lapsang Souchong (which has a smoky flavour) are also referred to as Speciality Teas.