Same tea plants, same tea name, different teas! I previously compared two Tieguanyin oolongs—Modern Green Roast Grade II and Traditional Green Roast—from Life in Teacup, a company specializing in Chinese teas (see post). They kindly provided me with five Tieguanyin teas in all, so today I continued my exploration of Tieguanyin (or Tie Guan Yin; … Continue reading Comparing Tieguanyin Roasted Oolong Teas
Although trying a new tea is always fun, sometimes you discover more when you compare a couple of teas. Today I tried two oolongs kindly provided by Life in Teacup, a company specializing in Chinese teas. Both are Anxi Tieguanyin (or Tie Guan Yin) oolongs, one Modern Green Roast Grade II and the other Traditional … Continue reading Comparing Tieguanyin Green Oolong Teas
The pandemic has passed its one-year anniversary as many of us still hunker down, venturing into public places only when necessary. Unprecedented numbers of us are working from home, and in lieu of gathering round the office coffeepot, are making our own beverages. And discovering that we want the indulgence of high quality and taste. … Continue reading January 2021 Update: Coronavirus Impact on the Tea Industry
There's nothing in the world like a newborn. Each baby attests to the astounding miracle of life! And reminds us how this most vulnerable of beings is yet tenacious—and infinitely precious. Which means that when I read about left-behind children awhile ago, I found the account both incredibly sad and beautifully encouraging. Left-behind children—children left with … Continue reading Learning Tea Ceremony Impacts Lives, Including Children’s
As the pandemic grinds on, many of us are seeing sometimes unexpected consequences. Odd items are out of stock at the grocery stores. Local contractors can't find lumber. Some European businesses now ship to pretty much anywhere except the Americas. Tea, being an agricultural product, continues to be impacted by weather conditions as well as everything … Continue reading September Update: Coronavirus Impact on the Tea Industry
I recently purchased some Ya Shi Xiang oolong from Zerama Tea, figuring I should try some Dan Cong as I haven't had any. I really love the oolongs that I typically drink and haven't strayed much past them, but it was time to sample something new. Even a characteristically dry scientific article noted that Phoenix … Continue reading Finding the Best Teapot for the Tea: Ya Shi Xiang Oolong
Do you have a favorite cup, and if so, what makes it your favorite? My dad has a favorite coffee cup based on its shape and how the lip curves in just the right way. My husband's favorite is simply the one that holds the most liquid! Back in the 700s, during China's Tang Dynasty … Continue reading Do You Need a Green Teacup for Green Tea?
While pretty much everyone knows that there's black and green tea, and many know about white and oolong, far fewer are familiar with yellow tea. And that's rather a shame because yellow tea is a tea worth having. Yet yellow teas are not commonly seen. Few gardens produce them, production is costly, and quantities are … Continue reading What Is Yellow Tea?
Continuing my informal guide to selecting tea—having gone through the caffeine/no-caffeine decision and having looked at low- and no-caffeine options (see New to Tea? Start Here)—we're now looking at the types of tea that come from one plant, Camellia sinensis. And asking whether you want white, green oolong, black, or fermented? And do you want … Continue reading New to Tea? Start Here (Part 2: White and Green Tea)
As we navigate new social norms, hoping to prevent infection spikes, and as economies look to recover, it's time to revisit the tea industry. There's both good and bad news, although for India, there's far more bad than good news, even now. Japan In Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, although the tea festival that kicks off the … Continue reading May Update: Coronavirus Impact on the Tea Industry
It's More Than Tea 