I just know there’s a special place in Hell for what I have been thinking about my next-door neighbor and his garden. If only I were religious and could confess or repent or whatever the Hell it would take to absolve me of the Sin of Un-neighborly Thoughts. As it is, I fear I am [...]
I just returned from a week-long trip to Northern California where I drove up and down Sonoma County in search of great restaurants, cafes, and hotels with which to share our newly redesigned tea service program. On my journey, I found some impressive gems that made me want to pack up and move north for [...]
Last month’s post described the fascinating discovery of fresh herb-and-spice pairings with various teas. At the request of T Ching readers, this month, I am sharing some of the less-than-heavenly tea-herb combinations that came out of this experiment!
Cherries (OK, so it’s not an herb…but a good blooper!) - Inspired by the many cherry-flavored Japanese teas, I [...]
While reading about roses, I kept coming across “teas” and wondered how roses and teas were related.
What are tea roses? Not surprisingly, they are so named because the fragrances of some varieties resemble that of Chinese black tea. Rose historian and author Brent Dickerson elaborates further by comparing the scent to “a newly-opened sample of [...]
Water that is just coming to a boil (212 degree Fahrenheit), or just off the boil, is ideal for black tea or most oolongs, though greener oolongs prefer lower temperatures. Boiling water is much too hot for white and green teas, however. Most green teas seem to taste best when steeped in water 30 to [...]
What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon for the tea devotee than to drink in the objects d’tea at the new exhibit that opened August 16 at UCLA’s Fowler Museum, Steeped in History: The Art of Tea, guest curated by Beatrice Hohenegger? Definitely the next best thing to sipping tea, the exhibit offers an [...]
If they’re not careful, trade journalists like me can begin to operate in a bubble. From their desks, they research and write about what’s happening on the business-to-business side of their industry, losing touch with the business-to-consumer side. Good reporters will prevent this by getting out often and talking face-to-face with individuals from every phase [...]
This month I was asked to write a bit about our experience in the world of social media/networking. I’m at a little bit of a loss, as it’s all still Greek to me. However, what I do know is that it’s free, it most likely can’t hurt, and it has, in fact, helped in some [...]
Move over watercress and cucumber. Tea sandwiches are in need of reinvention. While the dainty and tried and true might satisfy some, I hanker for gutsier, more filling accompaniments to my tea. In my view, bolder teas such as Assam (Malty Halmari is a favorite here), Yunnan, or Keemun cry out for a rustic and [...]
What are we all looking for? What is it that aches and yearns within us? How do we quiet the mind enough to soothe what seems to be a wild beast attempting to break free? Is it years of meditation on a remote mountain top – eating wild berries and drinking from springs that bubble [...]
