Buying gifts for the holidays can sometimes be a challenge.  What does that certain special someone want?  If they’re hard to shop for, tea just might be your answer.  Most people are thankful if you give them tea.
Thanksgiving has come and gone, and it’s time to get serious about what you are going to give [...]

The memory of just how Toni – as I have always called her – and I reconnected eludes me.  It was several years ago now when we started to exchange the infrequent email and hope that we would reunite “one of these days.”  As second cousins – we shared great-grandparents who helped settle Montana - [...]

As the Editor In Chief at T Ching, I’ve been feeling like I want to post something special for this holiday.  My niece sent me this email written by 90 year old Regina Brett that I must say is quite appropriate. You might be familiar with some of the sentiments, but it’s well worth repeating. [...]

Oh, yes, it is that time again – the holidays are upon us and, as always, we are looking for something different to prepare and serve – something festive, creative, tasty and easy?  Now that I have your attention, you probably know I am going to suggest TEA.  I will certainly not disappoint you, of [...]

Surely as a tea drinker you’ve experienced the following: You’re finishing a fabulous meal and feel nearly sated.  Food: beautifully prepared and presented, creative, and delicious.  Service: knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive.  Atmosphere: well-designed, tasteful, and comfortable.  A perfect finish to a perfect meal would be a perfectly prepared pot of fresh, soothing tea to complement [...]

After five years of searching, I have seen The Starbucks of Tea.
I formally joined the tea industry in 2004.  Since that time, I have attended dozens of trade shows, participated in trainings and tastings, had tea with numerous entrepreneurs and executives, and visited well over 100 tea shops from New York to San Diego.  I’ve [...]

Aristocratic homes served Low tea in the afternoon with gourmet tidbits like cucumber sandwiches rather than solid nutrition.  The emphasis in Low tea was on the presentation and socializing.  High tea (sometimes called “meat tea”) became a bourgeois custom, serving as the evening meal and consisting mostly of leftovers from a huge lunch that were [...]

Just north of Chicago lies the prosperous suburb of Lake Forest.  This quiet place is the surprising home of a boutique Japanese tea house with French flair - the Green Teaist.
Anyone with a penchant for o cha would not be disappointed - not a single corner has been cut by the enterprising owner, Mr. Hoken [...]

The stinging disappointment of poor tea service used to wash over me time and time again in the 90’s.  I particularly remember a time many years ago when a friend and I were dining at a swanky steak house in Edmonton.
I had suggested we cap off the exceptional meal with a nice pot of tea [...]

Pairing tea with gastronomic breads was a rather frivolous assignment, but here are the results of my past week’s happy research, on location in Europe!
Some general findings: As with the breads last month, texture played a role in the success of these tea pairings.  With sweeter rolls and dessert breads, the butter/shortening type and content [...]