Archive for March, 2007

the task

Friday, March 30th, 2007 by T Ching


Now stir the fire, and close the shutters fast,
Let fall the curtains, wheel the sofa around,
And while the bubbling and loud-hissing urn
Throws up a steamy column, and the cups
That cheer but not inebriate, wait on each,
So let us welcome peaceful evening in
- William Cowper

organic half-shaded tenbu fuka & tenbu teas: some background

Thursday, March 29th, 2007 by Sandy M. Bushberg


As promised, I am providing more detailed information about the Sencha teas we are about to taste:
These teas are grown in Kagoshima, Japan. The altitude where these Japanese teas are grown is about 350 meters from sea level. With Japan being more northern than other tea producing countries, the height of the mountains where tea [...]

darjeeling – land of the thunderbolt : arrival of spring teas!

Wednesday, March 28th, 2007 by Ankit Lochan


This centre of Heaven
This core of the Earth
This Heart of the World
Fenced Round with snow!!
Arrivals of the first flush in Darjeeling floods the heart and mind with lucid, impressionistic visions. It is bliss perceived through a swirling haze, shades of dramatically deep reds, pinks and purples at dawn and fluctuating reflections of an assertive Himalayan [...]

tuesdays with norwood: John Company 2

Tuesday, March 27th, 2007 by James Norwood Pratt


John Company, as this group came to be called, was granted a monopoly on all trade beyond the shores of the Atlantic, east of the Cape of Good Hope and west of Cape Horn (for all intents everything except western Europe, western Africa, and South America). This organization of wealthy merchants was to play a [...]

pilgrimage to japan

Monday, March 26th, 2007 by Donna Fellman


Twelve days might sound like a long time to spend in just one city after a 12 hour flight. But in 12 days my tea pilgrimage to Kyoto was really no more than taking a deep breath of the fragrance and warmth of a cup of tea. I will have to return [...]