Welcome to the wonderful world of quality, loose leaf teas.

Simpson & Vail strives to bring you the freshest, tastiest teas from around the globe.

Tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world next to water. Tea can be served hot or iced at any time or for any occasion. In the USA black tea is the most consumed type of tea followed by green teas. In comparison, oolong and white tea sales are still relatively small.

Black, Green, Oolong and White teas all come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. Differences among the four types of tea result from the various degrees of processing and the levels of oxidization. Black teas are oxidized the longest, while Oolong teas are oxidized for approximately half that time and Green and White teas are not oxidized at all. This oxidization results in natural chemical reactions that form distinguishing characteristics in aroma, taste and color. Green & White teas most closely resemble the look and chemical composition of the fresh tea leaf.

Much of the world's tea is grown around the equator region between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. Leading tea-producing countries include China, India, Indonesia, Kenya, and Sri Lanka.

Click on the categories below to discover for yourself the taste sensations that await your sipping pleasure!