Your tea - your type

Lapsang Souchong

We need to know where we've been to know where we're going. Heritage is important to you and this is why the story of Lapsang Souchong appeals to you so much. Persistent, you're prepared to follow things through to the end, even when others have given up hope. More than once you've rescued a lost cause. Take another tip from the Chinese and, if you don't already, try a little t'ai chi at tea break time.

Keemum

Hail fellow well met! There is nothing you like more than a good rip roaring guffaw with like-minded bon viveurs; you're the life and soul of the party. This gregariousness tends to slightly overshadow your more sensitive side, which you only let a select few witness. Tea break should be a quiet moment for you to recharge your batteries before rejoining the fray.

Yunnan

A natural leader, it's not so much that you inspire your colleagues into following you, rather they follow you out of curiosity. They want to see just what you'll get up to next. Others may regard your methods as a little idiosyncratic, but you like to think they're generally successful. You're the first to admit that when you get it wrong you do so in spectacular fashion. Tea break time should always be exciting if you're around.

Assam

You're everybody's friend, you can rub along happily with just about anyone. Good fun to be with, you never have a harsh word to say, even for those who deliberately try your patience. The flip side of this is that it can be a bit of a struggle to be taken seriously. Don't let this discourage you. Your tenacious spirit and fearlessness of failure will see you through in the end. Keep the mood in the canteen up, you'd be sorely missed if you weren't there to raise spirits.

Darjeeling

It's no surprise that you drink the "Champagne of Teas"; you want the finest things in life, and you want as much of them as possible. Your ability to conspicuously consume can, and frequently does, unnerve your friends. Most times however they'll suffer your excesses because your lust for life is so infectious. Top the kettle up with the finest Evian and enjoy another cup.

Dimbula

Ambitious and driven, you apply yourself to any task with gusto. A high-flyer from an early age, you have a canny knack of impressing the right people at the right time. As a result, you can find that your energy levels drop and sometimes feel that you just can't take anything else on your plate. Learn to recognise this feeling before things get too much and give yourself time and space to stop and gather your thoughts. Try an extra tea break a day and you'll notice that you'll be able to cope so much better.

Uva

If anyone has the capacity to cheer up friends and family in an instant, it's you. You have a good ear and a quick wit and can turn the most miserable person around in the time it takes for the kettle to boil and the tea to be made . You also have an uncanny ability to evade tricky situations with a well chosen turn of phrase which will stand you in good stead throughout life. In fact, your company is in such high demand that colleagues will be falling over themselves to make you a brew!

Earl Grey

You are a person who, like the flavour of Earl Grey, is delicate. Your ego is quite easily bruised. Conversely, you thrive on positive criticism, but unfortunately you feel that you are only as good as your last successor failure. Your state of mind can be a bit of a roller coaster, with frequent ups and downs. Have more faith in yourself: you're stronger and more robust than you think and you'll find you get many more ups than downs that way. Tea breaks for you are rare and precious - try to take a few more, making them a reward for your efforts.