Lao Tzu lived in China around 500 BCE. He was a man of great wisdom, recognized as a sage and a teacher. But late in his life he saw that his teachings were being disregarded and that corruption and chaos were bringing about the collapse of the kingdom. He headed west to the mountains. There [...]

I just read yet another article, typical of many others I have read, about ways to avoid the “stimulating” effects of caffeine in tea. I would like to propose that this may be a non-issue.
I have always loved the taste of coffee, but never drink it. Why? Because I am very sensitive to caffeine. Drinking [...]

For centuries, green tea has been credited with restorative and healing properties. Recent scientific studies have confirmed the truth of these claims.
Green tea is loaded with polyphenols - naturally occurring chemical compounds packed with antioxidant power. These polyphenols give tea its unique flavor and color.
Despite the fact that green, black and oolong tea are derived [...]

Earlier this month, I surprised my mom for her birthday by taking her to tea at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City. We’ve been there several times in the past, but unfortunately, we were not as impressed by it this time as we used to be.
Our first indication that the service and quality [...]

This is one of my favorite modern tea stories, written by Joel Levey:
One day over tea, my friend and mentor the late Paul Reps shared the following story of his studies in the Orient. At one point Reps had traveled to Japan, with plans to visit a respected Zen master in Korea. He went to [...]

The Mongol, or Yuan dynasty was in its turn overthrown by a mass uprising of the native Chinese which was coordinated by means of messages concealed in special cakes made for the Festi ­val of the Autumn Moon. The messages were circulated via the teahouses of the Empire in the fall of 1368 and brought to [...]

I recently had the privelege of delivering a presentation at the China Tea Expo in Beijing. The thrust of my presentation was 1) to provide the chinese government and tea industry with current data regarding the growing trends of tea consumption in the United States and, 2) suggestions as to how they may best enhance [...]

Reading articles about China and Thailand in the Autumn issue of Tea Experience Digest brought back vivid memories of my first impression of Asia. Stationed at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, it was a bizarre feeling to be well-educated, an experienced traveler of a dozen European and Mediterranean countries, and yet in Japan I was unable [...]

Almost everywhere you look here in Beijing——homes, businesses, tea shops——people have some form of pu’er tea pressed and framed (or formed in some way), and on display. In one classically beautiful chinese tea house, we found a room screen made up of panels of pu’er.
Throughout China, many consider pu’er tea to be the most special [...]

You've heard the expression — it's not my cup tea? Well, here are some tips on how to make what is your cup of tea. Decisions are very personal, and we are each the ultimate authority on what is the best tea in our own cup. The following recommendations are based on our personal experience [...]