Fifth in a series on the teas of India.
All Darjeeling is processed by the traditional Orthodox method of black tea manufacture, but today’s teas are made in a different style from previous ones.  As Prohibition destroyed the U.S. wine industry, World War II - and Indian independence soon after - unsettled Darjeeling’s traditional ways.  The [...]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I sense there is a perception out there among tea aficionados that anytime you take premium loose leaf tea, crush the leaves a bit, and force them through a pressurized machine, the resulting cup of tea would be less than drinkable.
Through a period of several years, I’ve discovered [...]

Welcome to the club!  We’ve seen hundreds of new online tea shops pop up since we launched our operations in the U.S. in late 2004.  In the past year, our offices received several inquiries each week from someone planning to launch a tea website (or add teas to their existing website) by the end of [...]

We’ve all heard of spring tonics – how about creating one of your own with a tea of your choice?  Anything consumed with a positive mindset can do wonders for the body and soul.  Choose a tea you like and then find some of the wonderful herbal blends to mix with it.  Be on the [...]

There is simply no adequate way to describe the elegance and tea experience at any of the Ritz-Carlton properties.  One of the most luxurious afternoon tea menus is served at the Al Jalsa Restaurant at the Sharq Village & Spa in Doha, Qatar.
Al Jalsa titillates your senses with its exotic teas that are blended exclusively [...]

Fourth in a series on the teas of India.
The main problem with Darjeeling tea is quantity: there will never be enough to satisfy demand.  The region is small and produces much less per acre than Assam, for instance.  It is colder and higher, growth is slow, and the crop devilishly difficult to harvest.  Even in [...]

One of the most difficult feats in any kind of job is having to deal with upsetting personal issues while still maintaining your cool and composure at work. We all have days when we just need to be left alone, but, of course, those are always the times when others choose to test your limits [...]

It was the Lapsang Souchong, I swear.  Or, let’s try:  I confess; it was the Lapsang Souchong.
I was looking for some Lapsang Souchong for my daughter-in-law, Sue, who is not only brilliant and beautiful, she is the mother of the cutest, smartest, and funniest granddaughter the world has ever known.  Back to the Lapsang . [...]

My adventure in the world of specialty tea began when I heard someone off-handedly say “someday there will be a Starbucks of tea.”  Looking for a new business opportunity at the time, I felt as if a spotlight came on and a symphony orchestra began playing.  No one will ever be the Starbucks of tea, [...]

Sometimes, the food you choose to pair with your tea is just as important as the tea itself, as I discovered when I was asked to make some Irish soda bread.  Here’s the story:
One evening, as I was getting into my car, a friend walked by and asked, “Have you had your corned beef and [...]