I love the complex sensory experience of a cup of tea. Opening the lid of the canister that stores my Gong Pin Yu Luo, the scent of jasmine uplifts me. As I remove each magnificent rolled leaf, I marvel at the artistry that crafted it. I pour hot water over the leaves into a small [...]
Hand Made Organic White Teas from the Land of the Buddha
The area where we have our plantation is called Pothia; it is a small place, in a district called Kishanganj. Kishanganj in turn belongs to the state of Bihar in India. Bihar happens to be the poorest and most backward state of India, deprived [...]
IN JAPAN, Continued from Part 2
A tea tournament was rather like a wine tasting and not, one supposes, without the attendant foolishness. The point of this jeu de societe was to guess which tea came from where, and the one who guessed correctly was awarded one of the treasures adorning the tea pavilion. The rules [...]
Research confirming the cardiovascular benefits of tea keeps piling up. Yet another article, discussing a study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, reports promising results for tea’s ability to reduce cholesterol in humans. Although a small study, these preliminary findings are very encouraging and reflect previous studies indicating a trend in increased cardiovascular [...]
By Gary Snyder
There are those who love to get dirty
and fix things.
They drink coffee at dawn,
beer after work.
And those who stay clean
just appreciate things,
At breakfast they have milk
and juice at night.
There are those who do both,
they drink tea.
I have already expressed my opinions about the effects of caffeine in green tea. However, I believe that there are considerable misconceptions about this subject and think it important enough to continue to discuss it. Here is an article by Dr. Anthony Vendryes, a physician in Jamaica who shares his opinion about the effects of [...]
Since 2000, many of you have probably seen the sudden growth in popularity for matcha, Japan’s most exclusive powdered green tea. Starbucks Green Tea Frappuccino, Jamba Juice Matcha Green Tea Blast, Odwalla Matcha-Licious, Haagen Dazs Green Tea Ice Cream, and Nestle Matcha Kit Kat Bars are just a few representative samples of products that incorporate [...]
It may not be my cup of tea, as far as tea pots go, but Tea Guy has managed to find the quintissential tea pot for Thanksgiving.
It’s a bit too elaborate and ugly for my tastes (I do prefer to steep or serve my teas in pots with simpler design), but I’m sure there are [...]
IN JAPAN, Continued from Part 1
As nearly as I can judge, the Japanese tea ceremonies have undergone at least three distinct stages in the seven hundred or so years of their existence. The first was a medico-religious stage. It appears that Eisai was summoned to the bedside of the youthful and reprobate shogun of the [...]
I had this fantasy before going to China that I'd have delicious green tea with every meal. NOT! What I soon discovered at local restaurants throughout Beijing was that the locals weren't drinking tea with lunch or dinner. The reason why may surprise you.Imagine having Peking duck for dinner. This is a specialty in Beijing [...]
