One tea type that is common among higher end tea estates is the Clonal variety, often designated as (CL) in tea names.

Clonal teas come from plants bred for specific qualities and are therefore some of the most soft after teas. In the Darjeeling and Assam regions of India, clonal varieties often display a good selection of deep golden tips. Clonal refers to the method of controlled breeding of plants to produce the best results. A practice rarely seen in the tea industry due to the expense.