This past week I tasted five Darjeeling oolong teas from five different producers. Three of these teas are the main subjects of our online tasting activity at hand. Suffice to say that I am impressed by the unique taste and individuality of each tea, considering that all of them sprang from the same region.
Thank you [...]

We are neither of the West nor of the East. We belong to that number of nations which does not seem to make up an integral part of the human race, but which exists only to teach the world some great lesson.
-Piotr Chaadaev, early nineteenth century Russian philosopher
About the time that first tea order from [...]

What about all these other ”˜teas?' Confusion about what is a true tea comes from the indiscriminate use of the word ”˜tea.' It seems that any beverage made from hot water and a plant ends up with the appellation ”˜tea.' People say they like mint tea, rooibos tea, yerba mate tea, and [...]

mindful and focused
all your five senses aroused
graceful as a cat

New day dawns misty
Tea leaves await their harvest
Fuji-san watches
This haiku captures the essence of a morning last May in the midst of the Shincha harvest. We awoke at dawn to catch a glimpse of Mt. Fuji from the middle of a small tea field next to the hostel.