09.02.10
Passion, pleasure, and profit
Tea feeds my soul. A friend of mine who owns a small tea company recently challenged me to stop writing so much about the business of tea and wear my soul on my sleeve a little more. So I’m taking this opportunity to describe why I’ve developed a passion for tea. It’s true that much of ...
09.01.10
Floating Tea Leaves
Some of you may remember my review of the excellent Miro Tea in the Ballard neighborhood here in Seattle. This month, we head to the other side of Ballard - and the other end of the tea spectrum - with a visit to Floating Tea Leaves, a tiny tea shop tended by the dedicated and ... 08.31.10
Matcha it!
My most recent visit to an Asian supermarket left me with this question: Have all the food products that can be flavored with matcha been flavored with matcha? Besides cookies, ice cream, jelly, mochi, noodles, and countless types of beverages, I saw for the first time uncooked, green-colored tapioca pearls packaged in a bag that ... 08.31.10
Pregnant tea drinkers: I was one
The day I found out I was pregnant, I put the teapot down. After all, I did not want to do anything that could possibly harm my growing baby. I put it down because most of what I read advised against it. After what I read, I ultimately reasoned that pregnant women had been drinking ... 08.30.10
Love at first sip … or my affair with Puerh
I was recently reminded of the start of my affinity for my favorite tea when we had the opportunity to visit with David Lee Hoffman and his lovely wife, Bea. David, who is the subject of the Les Blanc film, All In This Tea, had Bea serve me (and, I’m sure, hundreds of other Americans ... 08.27.10
Teacup memories
While Beverly Hills Psychiatrist Dr. Carole Lieberman interviewed me on her radio show on August 17, 2010, she surmised that I must have a warm and happy childhood memory about tea that led me to have the passion and fascination I have for tea today. We were talking about my new book, but, of course, ... 08.26.10
Part 2 - Naming the business
People ask me how we came up with the name “Tavalon” and I always answer by saying that I locked myself in a room for 30 days and did nothing but brainstorm. All joking aside, naming the business was probably one of the most difficult tasks during the start-up phase. Many entrepreneurs have this problem ... 08.25.10
Yes we can! Sip tea for a healthier life
Yes! Tea is the most versatile and delicious beverage in the world. Yes! Tea has historical significance throughout many cultures. And Yes! Tea can be a simple remedy for many ailments. I was recently reminded of this when my niece, Megan, made me an extremely tasty tea that eased my tummy turmoil.
I had been suffering ... 08.24.10
Korean teas
Everyone talks about the good old days, but in truth, I am still too young to have a firm opinion as to whether the past might have been better than the present. But what if there were a way to travel back to an older tradition? Korean teas might just offer a way.
Upon first learning ... 08.23.10
Making time for tea and me
Taking a bowl of green tea in your hands and drinking it, you feel one with nature and there is peace. This peace can be spread by offering a bowl of tea to another. I hope you will drink and share this peace with me.
-Soshitsu Sen XV, Tea Life, Tea Mind
Many times, I have been ... 
