So many teas, so little time. It can especially be overwhelming for the new tea brewer. But choosing a tea doesn't have to be a difficult experience. Whether you're new to tea or been drinking it for years, here are four steps for choosing your newest favorite tea.

1. Are You New to Tea?

Some teas are great starting points in the World of Tea, and others are more suited to the seasoned tea drinker. Yes, the process of brewing tea remains the same across most teas: infusing the essence of tea leaves in hot water. Some teas are more forgiving than others making them great beginner's teas, while others need a more practiced hand to create the perfect cup. While you should follow the brewing instructions on a tea's packaging (or if none are listed, follow the brewing conventions for the type of tea), some teas are more lenient when it comes to brewing.

Looking for a beginner's brew?

Many black teas provide plenty of leeway when it comes to brewing: a wide range brewing time of 3-5 minutes and using boiling water (which is easy to accomplish with a simple kettle). English Breakfast and Earl Grey Bravo are great starting points in your tea journey: both are mild enough that they won't easily result in a bitter cup (provided you follow the instructions).

Chinese green teas, like Sleeping Dragon, are also great starting points. Though brewing time is especially important to all green teas, Chinese green teas are mild enough to allow some leeway when brewing. Even something like White Symphony can handle a little over brewing (since white tea is already mild).

Looking for an advanced brew?

Japanese green teas are some of the finest teas in teadom but can result in an astringent cup if not brewed properly. There are even entire ceremonies with specific steps in Japanese tea to properly brew the perfect cup. Proper temperature, brewing time, and technique are necessary for these teas, but once mastered, you will be rewarded. Correctly brewing a pot of Sencha Premier will reward you with a pleasantly vegetal cup of tea with a slight amount of astringency.

Gyokuro, a cousin to Sencha, also requires some practice to brew properly, including brewing at lower temperatures than most tea kettles accommodate. Nevertheless, these teas are some of my favorites, and even though they require a little practice, the effort yields great rewards.

2. Is Caffeine a Concern?

Some of us have to watch the amount of caffeine we ingest, and that's okay! Tea's got you covered! Although true teas come from the same plant, different kinds of tea have different amounts of caffeine. Whether you're watching how much caffeine you have in any given day, planning for a relaxing evening before going to bed, or looking for a quick afternoon pick-me-up, it's important to look at how much caffeine is in your next tea of choice.

Looking for more caffeine?

Generally speaking, black teas are among the highest caffeinated teas. In fact, the popular English and Irish, and even the bold Scottish breakfast teas are all blends of two different back teas, Assam and Ceylon.

If you're looking for a caffeine boost during the day, looking for a black tea (or even a dark oolong like Formosa Oolong) are great pick-me-ups for that afternoon lull. However, an alternate option for the green tea lover is the powdered tea Matcha, which is known for its six-hour energy.

Looking for less caffeine?

For the caffeine conscious, Green and White teas are the way to go.

In Japan, the green teas Hojicha and Kukicha are popular among the young, the old, and those looking for a soothing cup of tea before bed without the caffeine boost. And for an even lower amount of caffeine, give the white tea White Peony a sip.

3. How Strong Do You Like Your Tea?

Are you bold and adventurous or contemplative and nuanced? From strong to mild, tea offers different flavors, nuances, and intensities to suit a wide range of tastes and preferences. From bold and smokey to mild and sweet and everything in between, there is a wide range of flavors in the World of Tea.

Looking for stronger flavors?

Bold flavors can be discovered throughout the different varieties of tea (with white tea being an exception), though black teas are known for their bold flavors. Strong black teas also take additional ingredients like milk or sugar well, so even if the flavor is overpowering, it can always be mellowed out.

The breakfast teas are known for their bold flavors (in particular, Irish and Scottish Breakfast), but those looking for an exceptionally bold and smokey flavor should sip a cup of Lapsang Souchong: an adventurous choice, to be sure, but well-loved among its fans. If smokey flavors aren't your thing, then try a cup of Assam Melody, which is the tea that gives Irish Breakfast its bold flavor.

Looking for milder flavors?

Green, White, and greener Oolong teas offer a milder tea experience, though there are also some mild black teas that are worth looking at.

Silver Needle, a white tea, offers a light, delicate tea experience with a soft, mild flavor. For something a little stronger, Chinese green teas, like Dragonwell, offer a mild warm, nutty flavor to your cup. Even a mild oolong like Ti Kuan Yin offers a mild experience similar to green tea but with a little more flavor that can be enjoyed over multiple brewings.

And for the tea drinker looking for a little caffeine without the strong flavor, Chinese black teas, like Golden Monkey, are great mild pick-me-ups with a slight cocoa flavor.

Please note that when enjoying milder teas, it's not recommended to add anything to the tea or else you'll overpower the naturally soft flavor of the tea.

4. What's Your Budget?

No matter your budget, you can always find a great tea to enjoy without breaking the bank. Like fine china, some teas you may only want to break out for special occasions, while others are great for everyday enjoyment.

Looking for a luxurious experience?

When care is taken to create tea, it creates a truly rich and heavenly experience that is worth every penny. These tea require special steps during tea production, and often use the newly budded leaves of the spring harvest. In the case of the Japanese green tea Gyokuro, one of Japan's finest teas, the tea bushes are shaded for a few weeks before harvest in spring, creating a sweet flavor low in astringency.

Teas grown in the mountains, like the Taiwanese oolong Ali Shan, take multiple steps to create a smooth, sweet profile to delight your palate. Finally, there's the Champagne of Teas itself, the spring harvested Spring Darjeeling, every bit as fancy as the sparkling wine itself.

Looking for the most bang for your buck?

Just because a tea is low in price doesn't mean it's not delish. There are plenty of affordable teas out there to accompany your next tea session without emptying your wallet. Want to try your hand at Chinese green teas without investing too much? Gunpowder is a classic in Chinese tea and very accessible. Want something familiar? Earl Grey Bravo lets you ditch those grocery store teas for something fresh and quality at a reasonable price. Even Golden Flower oolong proves to be a great light oolong at an affordable price. Just because you're watching your pennies doesn't mean you can't enjoy great tea!