Cool Hunting

All tea comes from the same plant, Camellia sinensis, but that doesn't mean there isn't a wide variety of sub-species, different blends and flavors. Zhi Tea of Austin, Texas has dozens of flavors of tea, from a plum oolong that actually has the pleasant tartness of plums to a chocolate chai that doesn't taste like watery hot cocoa.

Zhi offers gourmet organic varieties in black, green, white and oolong. There are also a variety of herbal blends from Turkish Spice Mint to Egyptian Chamomile.

These blends are easily ordered from the online store. Or for those that are overwhelmed by the choices, there's a Tea of the Month Club, which will deliver a new variety each calendar month over a six to twelve month span.