1. Lapsang Souchong is the sweetest, aromatic, and has a fairly thick mouthfeel.

People new to black tea often find Lapsang Souchong “the best tasting” and it is a good choice for beginners. Regarding price, cheaper versions have stronger flavors but with mixed notes; more expensive ones are mellow and smooth. However, beginners may not immediately appreciate this, as mentioned earlier, they might prefer the direct sweetness of cheaper Lapsang Souchong.

2. Yunnan black tea is affordable and tastes good as well.

Yunnan black tea is not as sweet as Lapsang Souchong, but it is rich and full-bodied, with a certain resilience, making it quite enjoyable. Some people even start with Yunnan black tea and, after falling in love with its intensity, become unwilling to accept other black teas. This is a pity, and their fondness for Yunnan black tea differs from those who transition from Lapsang Souchong.

3. Keemun black tea has the most orthodox flavor.

Keemun black tea does not impress as quickly as Lapsang Souchong or Yunnan black tea; it may seem plain at first. Therefore, beginners should not try it too early, as they might not appreciate its quality and could even be put off. Its characteristics are quite distinct: a pleasant fragrance, a thick mouthfeel, and a pure tea flavor.

Let’s talk about the Keemun fragrance first. Unlike teas whose aroma can be detected from a distance, Keemun’s fragrance must be appreciated by bringing the cup close to the nose. However, when you do bring the cup close, many other black teas lack this aroma, or even if they have it, it is not as pleasant. Regarding the thick mouthfeel, Yunnan black tea is known for its intensity, but when compared side by side with Keemun, it may taste less substantial, and it might even become difficult to rediscover Yunnan’s original flavor afterward.

The “pure flavor” is somewhat hard to explain. First, the thick mouthfeel of Keemun contains no impurities, and the tea flavor is concentrated and not scattered. Without even testing, one can guess that with such a clean taste, thick mouthfeel, and distinct aroma, it would make excellent milk tea. So beginners can try making milk tea with Keemun and compare it with Lapsang Souchong or Yunnan black tea, which can also help them better understand the characteristics of each tea.