While shopping at Trader Joe's recently, I bought some of their store brand Earl Grey tea, so I could compare it to the Tazo Earl Grey Tea I bought at Whole Foods.
I don't think they taste substantially different, but tea is one of those experiences where presentation really counts. It sounds silly but I do believe it - the graphic design and packaging of Tazo teas makes me appreciate it more.
Its sort of like the experience I had with milk made from grass-fed cows. I don't think it tastes any different, but because of what corn feed does to cows, I prefer drinking the milk from grass-fed cows.
I'm relearning tea packaging for my passion for sheng Puerh. There are plenty of poetic names that are like brands of the West. And I'm learning about regions and types of the tea that are the Puerh equivalent of marketing messages.
Hi Jason, Thanks for commenting. That looks like a cool book!