Although it was my third visit to Wuyishan – my previous visits being in 2007 and 2009 – the latest one was particularly educational because of the cross-section of international tea community and local tea expertise present. Among the luminaries were Michael Bunston, Chairman of the International Tea Committee; Louise … Continue reading
The California Tea and Coffee Brewery has been open almost 3.5 years now in Temecula, Southern California – just an hour from everything … the beach, the mountains, the desert, and several good-sized cities. So, after almost a half decade in tea retailing (counting another year at a company I … Continue reading
Edited by Jane Pettigrew My grandfather once told me of a tree that was sacred to Kikuyu culture and tradition – the “Mugumo” fig tree. This tree was where his father and all his ancestors worshipped. Mugumo trees were sacred and were never to be cut down, so some grew … Continue reading
One of my favorite encounters with the spirit of tea came while touring the home and studio of Georgia O’Keeffe in Abiquiu, New Mexico. In her pantry, I spied two Mason jars on the wall. One had been hand labeled by O’Keeffe as Tea. Next to it was a jar … Continue reading
In the face of what on some days seems like a crumbling world, a planet in total chaos, we find ourselves retracting and hiding rather than confronting the fears that seem to be escalating around us. With daily catastrophes playing out in real life and in the media, it is … Continue reading
Tea is a peculiar word. It can refer to the dried leaves of a plant, often shredded, that can be used to make a drink by adding water. It can refer to the drink that is made from such leaves. It can also refer to an afternoon or evening meal, … Continue reading