Chinese teas. Long Jing (Dragon Well) green, Imperial Peony white. Not big on black tea.

Green: there are dozens of Chinese green teas. I simply prefer Long Jing. It's hard to describe. It's a deep, rich flavour, but not overwhelmingly heavy. I also like Japanese green tea – loose, not matcha. It's a very green flavour, brighter than Chinese teas. Straight matcha is a little too sharp for my taste, though occasionally I'll drink it with sugar and milk, a la Starbucks, as a "dessert", not a tea. If you're ever in Denver, there's a coffee shop in Union Station that serves it well. And when I need the caffeine, Gunpowder Green, which is halfway between green and black.

White: real white tea doesn't come in many varieties. There's essentially Peony, Imperial-grade Peony, and Silver Needles. They're more grades than varieties. Silver needles is expensive. I could afford it, but the taste is a little too heady for me, and it just doesn't feel necessary. So I favour Imperial Peony.

Herbal: I like pure flavours. The mix-flavour boxes in US stores feel like Wal-Mart Culture. Bulk loose single-herb teas are inexpensive, and good in their simplicity. Lemongrass, lavender, ginko, passionflower.

Always straight, never with sweeteners or milk. Dessert is dessert, and tea is tea. Tea is not dessert.

Though if you've never had matcha in ice cream, you're missing out. It's amazing.

For preparation, an electric kettle and a tea ball. One of these at work.