help me find tea

So finally we are getting an electric tea pot for work, since slowly but surely our Indian contractors have managed to institute an informal tea time around three (I love them) and it gets a little crowded in the breakroom with half the men in my unit and two microwaves (they have lured pretty much all xy chromosomes into this; trust me, if you have never seen a breakroom the size of a closet filled to the brim with various males looking casual while clutching their mugs and loose tea and chatting while eyeing the microwave, you have not lived), so I need to upgrade my tea supply in response to endless hot water and no microwave wait.

Tell me of reliable online shops that carry tea I can buy from, preferably that carry both bag and loose. And what are your favorite brands? I am kind of religiously Twinnings and Bencheley and sometimes Republic of Tea, but that's more easy-access than like, some deep meaningful relationship (Except Bencheley apricot and Twinnings black currant--my OTTs).

I haven't been this excited about work since--um, ever. I wonder if there's any chance we could slip snacks into tea time?

ETA: Also, weirdly, I found one a while back called The London Cuppa. It was good. *eyeing it thoughtfully*

ETA 2: Have ordered Adagio, since seriously, that seems to be very popular among you all? And also, wow, their site. Am eyeing other recommendations as my God, so much tea.

Thanks very, very much for all the recommendations!

Comments

[lazulisong.livejournal.com]

I'm really fond of Tao of Tea

http://www.taooftea.com/

but uh, I like Stash Teas too. Their ginger lemon herbal tea is God's own cure for miserable winter colds.

I have to admit I primarily drink terrifying amounts of super black Irish Breakfast with sugar and milk. My excuse is that it's the drink of my people -- well that and whiskey -- but I hear normal people don't enjoy having their spoons actually dissolve in their tea? =w=

[seperis.livejournal.com]

..I am drinking twinnings irish breakfast right now. For reasons I don't understand, if tea has hte word 'breakfast' in it, I will buy it. Like, instantly.

[lazulisong.livejournal.com]

RIGHT??? I like it because it's strong enough to support milk and sugar (and, you know, whiskey), which reduces my Korean friend to speechless, speechless horror. Trader Joe's version is actually pretty good too.

Man, she sent me some really good stuff a couple of years ago but I cannot remember the freaking brand! it comes in tiny, individual boxes and silk pyramid bags.

[dine.livejournal.com]

seconded on both counts!

I was just looking up Tao of Tea's site when I read your comment - and Stash's ginger lemon tea is my winter cold season staple

[lazulisong.livejournal.com]

this is where I gloat because Tao of Tea is based in Portland, and my sister actually lived like three doors down to one of their teahouses before it closed. I've also been to the one they have in the Chinese Garden downtown.