While Beverly Hills Psychiatrist Dr. Carole Lieberman interviewed me on her radio show on August 17, 2010, she surmised that I must have a warm and happy childhood memory about tea that led me to have the passion and fascination I have for tea today. We were talking about my new book, but, of course, [...]

Today I am out on the edge of a rocky slope that overlooks a huge blue lake below and is covered in silvery
sagebrush, aspen trees whose heart-shaped leaves quake to expose their silver-sunned undersides, and various wildflowers (Arrowleaf Balsamroot, Yarrow, Lupine, and Rocky Mountain Phlox).  I am on a quest to find juniper berries to [...]

As I sip some tea and watch the World Cup, I think I understand why Americans have been so slow to warm up to soccer - or football, as the rest of the world calls it.  Americans generally like things clear cut - black or white, yes or no.  No ambiguity - give us the [...]

Obviously, tea is inspiring and exciting, stimulating (or calming), and very tasty.  However, there are some situations in which a certain type of tea, or just tea in general, may not be the best thing to have.
Scenario 1
It is 104 degrees as you and your companions trudge through Death Valley.  The sun beats down on [...]

In the field of Positive Psychology, the focus, as you can probably imagine, is more on building resilience through developing a positive outlook on, and appreciation for, your life, than on trying to uncover and resolve pathology. Two of the strategies that I use with patients is a gratitude journal and a gratitude letter. The [...]

I’m a country boy.  My father was a farmer, although he also owned a building materials business until he retired.  I lived in the country for 19 years.  In my experience, farmers are hospitable, straight forward, and pleasant to be around.  Every guest is welcomed with tea.  Every family keeps a tea set ready for [...]

The first time I was introduced to mate - as in yerba mate - I couldn’t help but gape at the unique and noteworthy cups that contained this Argentinian and Brazilian brew.  I had never seen such a beverage before and was not adventuresome enough that first time to explore further.
A few friends and I [...]

Tea.  You have to drink it out of something.  I mean, you can’t just lick it off the counter.  Well, I guess you could, but no one in their right mind would ever do that.  And, if you don’t want to put your mouth to the spout on the teapot and drink it from there, [...]

Like most of you, I’ve been following the discussion going on in the specialty tea industry about the political tea party and its impact, if any, on tea’s image.  I had resolved to stay out of it, but the topic (like the tea partiers) just won’t go away.
Most recently, the emergence of a coffee party [...]

In this world, as I see it, both visible and invisible history exists for every physical object.  I’ve been thinking about what holds tea, and how that shapes its taste as well as how we drink it.  There is a history behind each ceramic cup we hold, whether singularly handmade or molded in large quantities.  [...]