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Photo from AP Photo

7 Jun 2009 | 10:14 pm

Nguyen Quang Hai comes back from lotus flower plucking to make lotus tea at a pond next to West Lake in Hanoi, Vietnam, Monday, June 8, 2009.
Photo from AP Photo

7 Jun 2009 | 10:14 pm

The inner parts of the lotus flowers are seen after workers take off the parts to make lotus tea, inside a shack by a pond next to West Lake in Hanoi, Vietnam, Monday, June 8, 2009. To make lotus tea, lotus stamens are mixed with tea, as a result, the tea will have a very good smell.
Photo from AP Photo

7 Jun 2009 | 10:14 pm

Nguyen Quang Hai rows the small boat with a pole to pluck lotus flower to make lotus tea at a pond next to West Lake in Hanoi, Vietnam, Monday, June 8, 2009.
Photo from AP Photo

7 Jun 2009 | 10:14 pm

Workers take off the inner parts of the lotus flowers to make lotus tea inside a shack by a pond next to West Lake in Hanoi, Vietnam, Monday, June 8, 2009. To make lotus tea, lotus stamens are mixed with tea, as a result, the tea will have a very good smell.
Photo from AP Photo

7 Jun 2009 | 10:14 pm

Nguyen Quang Hai unloads lotus flowers from his boat after he came back from lotus flower plucking to make lotus tea at a pond next to West Lake in Hanoi, Vietnam, Monday, June 8, 2009.

MarshalN's Xanga
The Demon Revealing Mirror

30 Jun 2009 | 7:58 pm

The Demon Revealing Mirror is one of those somewhat mythical and fantastical items in Chinese lore that supposedly will show who (or what) is a demon and who is really a human. You just shine the mirror on the object, and you'll get your answer. A friend of mine in China who presses his own cakes has likened a good silver kettle to one of these mirrors, and I must say I agree. I've been experimenting with my kettle the past few days with different teas, and comparing to what I think of the teas using the tetsubin, and I think one thing is clear, and that is how different…
Hand built or wheel thrown pot?

24 Jun 2009 | 5:44 pm

Here you go for the experts to peruse over.I am still somewhat mystified by this particular pot, since it seems to have traits that I normally associate with hand built Yixing pots, but there are some things, like the outer surface and the spiral circles inside, that make me wonder....
Changing tastes

23 Jun 2009 | 8:45 pm

I rarely repeat the same tea two days in a row, and never with the same teaware. I think one of the joys of drinking tea is to thoroughly explore all the varieties that it offers, be it young, old, roasted, green, black. Add in the variety that you get with changing teaware, and the combinations are endless.Weather was nice today after a nasty week of rain, so I decided to drink out on the balcony while my cats decide to soak up some sun. Rather than using my usual tetsubins, I opted for one of my silver kettles insteadThis is something I found on Ebay, of all places, for a…
Bad tea, good tea

21 Jun 2009 | 5:28 pm

I just came back from a short trip to Salem, MA, where a good friend got married. When you mention Salem, most people think witches, but in reality, witches was just a small part of the city, and the place's claim to fame for much of its history was a center for the old China trade, where they imported porcelain of all types, and of course, tea. Salem is now home to the Peabody Essex Museum, which houses many artifacts from this once thriving trade route (if you're nearby, you should visit), and where the wedding took place. So it is with a little irony that it was last…
Fussing about teaware

19 Jun 2009 | 3:25 pm

Pardon the ranting. Skip reading if you wish.I keep seeing these topics posted on various forums about "is XYZ teaware safe to use?", "does Yixing contain lead?", and it's really starting to bother me. I understand we are all worried about the safety of our food, drink, and whatever else we put in our mouth. Everyone is rightly concerned about it. I also understand that with a new object that one has not dealt with before, it is entirely legitimate to ask these questions. However, inevitably there will be people who will say "yes, they do contain XYZ and you…

The Mandarin's Tea
Testing a New Yixing

2 Jul 2009 | 6:57 am

I've been testing a new tea pot for a couple of months now. Paring tea to tea pot is nothing more than a personal preference, a very subjective view indeed. Sometimes you like the up front notes of floral and high tones in a light Oolong, but sometimes you prefer the long lasting soft lingering aftertaste. Using a different yixing can bring out either the first or latter result.It really depends on the mood and the weather. This is one of the newest pot I have ever owned, new in a sense that the time it took to my door steps from out of the kiln was less than 2 weeks. (as I was told by the…
Onggi

11 May 2009 | 2:44 pm

It's was quite a busy weekend, my brother-in-law's wedding and Mother's day on Sunday. Since my in-laws are Korean, the wedding was conducted in Korean and 97% of the guests were Korean. So what can I learn from a Korean wedding? Of course, the nature subjects of my choice were korean art, pottery and tea. A close friend of my wife is moving back to Seoul by the end of June, whose husband's family has a vacation house in Jeju island (The island of green tea). I'd think he might know one or two things about korean tea and pottery, since his families fly there every weekends. "I am learning…
1980 Hung Shui Oolong from Dong DingLeaves:

5 May 2009 | 9:17 am

Leaves:1. From which vendor, farmer, source: Teamaster2. Date of Harvest: 19803. Elevation: High. Guessing 1200-1500+4. Soil based: Soil/Rock5. Which area: Dong Ding6. Varietal. Hung Shui7. Fired level: Traditional8. Bush age: young9. Grade: 1st10. breathing tea before brewing: 3 daysBrewing vessel, water:1. Water source: Poland Spring2. Aged or fresh: 5 days3. How you boil your water: Charcoal4. Temp. for the first 5 steeping: Rolling boil, rinse, 1-5th brew.5. What kind of brewing vessel: New Huang Long Mt. Purple zisha 1175 fired. 180ml6. What kind of cup to drink from: Tall, 1900's…
1990 Spring Hung Shui Oolong from San Hsia

1 May 2009 | 8:15 am

Leaves:1. From which vendor, farmer, source: Teamaster2. Date of Harvest: Spring 19903. Elevation: Low 300-500m4. Soil based: Rocky5. Which area: San Hsia6. Varietal. Luanze7. Fired level: Medium/light8. Bush age: young9. Grade: 1st10. breathing tea before brewing: 7 daysBrewing vessel, water:1. Water source: Poland Spring2. Aged or fresh: -3. How you boil your water: Electric Water Boiler4. Temp. for the first 3 steeping: Rolling boil, rinse, 1-3rd brew.5. What kind of brewing vessel: Modern Zhuni/high fired. 180ml6. What kind of cup to drink from: Eggshell Brewing Parameter:Amount: 4gRinse…
Winter Shan Lin Shi, luanze Oolong

30 Apr 2009 | 10:35 am

2008 Late Winter Shan Lin Shi luanze OolongLeaves:1. From which vendor, farmer, source: Teamaster2. Date of Harvest: Winter 20083. Elevation: 1650m4. Soil based: Soil5. Which area: Shan Li Shi6. Varietal. qingxin7. Fired level: Light8. Bush age: young9. Grade: -10. breathing tea before brewing: 7 daysBrewing vessel, water:1. Water source: Poland Spring2. Aged or fresh: -3. How you boil your water: Electric Water Boiler4. Temp. for the first 3 steeping: Rolling boil, rinse, 1-3rd brew.5. What kind of brewing vessel: 60cc Gaiwan6. What kind of cup to drink from: Eggshell Brewing…

CHA DAO
What's Your Poison?

30 Jun 2009 | 8:23 pm

by CORAXThe classic recipe for brewing tea, in the Asian traditions of the last several hundred years at least, has been breathtakingly simple: tea leaves and hot water. Indeed the Japanese name for their traditional tea ceremony, cha no yu (茶の湯), means, literally, 'hot water for tea.' And yet this is not universally the case -- not even in Pacific Asia -- nor was it always this simple: the history of tea has often included a dialogue about what to add to it, how, when, and why. Or, in some cases, why not: Lu Yu's recommendation, in the Cha Jing -- that you refrain from adding onions to…
Postcard Teas, London

27 May 2009 | 10:25 am

by AEYAL GROSS[[EDITOR'S NOTE: In this essay, UK correspondent Aeyal Gross continues his engaging series on 'The Best Teas in London.' His previous offering at CHA DAO took us on a virtual visit to Teasmith.]] Oxford Circus is known for many things: people come here to buy their iPhones, iPods and accessories at the Apple store; to find clothes at the many high street retailers; to shop for high fashion at Selfridges, which is also home to one of London’s finest wine bars (the Wonder Bar); and for tea. On a small side street, only a few minutes walk but in what feels like miles away from…
A Song-Dynasty Tea Poem: Zhu Xi's "Tea Stove"

15 Apr 2009 | 10:33 am

by LAOCHAGUI[[EDITOR'S NOTE: One of the most important goals of CHA DAO is to emphasize and elucidate the connections between tea and the rest of Asian culture. Readers of CHA DAO are already aware of the intricate connections between tea and poetry in China. Today we are pleased to present a contribution by our distinguished colleague LaoChaGui, who offers us here the text of a tea poem by Zhu Xi, along with annotations and his own new English translation of the poem. To illustrate further the connections among the arts of China, LaoChaGui has also furnished us with his own original…
Tea and the Internet

4 Apr 2009 | 9:18 pm

by CORAXThe internet seems to be infinitely elastic; it has the protean capacity to remake itself, apparently endlessly, and to recapitulate and even subsume everything that it had been previously. In the process, it inveigles itself into just about every aspect of the way we live now -- 'we,' in this case, of course meaning those with access to electricity, a computer, and an internet service provider. These attributes of the internet -- its ubiquity and indispensability -- seem to number among its more enduring characteristics. The rest of it is subject to change without notice. Do you,…
A New URL [not to displace the old ...]

29 Mar 2009 | 11:02 pm

CHA DAO is delighted to announce the acquisition of a new, somewhat more streamlined URL for the site:http://www.chadao.us/A few notes:1. There are numerous www.chadao.nnn websites already in existence, some of them commercial. The dot-US suffix was chosen for this one because it is in some ways the most neutral and 'equitable' of all US-based URL suffixes, signifying the domain as on a par with www.[domain].fr, www.[domain].de, www.[domain].uk, and so on.2. If you have bookmarked, favorited, emailed, or otherwise noted the original URL for the blog [http://www.chadao.blogspot.com/], fear…

MattCha's Blog
2008 Sinouk Champasak (Southern) Lao Organic Oolong

28 Jun 2009 | 1:18 pm

This was one of two very small bags of tea from Sinouk that one purchased while traveling throughout Lao. This Oolong was recommended by the Sinouk retailer. One is quite fond of the rather simple but interesting taste of the semi-oxidized tea from this Southern area of Lao that one posted about earlier this month. These leaves are full, wiry, dark, and unbroken. The smell exudes that characteristic scent of Paxsong tea- a lingering coffee tone with hints of milky chocolate and overpowering raisin. Cue Salivation. One puts three scoops of these space consuming leaves into the pot, water is…
Gas Fired Pieces By Lee Tae Ho

26 Jun 2009 | 11:08 pm

Peace
1985 Yiwu Tuo Cha Puerh

24 Jun 2009 | 10:20 pm

It was a bit of a chilly day so one took a bit of time digging for a nice old sample of Puerh and found one that Stephane from Teamasters had sent a while back. Taking a note from ol' Toki, one let this one breathe for a while before preparing. Although this sample is quite small, it seems to overcome the other things in the room. It tugs at ones nose whenever in the vicinity. Ones nose, perhaps unconsciously, lavishes attention upon its woody, subtle, unidentifiable fruity smell.The rumble of the boil. The sound of a quick rinse hitting the ceramic of the tea table. The smell of old puerh…
Sel Young Jin's Pronominal Rustic Erabo Style Tea Cups, Part 2: A Mini 'Hal Gu Dae' Style Foot

14 Jun 2009 | 11:03 pm

There is some interesting points about the form of these amazing cups and how they influence the flavour of tea in the comments section of Part 1. Please do check it out. This petite white cup is a touch smaller than the other, making it the smallest cup one currently uses. In fact it can even be stacked into the other.It's form is similar to the 'snail foot' but still very individual. It makes up for its size by standing much more pronounced and confident than the other.This little cup is far from arrogant though. This is partly because of its small stature, but also due to the myriad of…
Sel Young Jin's Phenomenal Rustic Erabo Style Tea Cups, Part One: 'Snail Foot'

8 Jun 2009 | 11:33 pm

It was Hobbes from The Half-Dipper that noticed this little guy in action with some young shang puerh a few posts ago. These three pieces were a gift from a close friend before one departed from Korea. The care that master Sel Young Jin puts into his cups are beyond what most masters put into there pots and tea bowls. Every micro space of these pieces are beautiful. Both of these cups are quite small (think small Chinese cup), this one is just a bit bigger than the other. It sits staunchly, its form cute and natural. Its white body resembling the white caps of mountains. The outside and…

Puerh Tea Community
Brick Tea

11 Jun 2009 | 5:01 am

This brick is unusual,wrap in bamboo .The tea has wonderful deep, extremely smooth and delicate taste.The chi effects the tongue,the upper mouth and the hands and fingers.The tea can be infuse more than 10 times.
1 Jun 2009 | 12:24 am

1 Jun 2009 | 12:24 am

2003 Reproduced Dragon & Horse Tongqing Hao (30 November 2008)2003 Reproduced Dragon & Horse Tongqing HaoApart from collecting traditional Zhongcha Brand Seven-son Tea Cakes, i.e. those Aged Seven-son Tea Cakes with at least 20 to 30 years of age, Cloud also collected some Non-zhongcha Brand tea cakes with good aging potential. Even though the tea cakes are from small factories or without any celebrity, it can still offer a good sensation and aftertaste after many years of aging as long as they are compressed from good tea leaves with great aging potential.In 2004, Cloud collected a stack of…
Question

27 May 2009 | 10:54 am

I started drinking Pu-erh tea a couple of months ago. I bought some of them from some local tea shop in Montreal.Indeed, I found that Pu-erh is really a very pleasant tea, specially taste and aroma change infusion after infusion.My question is that I like to buy some basic Pu-erh teasjust for my own collection, but which one?I'm looking foward for your suggestion.Best regards!
Aged Raw Puerh & Aged Ripe Puerh (16 November 2008)

21 May 2009 | 10:47 am

Aged Raw Puerh & Aged Ripe Puerh (16 November 2008)In the last Cloud's Tea Diary, the tea broth and aftertaste of the aged ripe tea (The Purple Ripe Tea Cake) were discussed. Cloud will further reply the remaining questions raised by a tea lover, who asked, "What are the differences between the aged raw tea cakes and the aged ripe tea cakes? What are the good aspects of both kinds of tea? Why is the aged raw Puerh so expensive?"Cloud is of the view that in order to understand the differences, there must be personal appreciation experiences of both the aged raw tea cakes and the aged ripe tea…
Salty Teapots.... not so salty

19 May 2009 | 5:40 pm

Remember the desaru wreck teapots?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NczNfcmh51Y"Antique Yixing teapots from the Desaru (c. 1830) shipwreck was considered to make "salty" tea by tea lovers in Malaysia. Inviting them to a 'secret' comparison by brewing tea in a new pot and in an old shipwreck teapot, proved disastrous for the experts. They could not tell the difference between the tea made in a new teapot or that brewed in the old teapots from the shipwreck! (in English and Malay) "

Bearsblog
Tenacious Tea

26 Jun 2009 | 10:17 am

At the moment I have Menghai Factory's 2005 "Ba Ji Pu Bing" (Grade 8 Pu'er Cake) in my cup. I'm on my second day of drinking this good, mild shu pu'er.Yesterday marked 48 hours spent brewing many infusions from the same pot of gao shan leaves before I tossed them out. They probably could have continued juicing, but two days was enough.8 days ago, I ended a 3 day brewing session of a pot of a Taiwanese oolong, an inexpensive Alishan from a local store.In attempting to place the reason why one pot of leaves could go so long, the idea that these teas were better than those I encountered…
Glaze and Surface Texture Explorations

25 Jun 2009 | 11:16 am

AbsenceIt's been a long while since I posted to my blog. A few things have happened to cause the delay.First, I had an emergency move to a new apartment. The new place has very little natural light, and my attempts at macro photography of my tea sessions and pottery pieces yielded very poor results, jeapordizing my commitment to make this a visual blog.Second, my routine quickly became: wake, work, cook, clean, pottery, gym, sleep. On weekends, I have been visiting my ailing father, building a container garden, traveling for business school interviews, and occasionally having tea with the LA…
Gaiwans & Pitchers, Cups, a Jar, and an Ugly Teapot

20 Mar 2009 | 11:12 am

New works out of the kiln. I'm still figuring out the best curves and knob styles for gaiwans, ones that avoid burning heat but are still comfortable to hold and functional. I'm happy with the glazes, mostly.Gaiwans & Pitchers:Black and Blue Gaiwan:This started as a project for ABX from Teachat. He wanted a "drippy" blue and black gaiwan that was somewhat small and wider.I'm really pleased with the result, but I need to use less blue glaze next time. First, I think the exterior of the piece doesn't utilize the black as negative space, not as well as it could. Second, the glaze dripped…
Pottery Show / Craft Fair

13 Mar 2009 | 11:39 am

Davin and I will be displaying our pottery and making tea for the visitors at our studio's student show. If you're in LA, feel free to stop by and say hi! We will only be at the evening show.21 and over only: vodka, beer, appetizers (we have a chef!) and tea will be served.
LA Tea Affair 2nd Anniversary Event

7 Mar 2009 | 10:25 am

(Photo: Will)LA Tea Affair events have been some of the most fun tea drinking I have experienced since coming back from Asia. Those of you within driving distance of Los Angeles do not know what you are missing if you haven't come to an LA Tea Affair event yet.(Photos: Tom)A few weeks ago we celebrated our 2nd anniversary with an outdoor tea at the California Institute of Technology, drinking tea from 1:30 p.m. until past sundown. The recent rains cleared up for the day, and we enjoyed tea, cheese, honey, fresh air and good company.Jason with honey. Dan unimpressed. (Photo: Will)Pu'er and…

Tea Obsession
Dan Cong, more Dan Cong and a Dan Cong Book

4 Jul 2009 | 8:31 am

New Single Bush Phoenix Dan Cong Oolong teas are coming. I suspect it's already in LA at some USPS location near by. However due to the holiday, no mail today! I have to wait till Tuesday to try them. I lost sleep over this batch of tea 2 nights in a roll. I am sure there will be more till Tuesday. Then I'll lose sleep again because the non stop drinking will keep me up again. :PThis batch is very special, I don't mean the other batches are not. But this batch contains 1/2 a pound of Da Wu Zi - Big Dark Purple 2004, a reward for myself after 3 years of hard work. This tea should be better…
Kid in the candy land

3 Jul 2009 | 9:39 am

Tea has led me to more facets of life than anything else in my past experience, definitely much more than years of education. Although I do not deny education has served me well, without education, I may not be able to comprehend materials I now find extremely fascinating.I started learning Kung Fu tea almost 10 years ago. Many of those years were stagnant until the last 3 years or so when I open a tea store. Having feed backs is perhaps the most motivating force of mine to absorb knowledge as much and as fast as I could. I feel like Sponge Bob some times.Tea is in liquid form, as water…
4 seasons and tea - Fall

2 Jul 2009 | 4:59 pm

Fall, as we know is the season of harvest, collecting grains, nuts and fruits after a Summer long growth. Leaves start to fall, growth is restrained during Fall. This is the season where Yang energy is changed into Yin energy. Yang energy is taken from outside elements, photo synthesis from sun rays and warm temperature. Physical representation of Yang energy is reaching outward, such as longer and more branches and leaves, flowers and fruits. Yin energy is accumulated excess Yang energy to put away, it's captured within. There is no physical representation of Yin energy since it's kept…
Sunset from PV

2 Jul 2009 | 12:23 am

When I arrived:2nd picture later:Lovers watching Sunset:Within a minute of my arrival, the sun is down completely:A red orange haze across the horizon:
4 seasons and tea - Summer

1 Jul 2009 | 6:26 pm

Summer, after the stored away energy of Winter sprang life out in Spring, it's time to grow, fully utilizing the stored away energy. Hot summer temperature and long day light accelerates the growth of leaves, branches, flowers and fruits/grains/seeds. At this rapid rate of growth, nutrients can not keep up, especially after harvests in the Spring which is where most of the nutrients are captured. Summer teas are in general more fibery, astringent and bitter, hence require higher oxidation to break down the contents. Black tea and dark oolongs are mostly made with summer harvest tea…

The Half-Dipper
2009 Mingxiangyayuan - Hailanghao "Zhang Jia Wan"

2 Jul 2009 | 1:00 am

Reasons to go to Dublin:i. Real Guiness (see below), not the black water we get in the UKii. Irish stewiii. "Irish Breakfast" teaiv. Hordes of tourists from the USAAmusingly, "Dublin" means "black water" in GaelicTrinity College is beautiful, too. I've never seen Georgian architecture on such a scale, without mixture of other architectural styles - it's as if it has been lifted out of the past,
2005 Menghai Pengcheng "Yuanyexiang"

29 Jun 2009 | 1:00 am

Phew! This tea has so many incidents of what a tort lawyer might call "passing off" that I don't know where to begin. Let's start at the top.A wise man once said, "I won't buy anything from a factory with 'Menghai' in its name, unless it's Menghai Tea Factory." This is sound advice. There are approximately 6.022 x 10^23 tea factories with "Menghai" in their names, and 1.0 of them produce good
2007 Shi'er Xiansheng "Yiwu"

26 Jun 2009 | 1:00 am

I've been getting reacquainted with my 2007 12 Gentlemen "Yiwu", after a year in storage. The new article has been appended to the original post, to keep my notes in one place. See you there!
2008 Haiwan - Laotongzhi "8808"

20 Jun 2009 | 12:00 am

I continue to supply propaganda concerning my plans for a garden tea-house to my dear wife. I've found some beautiful little hexagonal wooden structures that look suitably rustic and chunky. We could tuck it under our willow tree, which acts as a sweet little hideaway - a perfect place to avoid it looking too showy and naff. I still haven't found that ultimately convincing argument justifying
2004 Taihe Maocha

17 Jun 2009 | 1:00 am

A fellow pu'erist, Dr. GV, and I have been making plans to meet up for what seems like an aeon - each time that we have a date set, we are thwarted by unforeseeable obstacles that crop up at the last minute. Our universities are only about 1.5 hours apart, which makes it all the more amusing that we must have sampled the majority of each other's tea collections by now without actually having met

News from Upton Tea
New Product: China Pu-Erh Classic

29 Jun 2009 | 5:00 pm

An affordable Pu-Erh with a smooth quality and classic earthy flavor notes. This style was difficult to obtain due to a surge in popularity, and we are pleased to be able to offer it once again.
Summer Vacation

22 Jun 2009 | 5:00 pm

Upton Tea Imports will be closed for our annual vacation from July 4th through July 12th. Orders received by July 2nd will be shipped on July 3rd. Due to early holiday pickups by the postal service and our other shippers we cannot guarantee delivery time of orders placed on July 3rd. All orders not shipped on the 3rd will be shipped upon our return on July 13th.We will also be closed Fridays from July 31st through the month of August so that our staff can enjoy a little extra time off!
New Product: Father's Day Sampler

20 Jun 2009 | 5:00 pm

In honor of Father's Day we have created a sampler set of four popular teas.Each tin is approximately 35g of each of the following: Black Label Breakfast Fannings (TB07), Robert Fortune Blend #41 (TB84), Lapsang Souchong Black Dragon (ZS90) and Green Gunpowder Special Grade (ZG30).
New Product: Father's Day Gift Set

20 Jun 2009 | 5:00 pm

Created specially for Father's Day, this gift set includes a Chatsford 2-cup (12 oz.) brown Earthenware teapot and Father's Day Sampler. The sampler set contains a variety of four teas and may also be purchased separately under item SM02.
New Product: Earl Grey Green Decaffeinated

14 Jun 2009 | 5:00 pm

A green, flavorful variant of the classic black tea with natural bergamot aroma. Decaffeinated with pure carbon dioxide. New lot.

TEA - Google News
Round 2 of Tea Party protests: a political powerhouse in the making? - Christian Science Monitor

Google Inc.

TriCities.comRound 2 of Tea Party protests: a political powerhouse in the making?Christian Science MonitorThe July 4 event will be the second major Taxed Enough Already (TEA) Party protest, following an April 15 event that drew as many as half a million people Why the July 4th Tax Day Tea Parties are full of hot July airExaminer.comAnti-tax Tea Party plans rallies nationwide on FourthMilwaukee Journal SentinelCelebrating Liberty at July 4th Tea PartyMcKinney Courier GazetteThe Star-Ledger - NJ.com -San Francisco Chronicle -Twin Falls Times-Newsall 163 news articles »
Thousands take part in 'tea party' protest against high taxes in ... - The Star-Ledger - NJ.com

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The Star-Ledger - NJ.comThousands take part in 'tea party' protest against high taxes in The Star-Ledger - NJ.comSome 2000 people gathered on the Morristown Green to voice their protest over rising taxes as part of nationwide "tea party" rallies. Local "Tea Party" protesters oppose high taxes, wasteful spendingTallahassee Democratall 3 news articles »
Joe the Plumber joins Zilker 'tea party' - Austin American-Statesman

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News 8 AustinJoe the Plumber joins Zilker 'tea party'Austin American-StatesmanPolitical celebrity Samuel J. Wurzelbacher, aka Joe the Plumber, speaks Friday at an anti-government 'tea party' in Zilker Park. Gov. Perry, Joe the Plumber to address local Tea PartySan Antonio ExpressGroup celebrates Independence Day with a tea partyNews 8 AustinWorld famous plumber confesses at Conroe tea partyMontgomery County NewspaperAustin American-Statesmanall 6 news articles »
TEA Party packs Bomber Stadium - Baxter Bulletin

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TEA Party packs Bomber StadiumBaxter BulletinIt's going to take the continued efforts of the people and events such as TEA parties to get lawmakers' attention and get them on board to save American, Stand up for America at TEA PartyBaxter BulletinOzark TEA Party set Saturday at Bomber StadiumBaxter Bulletinall 4 news articles »
'Tea Parties' planned for Independence Day - WTOP

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'Tea Parties' planned for Independence DayWTOPSome people are choosing to spend their Fourth of July at "Tea Parties." These parties are inspired by the Tax Day tea parties where participants call for TEA Party Planned in CraneNewsWest9.comCommunity calendarDubuque Telegraph Heraldall 4 news articles »

TeaChef
Dragonwell Noodles

Ilya Kreymerman

Dragonwell Noodles Submitted by: A Japanese influenced noodle dish, that uses a combination of tea and chicken broth as a base. Prep Time: 25 minutes Serving Size: 2 Ingredients 1 Cup Chicken Broth 2 Cups water 2 Tablespoons Dragonwell tea leaf 1/4 Cup rice vinegar 1/2 Cup rice noodles 3.5 Ounces sliced Shitake Mushrooms 2 Tablespoons cooking oil 2 Tablespoons Miso paste 2 Teaspoons chopped garlic 1 Teaspoon chopped ginger 1 Teaspoon red pepper flakes Directions Saute Shitake mushrooms, over medium heat, in cooking oil until slightly golden. Boil water in medium saucepan. Once boiling, add…
Fresh Corn and Pepper Soup

Ilya Kreymerman

Fresh Corn and Pepper Soup Submitted by: This is a great summer recipe for getting most of your ingredients out of the garden. Prep Time: 30 minutes Serving Size: 4 Servings Ingredients 3 cups corn kernels (about four ears), divided 1 cup green tea prepared at regular strength 1 cup cold water 1 Tablespoon tamari soy sauce 1 medium red, yellow, or orange bell pepper, cut into chunks 2 Tablespoons chopped parsley, preferably flat-leaf (Italian style) 2 Tablespoons chopped cilantro salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste Directions Combine two cups of corn with the water and tamari in a…
Apple Muffins with Dragonwell Glaze

Ilya Kreymerman

Apple Muffins with Dragonwell Glaze Submitted by: A delicious autumn treat! Prep Time: 15/20 Serving Size: 12 Ingredients 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 cup butter 1 egg 1 cup milk 2 cups flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon allspice 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg (optional) 1 1/2 cup peeled, chopped apples Strongly brewed Dragonwell Tea Confectioners sugar Directions Cream together sugar and butter. Add egg and beat well. Stir in milk. In another bowl combine flour, salt, baking powder, and spices. Add egg mixture to flour mixture, and blend just until moistened. Batter…
HoneyBush Biscuits

Ilya Kreymerman

HoneyBush Biscuits Submitted by: the most delicious biscuits you'll ever try! Simple easy and enjoy! Just the right hint of honey flavor from the honey bush tea Prep Time: 20-30 min Serving Size: 4-6 Ingredients 2 cup flour 4.5 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 4 tbsp butter or olive oil spread 1/3 very strong brew honeybush tea 1/3 buttermilk plus 2 tbsp Directions Preheat oven 400 mix dry ingredients in bowl In med bowl, cut up butter into small pieces gradually mix in tea & buttermilk, careful not to over mix it, you want a flaky type biscuit add dry ingredients slowly stir constant If dough…
oatmeal chocolate chip honeybush cookies

Ilya Kreymerman

oatmeal chocolate chip honeybush cookies Submitted by: These cookies are soft and full of oats and chocolate chips with the presence of honeybush tea to bring the other flavors together. They are wonderful warm while the chocolate chips are still melty, or cooled as a snack. Prep Time: about 30 min total 20 min prep 10-12 min baking Serving Size: makes about 2 dozen cookies Ingredients 1 cup walnut butter 1 cup dark brown sugar 1 tsp vanilla 1 egg 1/4 cup double strength honeybush tea, completely cooled 2 and 1/2 cup old fashioned oats 3/4 cup unbleached flour 1 tsp crushed honeybush tea…

Samovarlife
Stir It Up: Tea Punches - Something Cool for Summer

SamovarLife

1 Jul 2009 | 6:20 pm

Chilled Teas Samovar Style Tea and punch have a long history together. Some say punch originated in India, where it was made from five key ingredients. (In Hindi, the word for five is “panch.” Many think this is where the word “punch” originated.) These five key ingredients were: lemon or lime juice, sugar, water, liquor and vaguely defined “spice,” which could mean something we currently think of as “spice” (like nutmeg), something we would probably shun today (like a whale secretion that’s only used is perfume these days) or (yes, yes) tea. As punch recipes spread…
Santigold Hypes Samovar Tea Lounge in Blackbook Magazine

SamovarLife

1 Jul 2009 | 5:40 pm

{link:http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/pop-quiz-santigold/8173}Santigold, Samovar sends the love right back!{/link} Indie-pop songstress Santigold hypes Samovar Tea Lounge in Blackbook Magazine; selecting Samovar for “What restaurant would you eat at every day if you could.” Santigold says, “…right now I like this place called Samovar Tea Lounge in San Francisco. They should bring it to New York!” Read more of Vanita Salisbury’s June 11, 2009 interview at BlackBook.com
Tuesday’s Tea Salon: “Spiritual Potential in the New Economy”

SamovarLife

29 Jun 2009 | 4:45 pm

Rabbi Sydney Mintz Spiritual Potential in the New Economy Overcoming fear and adapting to change are two great abilities that can be learned and practiced, and we bring you a Buddhist spiritual leader to help show you the way. Come drink tea, relax and absorb the wisdom of the ages for this new era of spiritual challenges and opportunities. Featuring Robert Thomas (President of SF Zen Center) & Sydney Mintz (Rabbi at Congregation Emanu-El) and Moderated by James Norwood Pratt (Author of New Tea Lover’s Treasury, Tea Dictionary) About Shisan Robert Thomas: Robert Thomas has been…
Chilled Teas - When it’s Hot, Serve it Cold

SamovarLife

24 Jun 2009 | 7:57 pm

Chilled Orange Ginger with a Mint Leaf In San Francisco, the weather rarely gets hot enough to necessitate ice-cold tea. However, in areas with less-than-absurdly-moderate-climates (such as… most of the United States), there are more opportunities to cool down with tea. Hot weather doesn’t mean you need to switch from your cool-weather favorites to sub-par bottled teas – plenty of teas translate beautifully from hot to chilled. You just have to know which teas to chill and how to chill them. Typically, when you chill something, the sweetness drops out a bit. (Think of homemade popsicles…
Tuesday’s Tea Salon: “Human Potential in the New Economy”

SamovarLife

22 Jun 2009 | 4:13 pm

Human Potential in the New Economy How can you accomplish more by doing less? Adaptability, mindfulness, calming down, and doing less. These are the hallmarks of working to your full potential according to Author, Zen Priest, and Life Coach Marc Lesser and Executive Leadership Coach Pam Weiss. Join two of our community’s great consultants and life coaches who can help you gain leverage from the inside out as you work toward fulfilling your dreams in this unique economic era. Featuring Marc Lesser (Author of Less: Accomplishing More by Doing Less) & Pam Weiss (Executive Coach)…

Tea Masters
Happy Independence Day!

Stephane

3 Jul 2009 | 6:07 pm

With a red and blue Cha Xi! The tea: top Oriental Beauty from Hsin Chu.The mood: free and in pursuit of happiness (I think I've found it!) Best wishes to all!
Frog talk in Taiwan

Stephane

2 Jul 2009 | 7:48 am

Yesterday, I met another French guy living in Taiwan, Yannick Dauby. A regular reader of my blog, he gave me a CD of sounds he recorded in Taiwan as a gift for my 5 years of tea blogging. I made some tea outside, so that we, 2 French men in Taiwan, could talk of frogs and tea in Taiwan! Literally!Yannick's CD contains the songs of 16 different kinds of frog species (out of 32 present in Taiwan). You can hear a sampling here. The documentation that comes with the CD is very well done. Lots of pictures, drawings and information about each frog. I've listened to the whole CD while drinking tea…
Professor Chen Chuan, a Chinese tea master

Stephane

29 Jun 2009 | 8:46 am

I'm in my seventh year of tea study now (*). I try my best to attend the weekly tea class with Teaparker, even if I seldom write down what I learn in the blog anymore. But I still find these classes and the teas we taste fascinating. However,some of the material is confidential or proprietary. Some ancient Yixing teapots we study are loans from Teaparker's friends, some teas we drink are like R&D samples... So, what is learning? When does information start to belong to me and not to the teacher? For me, it's when I use what I learn and apply it my tea brewing, when I create my own Cha Xi…
Oolong Beauté Orientale de 2009

Stephane

26 Jun 2009 | 7:35 am

J'ai commencé la journée avec la version de San Hsia. Mais cette fois-ci, dans mon zhong fin, couleur ivoire, bien rempli de feuilles, j'ai fait des infusions rapides et nombreuses. Je n'en ai pas fait un Cha Xi ni de photos, mais le résultat fut vivace, complexe et concentré en saveurs chaleureuses.Cet après-midi, je passe à celui de Hsin Chu et lui consacre une session plus raffinée. Mon thème est le nuage d'été, le cumulus blanc qui raffraichit l'atmosphère sans apporter de pluie. C'est d'ailleurs aussi le motif de mon tissu: des nuages sur fond rouge (c'est un Oolong presque…
2009 Summer Oriental Beauty Oolong from Taiwan

Stephane

25 Jun 2009 | 7:18 am

Yesterday, in Hsin Chu county, a small harvest in an organic tea plantation. Notice the many flowers and high grass between the bushes. It's not as high as in the abandoned plantation that I've seen lately, but still quite high. The farmer slowly cuts these plants with a light grass trimmer. This is a good sign of organic farming.There is one Oolong in particular that demands this kind of attention: Oriental Beauty. Why? Because it needs the bite of small green jassids for its special taste. (See also this article for more details). And, very quickly, I was able to find one on this big leaf…

TeaChat
Teaware & Accessories :: RE: Show Off Your Pots and Cups X

Author: TomVerlain Subject: My tea setup at home Posted: Jul 4th '09 2:42 pm (GMT -4) Topic Replies: 318 I just got a Kamjove KJ-10H (from tea swap) and took a picture of my current setup. I know nailing an oil painting to your kitchen wall is a bit tacky, but it works for me
Green Tea :: RE: Matcha Men & Women

Author: Victoria Posted: Jul 4th '09 1:57 pm (GMT -4) Topic Replies: 42 Alas, they have not arrived yet! Two new ones from Yuuki-Cha: Organic Uji Matcha Tenkei Tori Organic Uji Matcha Yuuki Midori (BTW: Yuuki-Cha is having a 10% off all items for the month of July!) And I still have an unopened Lupicia, that I can't seem to find. As I have said before Teavana is great for teaware and accessories and if you know what you are doing you might pick up some decent tea there, but of course most people don't know what they are doing, thus the problem. _________________- Victoria -…
Green Tea :: RE: Spiral Jade a.k.a. bi luo chun a.k.a. pi lo chun

Author: spot52 Posted: Jul 4th '09 1:56 pm (GMT -4) Topic Replies: 11 Thanks for the additional info on this wonderful tea!!! _________________"You want the taste of dried leaves in boiled water?" "Er, yes. With milk." "Squirted out of a cow?" "Well, in a manner of speaking I suppose ..."
Teaware & Accessories :: RE: Show Off Your Pots and Cups X

Author: woozl Posted: Jul 4th '09 1:49 pm (GMT -4) Topic Replies: 318 Luv the footsies on his work. Niiice _________________“Take some more tea,” the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly. “I’ve had nothing yet,” Alice replied in an offended tone: “so I ca’n’t take more.” “You mean you ca’n’t take less,” said the Hatter: “it’s very easy to take more than nothing.”
Teaware & Accessories :: RE: Show Off Your Pots and Cups X

Author: GeekgirlUnveiled Posted: Jul 4th '09 1:46 pm (GMT -4) Topic Replies: 318 Oh yeah!!! I have a piece or two from him too, nice stuff!

The Voice of Tea
Tea Video: Tea for Two Trailer

Chris

2 Jul 2009 | 2:48 pm

Tap-dancing, singing, romance- oh yeah, and (of course!) tea! This is the original 1950 trailer of Tea for Two, starring Doris Day, unearthed for your viewing pleasure:
Steeped in History: The Art of Tea

Chris

1 Jul 2009 | 1:26 pm

Tea Art lovers rejoice! The Fowler Museum, part of the UCLA campus, announced today that they will soon be featuring a comprehensive exhibit of our favorite beverage, tea! As tea has been (and still is!) immensely popular across the globe, the exhibition tells story of tea through artistic celebration from Asia, Europe and America. Everything from Chinese tea bowls from the 8th century to Japanese scrolls for their tea ceremony (Chado) to American oil paintings to English tea adverts. “Steeped in History: The Art of Tea” is on display Aug 16–Nov 29, 2009. If you are in the…
Tea Fights Superbugs

Chris

30 Jun 2009 | 11:38 am

Besides instilling an aberrant affinity to pipettes, my molecular biologist mother taught me to always understand the importance of finishing the prescription of my antibiotics. If the cycle is not complete, she would say, the result can be that some bacteria from your infection will survive. These survivors then will go on to replicate themselves in such a way to form a resistance to the prescribed medicine. This infection then spreads to more and more people, and the power of the bacteria grows. These drug-resistant microorganisms can cause major problems, as eliminating them with the…
Tea Video: the Art of Tea

Chris

29 Jun 2009 | 10:55 am

While not my favorite tea on the market, I have to admit that the below Twinings commercial is pretty creative- it uses tea leaves (ahem, tea dust, really) to create split-second pieces of art. The real art of tea, though, is in the taste. Have you found your Mona Lisa of tea yet?
Tea Video: High Pressure Firefight

Chris

26 Jun 2009 | 11:56 am

Leave it to my friend Lindsey, aka “Vee” from the Vee Tea Blog, to find this bizarre, Quentin Tarantino-esque Japanese tea commercial. Tea really does help you lower your blood pressure, though! WARNING: while quite hilarious, this is also a little gross. Don’t press play if you have a weak stomach!

T Ching
Tea hunt

Thomas Amanda

3 Jul 2009 | 2:01 am

I recently relocated 1065.23 miles, from the verdant hills of Hood River, Oregon to the sandy beaches of San Diego, California. As always, I was sad to leave the Pacific Northwest. The weather there helps incline the residents towards a supreme talent with warm beverages, and tea is no exception. Immediately upon my arrival here in San Diego, I began my hunt for a tea house that could appease my pangs of homesickness. And where else would I begin such a search but with Google? However, then the complications began. Now I know the best way to find a suitable atmosphere for sipping…
T. Tea Bar: Fits its name to a “tea”

Walden Diane

2 Jul 2009 | 2:01 am

Part 3 of this short series on unique specialty tea start-ups across the United States highlights a three-step process that resulted in a very modern concept called T. Tea Bar, owned by a woman, and the winner of her city’s (Chico, CA) 2004 Chamber of Commerce Women In Business/Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Shelly Blanshei and her husband, Lance, began their specialty beverage business adventure in 1996 with a landmark coffee house in Chico named Bidwell Perk, a name twist on a popular park just half a mile from the store. Shelly says Lance, who also runs a consulting company, is a…
More research on tea’s possible role in weight management

Sandy M. Bushberg

1 Jul 2009 | 2:01 am

A new study, conducted by researchers at Beiersdorf, AG, has identified new mechanisms of action that white tea has on reducing the development of human adipose tissue (fat cells). Many of you have probably been aware, for years, of the ubiquitous (and sometimes questionable) ads for weight-loss teas. These inevitably prove to be ads for just oolong or green tea that the particular person or company is marketing as being uniquely, and significantly, able to help people lose weight. Due to my own skepticism about these claims some time ago, I decided to investigate them and wrote an…
Teas of the Americas, Australia, and elsewhere

Pratt James Norwood

30 Jun 2009 | 1:58 am

From South Carolina to Australia, English-speaking people have planted tea wherever they went, and not only in Asia and Africa. These efforts have produced teas less interesting than the stories about them - how South Carolina tea won the Gold Medal at the 1904 St. Louis World Fair where Darjeeling was used for the first iced tea, or how New Zealand came to produce green tea for Japan. America’s only tea plantations are in South Carolina and Hawaii, though experimental plantings thrive in Oregon. Climate and soil conditions are excellent for tea-growing in many places like these…
Is there a tea meet-up group in your community?

Fahl Dharlene Marie

29 Jun 2009 | 2:01 am

Meet-up groups are popping up all over the place! If you are thinking such groups are made up of a bunch of desperate single people longing to make a connection and hiding their hope that Mr. or Ms. Right will show up at the event, think again. If you love tea and you love people, single or married, looking or not looking, there could be a wonderful group out there in your city waiting for you to join them. Or perhaps, just perhaps, you could be the one who starts a tea meet-up group in your city or town. Just go online and search for “meet-up groups” and you will be led into a whole…

Tea Guy Speaks
Lyons Commercial & English Tea Blog Articles

William I. Lengeman III

4 Jul 2009 | 9:53 am

Here are few of my brief tea articles from The Taste of English Tea Blog:Sweet Tea: House Wine of the SouthTea and HydrationTea Movie Review: All In This TeaAdagio Teas triniTea Tea MakerZarafina Tea Maker Suite
Drink Real Tea

William I. Lengeman III

3 Jul 2009 | 3:59 pm

The good people at teapigs are on a mission. Though the UK has been closely identified with tea for hundreds of years, the truth is that much of what's being consumed there is not very good. The teapigs crew refer to it as "shameful brown slop" and are "calling on people to demand better quality tea from cafes, restaurants, and hotels across the country."For more info and to sign the mission petition, go here.Adagio Teas triniTea Tea MakerZarafina Tea Maker Suite
Animated Barry's Tea Commercial

William I. Lengeman III

2 Jul 2009 | 9:47 am

Adagio Teas triniTea Tea MakerZarafina Tea Maker Suite
Tea Review 100 - Mighty Leaf (x4)

William I. Lengeman III

29 Jun 2009 | 9:54 am

Organic Emerald PearlsOrganic Yellow FlowerMarrakesh Mint GreenOrange DulceMight Leaf Tea CompanyOrganic Emerald PearlsOrganic Yellow FlowerA nice pair of loose-leaf Chinese green teas from Anhui province. Quite a delicate flavor in both cases. This can be a bit of a drawback if you're used to stronger stuff, but nothing really to complain about here. Orange DulceThere are a few flavored teas I like, but as a general rule I'm not the target audience for this sort of thing. Orange Dulce is a blend of black tea with orange, vanilla and jasmine. Not to my liking, so much, but your mileage is…
Tea-Riffic Cricket

William I. Lengeman III

28 Jun 2009 | 10:36 am

Another one on the miraculous powers of tea. Aspiring cricketers, take note.Adagio Teas triniTea Tea MakerZarafina Tea Maker Suite

Heaven of Tea
Red, White & Blue Tea

alexis

3 Jul 2009 | 8:49 am

Gas up the grill, dust off the picnic table cloth and buy an extra box of sparklers. Beyond the usual fourth of July activities, I will be brewing 3 festive pitchers of iced tea to serve as the center piece of my fourth of July meal. If you haven’t already guessed, the three pitchers of iced tea will consist of a red tea, white tea and blue tea. First, make enough ice to add once the tea cools. Then just grab three glass pitchers, one package of blue food coloring, and these three teas: Red Tea-Pistachio Apple Pie Rooibos Tea “The crisp sweet taste of ripe apples blended with the…
Are you a Tea Master?

veritas

30 Jun 2009 | 6:30 am

Teavana has launched the Tea Master’s Challenge to find the best blend of teas out there. You submit your favorite blend of Teavana teas and instantly get feedback from others. And the best tea will be selected as the overall contest winner - we will be selling this tea online in the fourth quarter as well! Do you have the best secret recipe? Join the challenge here. Our very first entry was submitted by Christine Booras and sounds pretty good: Tropical Lotus Flower 1 tsp Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearls 1 tsp Rooibos Tropica 1 tsp Tupelo Honey or Agave Nectar Steep in 8oz of water for…
Tea Reading List

alexis

24 Jun 2009 | 3:57 pm

On lazy summer evenings my body and mind are begging me to curl up with an iced glass of tea and a book. Once in a while I give in to my inner desires and put the lengthy To-Do list on hold. After finally settling on a tea to brew, my mind begins to wander over to my collection of books. As I leave the kitchen to let the tea cool to room temperature (a watched pitcher never cools. isn’t that what they say?) and wander over to the book shelf, my eyes automatically leap to my section of tea books. I am beginning to gather quite the collection, although I’m always looking for new…
Father’s Day Tea BBQ

alexis

20 Jun 2009 | 3:44 pm

This weekend there’s a good chance you will be firing up the grill and celebrating Father’s Day with an outdoor eating extravaganza. But this year, why not treat dear old dad to a grilling experience out of his world, literally. Instead of opting for that standard spice rub, try a tea rub. Grilled chicken gets a burst of flavor from a green tea spice rub. I recommend a green tea citrus blend, like this Lemon Green Flavored Green Tea, to add a bright flavor to the grilled meat. Just grab a package of chicken breasts and brush them with olive oil before coating them with the tea…
The Origins of “Tea”

alexis

12 Jun 2009 | 6:57 am

Language is an incredible topic to explore, especially when it comes to taking a closer look at the “tea” world. Although intrigued by seeking out the origins of my tea leaves, I had yet to uncover the history behind the word “tea.” While taking a peek at the Online Etymology Dictionary, I learned this about the origins of “Tea”: 1655, earlier chaa (1598, from Port. cha), from Malay teh and directly from Chinese (Amoy dialect) t’e, in Mandarin ch’a. The distribution of the different forms of the word reflects the spread of use of the beverage.

Tea Escapade - Tea Blog
Moon Crest Tea a.k.a. Feng Huang Dan Cong

teaescapade

1 Jul 2009 | 8:36 am

Officially, I’m on vacation – well at least from school for the week (not work). The fourth of July is hastily approaching, of course, the holiday does not occur without a family cookout with all the fixin’s. Traditionally, on every holiday, my mother plans a big dinner during the Fall and Winter months and a cookout during the Spring and Summer. This year is no exception. Lately, I have added tea to the menu. While not everyone enjoys a cup, my family acknowledges my passion and is starting to expect me to bring a variety of teas for them to sample. Most have never…
Co-Op Tea Swap – July 2009

teaescapade

29 Jun 2009 | 6:39 pm

SAVE THE DATE! July 1, 2009, is the date for the next Co-Op Tea Swap! A fantastically fun collaboration between Tea Escapade and Authori+ea. Membership is free! Additionally, Co-Op Tea Swap members receive Tea Escapade’s monthly newsletter for free. To join in on the fun, simply email the following information to Nikki at TeaEscapade@yahoo.com no later than June 31, 2009, to participate in the upcoming July 2009 Swap: Name: Mailing Address: Phone Number: Sample Preferences (if any): Sample Restrictions (are you allergic to any herbs or ingredients?): Referred By: For more…
Off With Their Heads – Tea Poetry

teaescapade

19 Jun 2009 | 6:30 am

I beheaded our 15-year-old organic roses, chopping off old doddering faded heads along with matronly full blossoms, saucy nubile blooms, and just-split-lip sepals revealing babysoft reds and pinks underneath. I lovingly tore their petals from their peduncles and scattered them on drying screens, dreaming of steaming cups of black tea steeped with roses. ~(c) Karen Suriano 2009
Mango Green Decaf Tea

teaescapade

18 Jun 2009 | 7:42 am

I absolutely adore the summer! It is hot all the time and the sun magically bathes you in its glow. There is no better time, in my opinion, to go on vacation than in the summer. That is of course, followed by going on vacation in the winter to a warm, tropical, destination. My family and I just returned from vacation in Miami. It was wonderful to go to the beach – lay in the hot sand, listen to the sometimes crashing waves, and live day-to-day without obligations. During those few precious days, we laughed, we played, and I personally was refreshed. Thus, I sit today completely relaxed…
CoCo Chai Tea

teaescapade

8 Jun 2009 | 8:26 am

While many people think of iced tea as the method of choice for drinking tea, you will find here on Tea Escapade that I will continue to drink hot tea. There is something wonderful about holding a steaming cup of tea in my hands and inhaling the wonderful, steaming aroma of tea. Watching whole leaf teas unfurl and the enveloping sense of peace that comes from sitting still for even just a moment. Today’s tea choice… CoCo Chai Tea Composition: Rooibos, cinnamon, ginger, cardamon, red peppercorns, shredded coconut, natural flavors. Dry Visual: Very color like potpourri –…

tea « WordPress.com Tag Feed
'Celebrating' DEPENDENCE Day Under Barack Obama

Michael Eden

4 Jul 2009 | 11:41 am

As we survey the despotism of the world around us, we can admire our founding fathers – and celebrate their achievement – all the more. Think of Iraq under Saddam Hussein; or think of Iran under the Ayatollah and the mullahs. And then look around and see all the millions, even billions of peoples, under some form of tyranny and totalitarian rule. It was not the Iraqi people, but the people of the United States of America, who threw down Saddam Hussein and instituted a democracy in place of tyranny. And the Iranian people may have rioted in their streets, but they failed to…
Drink Yourself Thin

andrevillarreal3

4 Jul 2009 | 11:31 am

Green tea has many health benefits, more and more green tea health benefits are being discovered year after year, from fighting cancers, killing bacteria, curing skin conditions to losing weight! Drinking green tea is a very healthy attitude that a person can do it will help making your life longer, healthier and more importantly disease free. A couple of cups of green tea everyday can play a big role in fighting different diseases throughout your life. Recent studies had suggested that green tea consumers have less chances of contracting diseases such as bladder cancer, obesity and other…
Chá de Rosas

VIVIANE GUIMARÃES

4 Jul 2009 | 11:10 am

Chá de rosas: 4 Xícaras (chá) de água Pétalas de 6 rosas 1/2 colher (chá) de água de rosas açúcar ou adoçante a gosto. Preparo: 1. Coloque a água numa chaleira e leve ao fogo alto. 2. Quando ferver, adicione as pétalas e deixe por 5 minutos. Retire do fogo e junte a água de rosas.
A Magia dos Chás

VIVIANE GUIMARÃES

4 Jul 2009 | 10:58 am

(Chá verde) ou TiKuanYin – O Chá Verde é eficaz no Emagrecimento revitaliza e equilibra as funções do aparelho digestivo, proporcionando um melhor aproveitamento dos alimentos. Eu conheço chá verde em gotas, chá verde em (chá erva) mesmo, chá verde em saquetas e chá verde em cápsulas. O Chá verde em gotas, uso quando vou viajar e não tenho tempo para tomar o chá mesmo.Que o chá verde tem um poder e tanto, isso é fato. Prova são os muitos fãs que, o consomem no mundo inteiro, em busca de suas propriedades antigorduras, antibacterianas e sua capacidade de melhorar a…
Saturday Morning Tea

artandtea

4 Jul 2009 | 9:11 am

Happy Birthday America! I am so blessed to call you home. I’m hoping that this weekend will bring a break out of this cool, rainy weather pattern we’ve been stuck in here in New England. The sun has peeked out here and there but hasn’t stayed for very long. My colleagues at work and I were celebrating yesterday when we saw some blue sky! My tea today, a hand-made Oolong called Xiang Pao, comes from a small family farm located in the Shan Ling Xi area in the mountains of Nantou County, Taiwan, approximately 1800 meters above sea level. As part of their business philosophy,…

Tea Nerd
Hachiju Hachiya (88 Nights) Shincha from Sugimoto USA | Reader Poll

24 Jun 2009 | 1:07 pm

Class: Green Origin: Not sure. Shizuoka? Blend? Year: 2009 Vendor: Sugimoto, USA Price: Free for me! (Thanks Chip and Pentox) This shincha comes courtesy of Chip and Pentox of Teachat-- thanks guys! Hachiju hachiya means "88 nights" and, in this context, is a claim that this tea was picked on the very traditional 88th night from the beginning of spring. Mmm, history. I liked this tea quite a bit. For those who like precise parameters, I brewed 5.3g of leaf in 10oz of water (between 165-175F) for 60s, 30s, 60s, and 90s. Second infusion. I'm not feeling very prosey right now, so here are my…
"Ureshino" Tamaryokucha from Lupicia

18 Jun 2009 | 5:19 pm

Class: Green Origin: Saga prefecture, Japan Year: 2009 (I think, not 100% sure) Vendor: Lupicia (Product page) Price: $10.00 (50g) This post brought to you by Polaroid! (Okay, not really, but my SX-70 was feeling awfully neglected.) This is a tamaryokucha, a.k.a. guricha, from the Saga prefecture of Japan. The most surprising thing? I actually like it. It was purely by accident that I bought this, as on the store shelf it was not clearly marked as a tamaryokucha. I had thought that this kind of tea, processed a bit differently than normal sencha, was just a boring inferior version of sencha;…
Yashica 12

10 Jun 2009 | 11:34 am

Meet my newest acquisition, a Yashica 12 TLR. I just gave it a thorough cleaning and plan on running some film through it in the next day or two; hopefully there are no major problems!
2009 Takumi Shincha

22 May 2009 | 9:19 pm

Class: Green Origin: Yame prefecture, Japan Year: 2009 Vendor: Zencha.net (Product page) Price: $31.00 (100g) This sencha has a lovely color. It's not quite as green as O-Cha's Yukata Midori, but what is? I've been enjoying this shincha (wondering what "shincha" is?) for a couple weeks now. Mmmm. It has been a long time since I've had any Japanese greens, but this tea fills my springtime sencha craving nicely. It's a lot like O-Cha's Miyabi, if I remember it right. It is just a little grassy the way I brew, though you can pretty much eliminate it with cooler brewing if that doesn't sound…
New layout... again

21 May 2009 | 3:27 pm

Hey all, I finally gave in and updated to the newer Blogger layout system. Sure, it looks like every other blog out there now (I may tweak it to be a bit more unique later), but there are some nice features I couldn't use on the old system.Let me know if anything looks weird or is broken!And yes, I am still working on the fourth teaware guide. Sorry for the delay.

Gongfu Girl
Tea, Haiku and Jisei

Cinnabar

1 Jul 2009 | 11:50 am

Are you feeling writerly on a scale even smaller than one hundred and forty character micro-blogging? Consider entering Ito En’s haiku contest. Ito En is the company that manufactures a lot of the bottled and canned green and oolong tea sold in Japan and the United States. Submissions are due by July 6th, 2009. I’m not sure I’m capable of being quite that terse myself, but I might get inspired to write something. “From the beginning of time, poetry, especially haiku, has been used to convey the most important of messages. This year, we invite you to express yourself…
I’d Like a Cup of Snake Oil With my Meal.

Cinnabar

26 Jun 2009 | 3:26 pm

A couple of nights ago, as I sat pondering the stark range of contrasts in flavor and character among the three types of shochu I was drinking (rice, barley and buckwheat) in a Japanese izakaya during happy hour, I listened to a brief exchange about tea between the two patrons at the table next to me and the server. Considering I was only a couple of feet away, my eavesdropping was unavoidable in the first place, but the word “tea” caught my ear. The older of the two patrons asked the waiter what kind of tea they had, and he said, “green tea,” and then, after a very…
Enjoying Tea in the Summer Sun

guest

22 Jun 2009 | 10:14 am

While hot tea can be a great way to warm up on a winter day or even during a summer thunderstorm, it isn’t always the first choice for a summer beverage, especially in the hottest months of the year. There are some ways that you can take your love of tea into the summer without sacrificing any of the great taste or health benefits it offers. Here are some tips on embracing summer tea time. Ice it. Almost everyone is familiar with the deliciousness of iced tea, as it’s a quintessential summer beverage. You don’t have to use the classic black tea, however, as green and white teas can make…
Tea Review: Mighty Leaf: Marrakesh Mint Green

Cinnabar

17 Jun 2009 | 8:49 pm

Mighty Leaf’s Marakesh Mint Green Tea doesn’t taste like the traditional tea that they make in Morrocco. Only a particular brewing technique and fresh mint leaves can accomplish that, but it does taste like something nice and flavorful, especially if it’s cold. And cold, it also tastes like a drink you might relish if you were actually riding a camel across the Morrocan desert. Mintiness is a logical flavor to go with hot weather and cold drinks, so I cold-brewed this tea. I put the bag into a Mason jar of spring water with the tag hanging out, stuck it in the refrigerator…
Swans, Flowers and Iron

Cinnabar

10 Jun 2009 | 4:06 pm

Closely tying in to the last post, I wanted to provide some details on the Banko-Yaki Houhin teapot that I referred to. I wasn’t really in the market for a teapot in this style when I came across this one several months ago, but I really liked the look of it so I bought it. The style of pot is Houhin (宝瓶) and it is Banko-Yaki (万古焼), which means that it was made under the Banko kiln name. “Yaki” means “ware” in Japanese, and often with ceramics the part of the name preceding the “-Yaki” is the name of the kiln. This part of the name often…

Hou De Tea Blog
Enjoy the Spring Delight Amidst Summer Heat

Guang

21 Jun 2009 | 2:19 pm

The Father Day’s gift I received is a quiet Sunday afternoon, all to myself, with just a string attached - “you gotta update something new for Hou De Blog!”. Hmmm.., why I cannot fully comprehend it as a gift? Anyway, happy Father’s Day! Keep working hard and stay healthy, just don’t expect too much on the gift … you know, it’s more a Mother’s Day thing. Ok, back to tea. Last week we gladly received Tai-Tung green tea and black tea from the same producer we sourced last year. The green and black teas from him were really popular, and received many positive feedbacks. Last…
Thanks for attending Tasting Workshop @ WTE 2009

Guang

6 May 2009 | 6:33 am

The tasting workshop, Focused Tasting: Puerh, had been concluded on the morning of May 3rd @ WTE 2009. We were again excited by the number of people who attended this workshop, about 45, and the quality and quantity of questions/comments raised. The WTE staff worked very efficiently to make this a professional event. My sincere thanks go to you all who came to the workshop and the WTE staffs who helped make it a success. Comparing to the presentation we did in WTE 2008, we had similar number of people - which is great, considering the current economy situation. But we had more questions and…
Sounding Bowl “Xian Wen” by Master Shao Yi-Yan

Guang

3 Dec 2008 | 3:14 pm

Two of the most respected Tian Mu (Tenmoku) masters in Taiwan - people called “Bei (North) Shan Yi-Yan, Nan (South) Jian Yu-Ting”. Master Shao tends to like using porcelain-ware as bases to play his glaze magic, while Master Jian usually using earthenware as bases. Among the two Masters, Mr. Shao has been troubled by deteriorated eyesight in recent years, and thus making fewer and fewer pieces. I was lucky to have the chance to visit his studio in my September trip to Taiwan. Here I would like to share with you one of my acquired babies: a large-sized Mu Yien Tian Mu “Sounding” bowl.
Sounding Bowl “Xian Wen” by Master Shao Yi-Yan

Guang

3 Dec 2008 | 3:14 pm

Two of the most respected Tian Mu (Tenmoku) masters in Taiwan - people called “Bei (North) Shan Yi-Yan, Nan (South) Jian Yu-Ting”. Master Shao tends to like using porcelain-ware as bases to play his glaze magic, while Master Jian usually using earthenware as bases. Among the two Masters, Mr. Shao has been troubled by deteriorated eyesight in recent years, and thus making fewer and fewer pieces. I was lucky to have the chance to visit his studio in my September trip to Taiwan. Here I would like to share with you one of my acquired babies: a large-sized Mu Yien Tian Mu “Sounding” bowl.
Thanks for being with us in 2008!

Guang

30 Nov 2008 | 3:25 pm

Sorry for being so inactive lately; the blog has not been updated for nearly two months … we have received emails and calls from dear customers asking if Hou De has been flooded by Hurricane Ike or the ongoing financial storm! Hou De and my family are all well and healthy. Immediately after I returned from visiting Taiwan in September, I have started working for a new engineering job. As you can guess, it is quite an effort to try to fit into a new job asap. This is a switch I believe provide a safer “financial cushion” for my family amid the current global economic…

Teaspoons and Petals
tea blossoms

admin

22 Jun 2009 | 6:57 pm

green leaves tightly bound slowly sway as steam rises petals blossoming ——————————————————————————— photo credit: austin.happel
tea party in style

admin

18 Jun 2009 | 1:22 pm

when planning a tea party, I tend to focus on the delicate leaves and dainty cups, and unfortunately forget to give much thought to my outfit. although while planning ahead for a few summer tea parties, I want to ensure that I will be serving in style. while window shopping online (my favorite form of retail therapy), I came across the Floral Halter Layer Dress from Forever 21, that combined my love of the vintage, floral look with a modern twist (pictured above). I adore each detail of this feminine frock, from the floral print, to the pintucking, vertical pleat and layered hem. And at…
TEA TODAY: Davids Tea’s White Tiger

admin

16 Jun 2009 | 8:01 am

White Tiger One powerful tea Look out for white fur, black stripes and ice-blue eyes. White tigers tend to be bigger and stronger than their orange cousins. This blend is just as powerful. It’s got the smooth, immune-building strength of organic white peony tea. Plus the additional antioxidants of pomegranate essence and whole blueberries. A real fighter! It’ll scare off every free radical in the area. As I shuffled through my bags and containers of loose tea, I was instantly drawn to its fierce and enticing name, White Tiger. As soon as I broke the seal of the bag, the dry aroma of the…
celebrate national iced tea month

admin

10 Jun 2009 | 8:16 am

For the past ten days I have been gleefully celebrating National Iced Tea Month! After stocking my freezer with ice, I reached into my cabinet to happily retrieve my Bodum iced tea pitcher tucked away during the chillier months. This iced tea pitcher (purchased from Mighty Leaf’s site) is probably one of my favorite pieces of teaware, as it holds 50oz of tea, has a built in infuser that you can remove after steeping, along with a ridged spout that catches any tea leaves that escape into the pitcher while brewing. As I set the pot of water on the stove, I reached for the stalks fresh…
Steep It “The Simplest Internet Tea Timer Ever”

admin

6 Jun 2009 | 6:02 am

I often steep my tea in the comfort of my own home, experiencing the peaceful moments as I watch the minutes dwindle and tea leaves unfurl. Although when I step outside my four walls and into a nearby cafe, I normally can’t replicate that experience and instead attempt to check the time on my computer as I skate through emails. I inevitably lose track and sometimes over-brew a cup, which is my tea-loving heart skipped a beat when I stumbled across the web tea timer “Steep It-the simplest internet tea timer ever.” Just type the time in the box, click “go” and…

The Virtual Teahouse
July 2009 Poem of the Month 'The Summer Day'

krayna

30 Jun 2009 | 9:06 pm

Poem of the Month ~ July 2009 Mary Oliver, with her knack for mining the details of daily life and the natural world, composes poetry that can blow the ol’ circuits and bust through walls built of oblivion. As you let the power of this poem sink in, you just may fall in love her questions, take them to heart and bless your one wild, precious life! --Krayna The Summer Day Who made the world? Who made the swan, and the black bear? Who made the grasshopper? This grasshopper, I mean – the one who has...(read more)
Douglas Firs were our sanctuary

Beth Patterson

21 Jun 2009 | 12:04 pm

Last year on solstice I posted about the life and death in 2003 of my dear friend Katrina . Her death somehow allowed me to move from my 20 year stint in hospice work. This year on summer solstice, I am again posting about the death of a dear friend, although one whom I'd only known--physically--a short time. Our connections go deep, as she was the beloved of one of my former beloveds. That soul connection via an intermediary, T., helped us dive deep and go strong. Oregon passed the Death with Dignity...(read more)
assimilate this

Beth Patterson

20 Jun 2009 | 11:09 pm

Don't live that way. ...dress like me ...talk like me ...think like me ...learn like me ...worship like me. In short, see the world as I do. Assimilation photo from wikipedia The study of evolution has opened our eyes to the astounding diversity of ways that humans and all animate things adapt to our environments, as well as to the stabilizing strength inherent in that diversity. However, what we are learning from biological processes at play in evolution has not been evident in US policy related...(read more)
How long does it take to grow a feather?

Beth Patterson

18 Jun 2009 | 11:52 am

They hatched, those chickadee babies, last Saturday, or at least that was the first time I could hear them as I sit on my back porch. By Monday, their requests for ' I need that bug much more than my brother does, Mother' were clearer and more insistent. Today, Thursday, it's a regular cacophony when they hear one of the hard-working adults come close to the box. Got me to asking some questions: Do those parent birds eat any of the bugs for themselves and not regurgitate or poke them in those huge...(read more)
the *dialectic of ever-bigger circles

Beth Patterson

13 Jun 2009 | 10:59 pm

Outwitted He drew a circle that shut me out - Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout But love and I had the will to win We drew a circle and drew him in. -- Edwin Markham The walls of human understanding have various purposes, textures, designs. But their intent is often to keep something--a person, a mental state, a group, an idea, a dogma, religions and spiritualities--safe from challenge and on-going discovery of the truth of inherent polarity. It's not that what the wall is protecting is not-true....(read more)

Blog Entries
Tisane Tea 101

1 Jul 2009 | 9:00 am

Tisane tea is synonymous with herbal tea. The word is a derivate of ptisanē, Greek meaning a crushed barley drink. The onus being that this type of tea does not contain extracts from the tea plant, Camellia Sinensis. It is best to be aware of what you are purchasing as tisanes can be flowers, roots, fruits, stems and seeds; [...]
Tea Party Invitations

29 Jun 2009 | 9:00 am

Do you admire one, or more, of your teapots enough to make it a tea party theme? There is an art to making invitations, just as there is to making teapots. And, the ultimate host or hostess intentionally attempts to make his or her party the most memorable for guests; a theme is one way to do so.
Intellectual answers with tea

27 Jun 2009 | 9:00 am

While studying philosophy at the University of Wollongong in Australia, Daniel Garreston searched for intellectual answers. He became at peace with his questions in Asian philosophy, culture and society; hence, leading to the interests in Japanese tea ceremonies, the rituals and associated vessels. This is what led to his determination to master the pottery skills required to make Japanese influenced teapots, cups and bowls. Sometimes knowing the story behind the artist' [...]
Pagoda Teapot

25 Jun 2009 | 9:00 am

Before English cottage style teapots of the 1750's, Chinese artists crafted pots that resembled pagodas or other buildings, all of which had upward curving roofs. The Japanese crafted similar styled teapots based on tea houses in the region. The teapot below is a recent garden pagoda rendition. It combines innovative silver smithing by Lunt with a design motivated by William Halfpenny's "Rural Architecture in the Chinese Taste," published in London in 1752.< [...]
Naturally slimming tea

23 Jun 2009 | 9:00 am

On the market are many teas claiming to reduce weight. The underlying problem with some of these is that they contain herbal laxatives such as castor oil, rhubarb root and buckthorn. If used in large quantities this can cause harm to the gastrointestinal tract and weaken bones. The best alternative, one in which has been used for centuries is green tea.

Lainie Sips
On Vacation and Podcasts

Lainie P

30 Jun 2009 | 9:19 am

Greetings, I am heading out on vacation for the week, so you will see new posts starting next week. I wish everyone well! In the meantime, please be thinking about the following: I am really enjoying my podcasts, and want to spice them up a bit. I am looking, therefore, for guests: 1. Are you a tea merchant, work for a tea company, or a tea blogger? I’d like to interview you on the show. 2. Are you a tea lover? I am planning a series on tea drinking in different regions and countries, and would love to talk to you on the show about your tea memories and/or the tea culture where you…
The Tea Spot’s Green Roasted Mint (review)

Lainie P

27 Jun 2009 | 7:54 pm

Name: Green Roasted Mint Podcast Review?: Yes, click here. Brand: The Tea Spot Type: Green tea (hojicha), flavored Form: Loose leaf Cost: $7.99 for 2 ounces @ The Tea Spot (quantity discounts available) Review: The Tea Spot’s twist on Moroccan mint tea is quite clever: Instead of blending peppermint with gunpowder green tea (the traditional recipe for Moroccan mint tea), the good folks at The Tea Spot used hojicha (roasted Japanese green tea) instead. The nose on the dry leaf is remarkable: The peppermint is clean and clear, and the nutty, roasted notes of the hojicha, in harmony…
auraTeas Formosa Alishan Oolong (review)

Lainie P

25 Jun 2009 | 1:24 am

Name: Formosa Alishan Oolong Brand: auraTeas Type: Oolong Form: Loose leaf Cost: $6.50 (Canadian) for 18 grams, quantity discounts available Review: The dark green, rolled leaves have a sweet, roasted grain nose, and infuse to a very pretty medium gold liquor. The nose on the infused leaf remains sweet: Rather reminds me of a nutty/whole grain toast with some honey on it. As I would expect from an Alishan, this is a fairly light bodied oolong, but with enough substance to keep the nutty sweetness from becoming insipid. Best infusion is the third, but this tea maintains flavor for several…
Lainie Sips Live Podcast: 6/23/2009

Lainie P

22 Jun 2009 | 1:04 pm

My live podcast tomorrow will continue the series on tea myths: This show will focus on myths about caffeine in tea. Please feel free to call into the show at: 347-215-8528, or you can go to the show’s site and either: 1. Log into its chatroom to leave comments/questions or 2. Use the call in button to connect live via your computer. Should you wish to send a question or comment via email, please email me before the show tomorrow, and I will read your email on the air. My blogging-pal Steve at The 39 Steeps has been kind enough to compile a list of tweets by Nigel Melican,…
Tea Art: Marco-Polo Theesalon

Lainie P

22 Jun 2009 | 12:42 pm

Marco Polo Tea Salon Giclee Print Buy at AllPosters.com

Teatrekker's Weblog
2009 Before the Rain Teas

teatrekker

13 Jun 2009 | 2:57 pm

Asian tea enthusiasts believe that the earlier the pluck, the better the green tea. They are eager for the arrival of spring, as the time for harvesting early-season green teas is only-once a year and fleeting. Our gorgeous selections of Before the Rains teas have just arrived, and we are thrilled to be able to offer them to all of our tea enthusiast customers. These lovely green teas are from eastern China and western China and all of them epitomize the ‘ideal’ of fresh and sweet. Choose from: Du Yun Mao Jian - Fuzzy Tips Du Yun Mao Jian – Fuzzy Tip Although we…
Sun Moon Lake Tea from 100 Year Old Tea Trees

teatrekker

25 May 2009 | 6:19 pm

Sun Moon Lake Black Tea from 100 year old tea trees In the villages surrounding Sun Moon Lake in central Taiwan, black tea was developed for export by the Japanese during their occupation of Taiwan in the years preceeding and during WWII. Many of the major tea producing countries had an imposed embargo on tea exports during the war years, so the enterprising Japanese hit upon a scheme to produce black tea for export to the West. I don’t know if this scheme worked or not, but today black tea production in Taiwan is very, very small. In Yuchin township, several small villages continue…
More New 2009 Spring Plucked Tea

teatrekker

25 May 2009 | 12:02 pm

Mengding Mountain Rock Essence Mengding Mountain Rock Essence Mengding Mountain Rock Essence is a fine, thin, plucked bud that is manufactured as a green tea, not a yellow tea like its cousin Mengding Mountain Snowbuds. This is still an early spring tea, made from buds that are brimming with the vigor of tea bushes beginning their growth cycle. Rock Essence tea is made from the buds of tea bushes that grow at a higher altitude than Snowbuds, in a terroir that is more spare. The soil is thinner, the area more rocky and overall this location is colder and more remote. Hence the name is an…
2009 Pre-Qing Ming Yellow Teas are here !

teatrekker

30 Apr 2009 | 7:18 am

Last but certainly not least, our yellow teas have just arrived from China. Yellow teas are very few in number these days but they remain very important in the Chinese repertoire of classic teas. Yellow tea is most easily described as a variation of green tea, but this suggests that the methodology for making it came after the perfection of green tea making skills. I have a hunch that yellow teas were made before green teas were classified as such, but this is just based on my own thoughts and musings about tea-making history in China. Anyway, those of you who have never tried a yellow tea (…
2009 Pre-Qing Ming Longing teas are here !

teatrekker

24 Apr 2009 | 7:49 am

It was our goal to have 2009 Pre-Qing Ming Longjing teas here as early as possible, and we made it. Even after our local Post Office sat on our package for 5 days before we knew that it had arrived. Needless to say we are thrilled to have this very special and historic tea at the peak of it’s perfection. While I wish that all of us could be in the tea fields in China right now, being able to drink this splendid early-harvest tea is the next best thing. And being able to bring it to all of you as well makes our sipping even sweeter. Chinese tea enthusiasts believe that the earlier…

Tea Party Guide
Buffet Table Decorating Ideas for Your Tea Party

2 Jul 2009 | 12:42 pm

Get buffet table decorating ideas that will help your guests move quickly through the lines so they can enjoy the tea party and your great tea party food.
Tea Party Table Setting

2 Jul 2009 | 12:11 pm

Tea party table setting is similar to other formal place settings, but there are some things to take into consideration like your tablescape ideas.
Sheer EleganceLessons in Afternoon Tea Etiquette

1 Jul 2009 | 7:31 pm

Hello, I hosted a Tea Party at my church from ages 3 1/2 to 7. We sent a flyer out and required the parents to register their child because seating
Gift Wrapping Kitchen Tea

27 Jun 2009 | 9:53 am

I would like to share an idea for a different type of kitchen tea party. A friend of mine had a fabulous afternoon tea with a small group of friends.
Start a Children's Book Club Tea Party

21 Jun 2009 | 9:52 pm

Starting a children's book club tea party is very rewarding for you and your kids.

Tea Finely Brewed
25% off for new Mighty Leaf Tea customers

Eric

1 Jul 2009 | 1:42 am

Mighty Leaf Tea Pouches While browsing through Mighty Leaf’s website in preparation for the review I just posted, I noticed that they have a great offer on for people who haven’t tried their tea pouches before: Buy your first tea pouches from Mighty Leaf and get 25% off. There are actually three separate offers - one for herbal tea, another for black tea and a third for green tea. As I mentioned in my review of Mighty Leaf’s Organic Darjeeling, the tea pouches are perfect for those of you who want to try some seriously good tea without giving up the convenience of tea bags.
Darjeeling First Flush 2009 from Mighty Leaf Tea

Eric

1 Jul 2009 | 1:11 am

Organic Darjeeling Estate Black Tea from Mighty Leaf Tea I have just now enjoyed my first taste of 2009’s first flush Darjeelings, courtesy of Mighty Leaf tea. This year, Mighty Leaf have chosen Mim Estate for their single-estate Darjeeling offering. It’s a great choice: Mim Estate’s first flush serves admirably as a well-rounded black tea and a great example of that quintessential Darjeeling flavour. Long time readers of Tea Finely Brewed will know I’m a fan of Darjeelings. (If not, you might enjoy digging into my Darjeeling tea archive and reading over the series of…
Interview with Mary Lou Heiss, author of “The Story of Tea”

Eric

25 Jun 2009 | 12:10 am

Bob and Mary Lou Heiss. Photo by Steve Garfield. Today, I’m really pleased to publish an interview with Mary Lou Heiss. I have a small but growing collection of books about tea, and The Story of Tea: A Cultural History and Drinking Guide, which Mary Lou penned with her husband Bob, is by far the most comprehensive resource on the subject. The Story of Tea takes an in-depth look at the world of tea, covering the various types of tea, major tea producing countries and regions, tea culture and its history - among other things. Seriously, if there’s one book about tea you should have,…
A Leaf and a Bud from Ya-ya Teahouse

Eric

16 Jun 2009 | 6:54 pm

A Leaf and a Bud. This morning I dropped the lid of my glass teapot. It shattered on our kitchen floor. What, pray tell, am I now supposed to do with a teapot that has no lid? With that out of the way, I turn now to the topic at hand: Ya-ya Teahouse’s A Leaf and a Bud - a furry, luscious tea from Assam’s Satrupa Estate. I’ve had a sample of this tea in my cupboard for months now, and enjoyed it on a few occasions, but decided to take a closer look today. First impressions of this tea are strong. Very strong. Take one look at those brilliant furry buds and long leaves and…
Make Your Own Ginger Tea

Eric

15 Jun 2009 | 5:45 am

Ginger tea It’s been icy cold here in Melbourne for the last week, and tonight Bec and I rediscovered one wintry favourite: ginger tea. Ginger tea can be bought in ready-made tea bags, but it’s really simple to make it with fresh ginger. If you’ve got some ginger lying around, here’s an uberquick guide to making your own ginger tea: Step one: Peel a small block of ginger (I use about a tablespoon’s worth). Step two: Chop it into little blocks, or grate it. Step three: Steep it Seriously, it’s that easy. The peeling can take a little while, but there’s…

The Exotic Teapot
Tisane Tea 101

1 Jul 2009 | 9:00 am

Tisane tea is synonymous with herbal tea. The word is a derivate of ptisanē, Greek meaning a crushed barley drink. The onus being that this type of tea does not contain extracts from the tea plant, Camellia Sinensis. It is best to be aware of what you are purchasing as tisanes can be flowers, roots, fruits, stems and seeds; [...]
Tea Party Invitations

29 Jun 2009 | 9:00 am

Do you admire one, or more, of your teapots enough to make it a tea party theme? There is an art to making invitations, just as there is to making teapots. And, the ultimate host or hostess intentionally attempts to make his or her party the most memorable for guests; a theme is one way to do so.
Intellectual answers with tea

27 Jun 2009 | 9:00 am

While studying philosophy at the University of Wollongong in Australia, Daniel Garreston searched for intellectual answers. He became at peace with his questions in Asian philosophy, culture and society; hence, leading to the interests in Japanese tea ceremonies, the rituals and associated vessels. This is what led to his determination to master the pottery skills required to make Japanese influenced teapots, cups and bowls. Sometimes knowing the story behind the artist' [...]
Pagoda Teapot

25 Jun 2009 | 9:00 am

Before English cottage style teapots of the 1750's, Chinese artists crafted pots that resembled pagodas or other buildings, all of which had upward curving roofs. The Japanese crafted similar styled teapots based on tea houses in the region. The teapot below is a recent garden pagoda rendition. It combines innovative silver smithing by Lunt with a design motivated by William Halfpenny's "Rural Architecture in the Chinese Taste," published in London in 1752.< [...]
Naturally slimming tea

23 Jun 2009 | 9:00 am

On the market are many teas claiming to reduce weight. The underlying problem with some of these is that they contain herbal laxatives such as castor oil, rhubarb root and buckthorn. If used in large quantities this can cause harm to the gastrointestinal tract and weaken bones. The best alternative, one in which has been used for centuries is green tea.

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