It’s been a long time since the Boston Tea Party, and since then, coffee has taken hold of Americans’ hearts. But tea is making a comeback almost as big as Barbie’s after Greta Gerwig got a hold of her. We imported $508 million worth of tea in 2023, more than double what we bought 30 years ago. Tea shops are opening all over the country, and coffee shops are expanding their tea menus to satisfy customer demand.
While boba shops are fabulous, Asian teas are a worthwhile addition to your tea collection at home. These teas are available for sale at international markets in St. Louis. If you’ve never tried Asian teas at home, a good place to start are with these three: oolong, hojicha, and Korean honey citron tea.
Oolong tea can be bitter, so splurge for the expensive brands and follow the brewing directions exactly to get the correct flavor. It has a slightly creamy taste, making it the perfect base for sweet tea lattes and milky boba drinks. This pictured version is from China, and it’s a loose tea that requires a tea strainer.
Hojicha is a Japanese tea that you can find served with your meal at many restaurants in Japan. It has a mild nutty flavor with a delicious toasty smell. It’s perfect as is without any sweetener or additions.
Korean honey tea is usually citron-based and comes in a glass jar. It’s got a jam-like consistency, and you stir a spoonful of it into your mug of hot water. This ginger version comes in little packs of dried powder that dissolve instantly, and the ginger is helpful for tummy aches.
These teas and more like them are for sale at international grocers in Greater St. Louis.
Check out the tea selection at these shops:
Jay’s International Foods 3172 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, Instagram: @jaysinternationalfoods
Pan-Asia Supermarket 14246 Manchester Road, Manchester, Instagram: @panasiastlouis
Olive Supermarket 8041 Olive Blvd., St. Louis, Instagram: @supermarketolive