Amsterdam Teas.

Amsterdam Teas is at Czaar Peterstraat 114, a street the shop describes as full of small food and craft businesses and worth a walk of its own. On its about page the founder, Geoff, tells how he came to tea after giving up coffee, found a shop selling whole loose leaf, and left many years of university work behind to open his own. The store is open from Wednesday to Saturday, with shorter hours on Sunday, and online orders can be picked up there free of charge.

China carries the list: Yunnan Dianhong, Jingmai, Meng Ma, Jin Jun Mei and Zhengshan Xiaozhong among the blacks, Tie Guan Yin, Da Hong Pao and four Dan Cong oolongs, and two yellow teas, Huo Shan Huang Ya and Honey Yellow. Japan brings sencha, gyokuro, kamairicha, tamaryokucha, shiraore, hojicha and genmaicha. The unusual part is Africa and South India: Malawi Peony, Malawi Baskets and Malawi Green, a Rwandan Rukeri, a Kenyan Tippy Purple and a Nilgiri series. Nearly every leaf comes in 25, 50 and 100 g.

For anyone who does not know where to start, the shop packs starter and discovery selections by family: green, black, oolong, Chinese and Japanese, plus a jasmine selection. The herbal side is short and plain, with chamomile blossoms, linden blossoms, nettle and rooibos. Next to the tea there is teaware, from a gaiwan and a steel strainer to iron and ceramic teapots, thermos flasks and printed mugs. For each tea the shop recommends how much leaf to use, the water temperature and how long to steep.