I generally roll my eyes at the endless made-up "holidays" that bombard us constantly. Must we really be prodded to celebrate trivial things every single day? On the other hand, proponents—including several within my own family—embrace these opportunities to pay attention. To appreciate small things, whether frivolous or those with deeper meanings. So, today is … Continue reading Reasons to Celebrate “Tea for Two Tuesday”
Coffee is ridiculously easy in my house. Espresso/french press, dark/light roast, demitasse/mug? Done. But tea?? The choices are staggering! Black, green, white, oolong, or pu-erh—with endless selections within each category. I consider my mood, whether I want to have the tea with food or by itself, if I have the time to savor an especially … Continue reading Collecting Tea and Teapots Is Good for You!
March 8—International Women's Day—calls for an appropriate tea. Therefore, Iron Goddess of Mercy it is. But who is the goddess of mercy and why does the tea bear her name? The Deity Worship of Kannon, or the Lord of Mercy, originated in India sometime in the first or second century and then spread to other … Continue reading Iron Goddess of Mercy Tea Is Ideal for International Women’s Day
That costs how much?! For most of us, the price tag influences many of our buying decisions. Beyond just affordability, we know just how much we're willing to spend for any given object, food, or experience. Sometimes we're swayed subconsciously. For example, if the price seems too low, we may deem the item of poor … Continue reading Does the Price of Tea Predict Its Quality?
Out of curiosity, my daughter and I picked up a bag of kankaliba tea leaves awhile back. We had never heard of this herbal tea so we had to look into it! The Plant Although the package specifies "kankaliba," the plant is also commonly spelled "kinkaliba" or "kinkeliba," and is seh-haw in the Wolof language. … Continue reading Kankaliba Herbal Tea from Western Africa
Have you ever been handed something that at first glance you disliked, but then grew to sorta like—or at least appreciate? When I first saw this vintage Japanese moriage set (sold as a tea set but actually a coffee set) at my daughter's house, I thought it sloppily painted and unappealing. Which of course intrigued … Continue reading Vintage Japanese Porcelain: Moriage, Lithophane, and a Goddess
Literally. Monkey-picked tea IS the stuff of legends. And fanciful children's books like Cloud Tea Monkeys, written by Mal Peet and Elspeth Graham and richly illustrated by Juan Wijngaard. (The conceit definitely makes a winsome illustration!) So, several questions come to mind. Just what teas are purported to be harvested by monkeys, why would monkeys … Continue reading Monkey-picked Tea Is the Stuff of Legends
This intriguing tea has been sitting around our office for a really long time. It may have even improved with age, but who would want to disassemble such an expertly wrapped pressed tea?! The plastic bag that housed it was labeled Phongsali Lao tea, which got me started. Phongsali Prefecture lies in northern Laos—and contains … Continue reading Phongsali Lao Tea Cigar
Anything that contains dragon fruit evokes places far from Michigan. A distant shore, where warm salty waves lap white sand, overseen by graceful palm trees. Somewhere neither gray nor dreary. Pomegranate dragon fruit is a tea that can transport. With its sweet and fruity aroma, I can envision the sun's warmth. The Tea This green … Continue reading A Tea That Whispers of Warm Climes: Pomegranate Dragon Fruit
According to my calendar, January 12 is not only National Hot Tea Day, but Work Harder Day as well! What the? Does anyone really need a work harder day—another reminder that whatever you've accomplished is not enough, an added weight to your guilt-ridden conscience that if you can just whip up a quick supper for … Continue reading Work Harder on National Hot Tea Day?
It's More Than Tea 