I recently subscribed to Ode Magazine, a magazine “for intelligent optimists”.  The issue I received, the Laughter Issue, dissected laughter and its multitude of personalities.  I found myself reading intently,
intellectually soaking up each page and hoping that at any moment I would burst into happy tears, ecstatic that I had found the antidote to my [...]

Inspired by the bounty of fresh, beautiful herbs available at our summer Farmer’s Markets, this is the first of a two-part series on tea and herb pairings.  Next month I’ll present some tea rubs developed by our own Tea Spot Chef, Karen Harbour.  This post begins with the basics and explores pairing teas with fresh [...]

A few months ago you may have watched an Internet video in which a cat meowing the word “Hello” was featured.  The kawaiiness (cuteness in Japanese) of that “Hello Kitty” did not compare to that of the original Hello Kitty.
Hello Kitty Sweets in Taipei, Taiwan is said to be the only official Sanrio Hello Kitty [...]

Breakfast teas are not the only ones designed for a certain hour of the day.  Indar, a French brand, describes itself intriguingly as Boudoir Tea - for whenever the opportunity arises, no doubt.  British firms like Jacksons sell Afternoon and Evening teas but the apogee of this practice was attained by the now-defunct London firm [...]

Greg Mortenson was not a tea drinker in 1993 when he awoke to his passion and purpose on earth - building schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan to educate young girls on the same terrain where the Taliban was trained.
Three Cups of Tea is the title he chose for his New York Times best-selling book.  The [...]

Although I’m not on the trade show management team, everybody at World Tea – news staff included – has been fielding lots of inquiries about World Tea East Conference & Pavilion since it was announced last month.
I thought I’d use my July post as an opportunity to answer some of the questions I’ve fielded most [...]

I’ve been in the tea business for five years now as an importer, wholesaler, and retailer with both physical and online outlets.  During this period, the number of physical stores has doubled, the number of online retailers has at least tripled, and the quality of tea available in grocery stores and cafés has improved dramatically.
Even [...]

Summer’s here and nothing quenches like a properly prepared glass of iced tea.  Taking a cue from progressive-minded bartenders at top restaurants, who are concocting artisanal cocktails featuring fresh juices, herbs, syrups, unique alcohols, and intricate garnishes, tea lovers can follow suit and be creative with cold tea-based beverage making.  Here’s a rundown of what [...]

Part 2 of a two-part series.
To me the abiding mystery about Earl Grey tea is - why on earth is it so popular?  It seems like a nice enough tea, one which has its place and gives its pleasure too, but just what makes it an international best-seller?  Is it because Earl Grey was the [...]

I recently traveled to the Bay area to visit family, and visited a few teahouses that I’ve long wanted to experience.  If you’re looking for a great place to experience and learn about some rare, exceptional Chinese teas, I highly recommend Imperial Tea Court and Teance in Berkeley.
After a long flight and not having had [...]