How We Grade Our Teas

Our grading system is carefully designed to consider the most important qualities of tea: taste, aroma, growing region, growing conditions, harvest time, leaf quality, and cultivar. 


zenith leaf everyday tea logo

$14.95-$19.95 / 50g

ZL Everyday™ is the perfect choice for a daily ritual without sacrificing quality. Always whole leaf and never harvested in summer*, this tea brings a level of flavor and freshness beyond your average store-bought tea, boasting a notably higher polyphenol content. Picked in mid to late spring, when the leaves have matured to capture optimal flavor and nutrients, Our Everyday tea is both satisfying and approachable—a true staple for those who appreciate great tea daily.


zenith leaf select tea logo

$24.95-$39.95 / 50g

ZL Select™ consists of teas from the season's select harvests, ideal for either everyday enjoyment or as a thoughtful gift. Picked in early spring*, they capture the first infusion of nutrients from the winter-rested soil, resulting in a delicate yet complex flavor profile with elevated polyphenol content. These teas offer a balance of refinement and approachability, making them a favorite among seasoned tea drinkers.


zenith leaf artisan tea logo

$49.95+ / 50g

ZL Artisan™ represents the pinnacle of our collection, reserved for special occasions or to honor someone with an extraordinary gift. Hand-processed and sourced from the season's most prized reserves, these teas comprise first flush leaves*, rich in nutrients and polyphenols. They deliver a refined and nuanced flavor, with each sip offering a taste of the purest, most delicate essence of the season. Our Artisan tea celebrates the art of tea making at its finest.


*In general, the earlier a tea is harvested in spring, the higher its quality. Most store-bought teas are harvested in summer, making them abundant but lower in quality. However, some teas are deliberately harvested later in the year, as the maturing soil during this time enhances their distinctive flavor profiles. For these varieties—like our Wuyi rock teas—we focus on taste, aroma, growing conditions, and leaf quality, prioritizing these elements over the timing of the harvest.