Archive for July, 2009

Laughter in the world of tea

Friday, July 31st, 2009 by Hayward Naja


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 [...]

Savoring tea-herb pairings made in heaven

Thursday, July 30th, 2009 by Uspenski Maria


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 [...]

Hello Kitty Sweets: A Kawaii teahouse

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009 by Hsieh Ifang


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 [...]

O’Clock, Proprietary and Royal Teas

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009 by Pratt James Norwood


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 [...]

Three cups of tea

Monday, July 27th, 2009 by Fahl Dharlene Marie


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 [...]

Wondering what World Tea East is, exactly? Read on…

Friday, July 24th, 2009 by Kyser Heidi


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 [...]

Where do you get YOUR tea?

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009 by Cain Charles


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 [...]

Chill out with tea

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009 by Wemischner Robert


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 [...]

More on Earl Grey and other famous names

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009 by Pratt James Norwood


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 [...]

Artisanal tea in Berkeley

Monday, July 20th, 2009 by Monson Tracy


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 [...]