Tea was in demand everywhere as soon as it was introduced, Europe or America, Indians or Laplanders, commoners or quality, but England’s thirst for tea surpassed the rest. The first quantum leap in demand came after 1720 and has been linked to England’s expanding imports of sugar from the Caribbean. … Continue reading
“Come out, come out, wherever you areAll you bright tea nerds who fell from a star”Many are the parallels between tea and wine culture, but after browsing the T Ching Tasting posts in the Archive, I am thinking that the tea nerds have it over the wine nerds.Both are extremely … Continue reading
Tea,Whisper in my ear.Leaf,Tell me your thoughts. What hidden things stir your veins,on the tree in the still of night?Fragrant watery breeze blowing from nearby streamTeasing you with fingers that never touch. But that is the language of nature:Touching without limbsSeeing without eyesBreathing without movingSinging without a song. Secrets told … Continue reading
On Thursday, September 18th in the prestigious building of the United States Department of Agriculture, in Washington DC, a very unique and diverse group gathered to hear scientific evidence pertaining to the Camellia sinensis plant. I was one of that group and one of the lovers of this plant. Camellia … Continue reading
1. Thou shalt place no tea bags before me.2. Thou shalt not mention tea and coffee in the same sentence.3. Remember your daily tea time and keep it holy.4. Honor the Mother and Father of tea (India and China).5. Thou shalt use filtered or bottled water to make tea.6. Thou … Continue reading
Our (1770) voyage from China to England, including the stay at St. Helena, and notwithstanding the week we lay to in the chops of the Channel in Bad weather, was performed in four months and four days, then the shortest that ever had been made by an Indiaman.–William Hickey, Memoirs … Continue reading