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Tea pesticides and the sustainable future
Even though I have written about pesticides and tea before, I wanted to address the subject again because once again the issue is in the news with Celestial Seasonings getting busted by the same group that busted... Continue reading...
Phew...
Wow I am really not sure where the past few weeks went, somewhere in there I hit the Quarter of a Century Club, but was so busy getting things ready for the new job, and the move to a new place that I didn't really get to sit back and...Show More Summary
Hoorah For Kenyan Tea
Memorial Day is coming and the ads are full of specials for grilling and picnicking. But I am more reminded of the deeper meaning of the day. It was set aside to remember all those soldiers who gave their lives for our country, in one of our many, many wars. Show More Summary
The quiet language of tea
Do you feel that your tea changes from brew to brew? Not just that the leaves get depleted the more they are brewed, but that some brews come out better than others? This kind of experience is even more obvious in a tea class, when several people brew the same tea with the same water and same ware. Show More Summary
Blend and brew
Drawing a simple stick figure is the extent of my artistic abilities. Honestly, even that might be stretching it. It's not really a problem as I am more than willing to accept my lack of artistic ability. But every once in a while, I'll... Continue reading ?
You Know Your Collection is Too Big When...
...you discover untasted cakes that you cannot remember buying. According to my notes, this cost 60 RMB before overheads, from Taobao, in 2009. The current price is quadruple that, in just four years. P.s. Hi from Beijing. I justShow More Summary
Aged Korean Tea: 2006 "ZeDa Tea" Wild Jiri Mountain Balhyocha?
If you were at all intrigued by the sampling of the 2009 Kim Jong Yeol (Butea) aged and re-roasted balhyocha from Pedro at O5tea, you may also find this post interesting. Once again it offers an interesting perspective on aging balhyocha. Show More Summary
Does Your Tea Site Need A Makeover?
Here's another article I recently wrote for The English Tea Store blog. Does Your Tea Site Need A Makeover? By William I. Lengeman III Back in the 70s I had some pretty fine bell bottoms, if I do say so myself, and some eye-catching silk shirts and a nice pair of platform shoes to round out any ensemble. Show More Summary
2013 Longview Estate FTGFOP 1- EX 7? First Flush Darjeeling Tea
Longview Estate is situated at a relatively lower altitude in Darjeeling. The relatively moderate temperatures allow for a slightly earlier harvest time compared to estates at higher altitudes. As a general rule the quality of theseShow More Summary
Tea Salad on Bourdain's Parts Unknown
A snippet from Anthony Bourdain's new CNN show, Parts Unknown, in which the infamously carnivorous host visits Myanmar and feasts on a salad that includes tea leaves. Adagio Teas - Best Tea Online
The vastness of nuance
There's something very special about being still and focused when preparing and drinking tea. Lucidity is the word in this case. In the moment, there's rich detail: cups/bowls, leaves, pots, water, temperature, colors, shape... Continue reading ?
Les Trésors du Printemps 2013
Parmi tous les trésors que l'on peut trouver à Taiwan, il y en a deux qui ne finissent pas de me charmer et de me retenir ici. Le plus grand trésor sont ses heureux habitants, accueillants et généreux. Son second trésor pousse presque chaque saison dans les collines et montagnes de cette belle île. Show More Summary
Now with Extra Keng
I am packing for Beijing, and it is strange: England is current 9 degrees Celsius. I am wearing thick trousers, a waistcoat, and a jacket. I almost wore gloves yesterday. Snow is forecast for next week. Meanwhile, Beijing is 32 degrees. Crazy. A cake provided generously by Keng, this is a Yangpinhao "Laobanzhang". Needless to write, one has to be careful with "Laobanzhang".
A sun tea inspiration
Today hasn’t been the sunniest day in Los Angeles. I’d like to say that I woke up at six in the morning, cheerfully placed some sun tea on my front porch, and rode my bike to the beach to take a dip in the ocean... Continue reading ...
Whimsical tea bag holder
Recently, I was approached by a talented, young German artist, Gordon Alder, to try his unusual tea bag holder - the Tea.Tanic. It represents the titanic, which, when cleverly hitched to the side of your favorite cup... Continue reading ?
Lady Butterfly
lady butterfly perfumes her wings by floating over the orchid -Basho
If You Go Out In The Yard Today...
I think our resident "teddy" bears need to have their picnics somewhere other than my backyard. I get tired of having to repair bird feeders, throwing out suet holders and jumping up and down on the feeder poles to straighten them out. Show More Summary
Life is a bowl of cherries … and sencha
When I think of the following words - fragrance, evanescence, and seasonality - I think of the many special teas sold fresh, capturing their season, but I also think of fresh cherries whose season seems so short that if you... Continue reading ?
Silverware elegance
The use of silver for tea ware dates back to the very beginning of tea consumption during the Tang dynasty. The reasons for using silver in the tea preparation haven't changed much since. Silver is a precious metal that only a minority can afford. Show More Summary
2013 Margaret's Hope FTGFOP 1 1st Flush Darjeeling Tea?
This tea comes as another gifted sample from Lochan Tea. Like the Giddapahar SFTGFOP 1CH SPL and the Goomtee SFTGFOP 1 EX 2, this tea is also available from Tea Trekker. This is The brightly coloured dry leaves give off bright sweet-lime high notes with a soft high piercing quality to them. Show More Summary
