My best suggestion is get to the nearest farmer's market and track down a loose tea bin purveyor [KC has a great one]. That way you can read the descriptions, smell the dry leaves and dole out as much or as little as you wish. Further, if it's not too busy, you can get some input from the owner of the stand.

Hibiscus, Ceylon, Oolong, Jasmine Green, English Breakfast Black, Raiboos, it's a great way to efficiently evaluate what is right for you. Also, though not technically a tea, Yerba Mate [Mah-tay] is delicious and hard to mess up.

Also, if you can track it down, I've enjoyed several toasted teas. I'm not sure if it's for everyone, as it kind of takes on a tobacco-ey taste on toasting, but it can breath some life into a milder tea.

Going for brand names, I usually stay with RedRose, Republic of Tea and Tazo, . . . and personal fave, Ito En.

Thanks but Holy Crap on the teamaker your girl uses. $249? Just for tea? Guess you have to be really into tea to put out that kinda money to make tea.

There are less expensive alternatives, though Breville makes some great products.

Yeah, that's one of those 'won the lottery' purchases. I love Breville [I have their rice maker and deep fryer, though I rarely deep fry and should look to recoup the cost and sell it], and I love great tea. But that's a lot of added value that would have to go into each and every cup of tea to justify that large of a purchase of a uni-tasker.

I put that in the Sub-Zero fridge and Viking range category, with a much narrower utility.