Tea

As you expand your tea palate, one of the most useful things you can do is to record your impressions when you taste a tea. For one,

Awhile back I posted some info about a very Asian style of teapot: the Kyusu. I have also written about a distinctive style of clay teapot from the Yixing area of China. But others abound. They speak of hundreds, and possibly thousands, of years of craftsmanship building up and being preserved as an object of delight to tea drinkers today.Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.Thai tea set as seen on Facebook© 2013 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Awhile back I posted some info about a very Asian style of teapot: the Kyusu. I have also written about a distinctive style of clay teapot from the Yixing area of China. But others abound. They speak of hundreds, and possibly thousands, of years of craftsmanship building up and being preserved as an object of […]

The World Tea Expo has come and gone, but I am still reveling in my memories of all of the wonderful people I met and the tea I slurped.  I had a Japanese puerh for the first time, met with fellow bloggers who I have “known” for years and finally met in person, and was able to sit in on what I consider to be an epic and groundbreaking gathering – the first meeting of The United States League of Tea Growers.  Fifty-eight people were in attendance, ranging from growers to retailers to consultants.  Led by Nigel Melican (Teacraft) and Jason MacDonald (FiLoLi Farms), the gathering was to gauge interest in U.S.-grown tea and begin the conversation that will organize the growers.   Here’s a little background on the U.S. tea-growing scene: Tea is currently grown in the following states: California, Hawaii, Alabama, Mississippi, Washington, Michigan, Oregon, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina There are 30+ tea gardens in Hawaii alone Tea was first grown commercially in the U.S. in 1890 in South Carolina There are more and more small tea farms growing in non-traditional regions.  The United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia are a few that have recently entered the niche tea market.  A trend to localism (buying from local farmers), a booming tea market here in the U.S., and a distrust of foreign markets have created the “perfect storm” for U.S. farmers.  Projected tea sales in the U.S. alone are expected to reach $15 billion by 2014 and our tea growers have the opportunity to make a splash with high-end teas, diverse tea offerings (geography alone being a major player), and exclusivity due to smaller batches being created.  All in all, tea growers have an excellent chance to be competitive with world markets in the category of artisan teas.   The meeting felt pretty epic to this tea nerd!  The excitement of being a fly on the wall for that first meeting still has not worn off.  It will be interesting to re-examine how the US tea-growing industry will have morphed and changed over the next 5-10 years.  I will be examining ways I, as a retailer, can support the industry and I encourage tea drinkers to do the same!  The post U.S.-grown tea appeared first on T Ching.

If you are anything like me, there are always teas that you would like to try, or have sampled once or twice and have always meant to go back to. Here are five such teas that I would like to explore some more: 1 Yellow Tea – This is a more unusual type of tea, and […]

Tea plantation images from around the world, including Japan, India, Africa, Australia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and more.

Here's one of the more offbeat tea commercials loosed on the public. For more on the (dubious?) connection between tea and boobs see this brief post I wrote a few years ago. Tea Guy Speaks Amazon Store

It’s easy to see tea as a simple commodity; a utilitarian item you keep on hand for occasional enjoyment and/or health benefits. It’s so easy to forget what went into giving you the perfect cup of tea that you may … Continue reading →

For our Bigelow Tea employees, no task is too great or small. Yet their rewards for volunteering in our community are absolutely plentiful!  As part of our company’s commitment to community service, workers at our Fairfield, CT plant recently gave their time to help out at another “plant” in town: a special playground. This “tea” team eagerly got their hands dirty at The Sandcastle Playground by pulling weeds and planting new flowers in the playground’s planting beds. Our handy workers started off their day by focusing on the space near the playground’s sign. First they removed dead bushes and weeds, and then they planted colored lilies. Over the years, Bigelow Tea has partnered with the Town of Fairfield and local parents to help in maintaining The Sandcastle, a community playground built in the mid-nineties. Being a stone’s throw from Fairfield’s beach area, The Sandcastle has many fun options for kids: slides, swings, a sandbox, a trapeze ladder, and even a mini-amphitheater. Being proud to help on our Community Service Day, our Bigelow Team looks forward to going back to The Sandcastle Playground again. We want to thank our team members Mike Marenna, Manny Leon, Jenny Vongxay, Tomas Rivera, Jose Santiago, Rob D’Agostino and Rich Queen who made this space brighter for the countless children who use it. Good job!

Chai Information: Leaf Type:  Pu-erh Where to Buy:  Rishi Tea Tea Description: Creamy, rich textured and inviting, this pu-erh based chai is unlike any other. Its delicate balance of silky and luscious vanilla bean, bright and soothing peppermint and sweet cinnamon transform this chai into something magical. Learn more about this chai here. Taster’s Review: Wow!  I really like this, although I don’t know that I’d agree with calling it a “chai.”  Yeah, yeah, I know that chai means tea and so therefore all tea is technically chai … but I’ve come to recognize the word “chai” as meaning a masala (or combination) of spices.  And since this Vanilla Mint Chai from Rishi Tea only has cinnamon, licorice root and vanilla that truly qualify as “spices” (I’d categorize peppermint as an herb, wouldn’t you?), I don’t think that’s enough “spices” to call this a chai. Regardless, it is tasty! The Pu-erh base offers an earthy background, although with the strong peppermint notes and the creamy tone of vanilla, the earthy notes do not overwhelm.  It truly is a “background” note in this blend.  And since I tend to shy away from the overly earthy teas, the fact that the earthiness here is subtle is quite alright with me. The combination of peppermint and vanilla offer a taste that’s quite like the creamy center of a peppermint patty candy bar.  YUM!  The licorice root is subtle but adds a nice snappy contrast to the peppermint, and the cinnamon gives a hint of spice to the overall cup.  All these notes are subtle compared to the vanilla and mint … these two dynamic flavors are the stars of the show here. Even so, the mint isn’t TOO minty, it doesn’t taste toothpaste-y, it just has a crisp, cool taste that contrasts with the silky, creamy notes of the vanilla.  The flavors of the spices and herb soften the earthy tones of the Pu-erh … providing a very smooth, satisfying cup for even those of us who tend to suffer from Pu-erh anxiety.  In fact, there isn’t one flavor here that really overpowers the others … this is really a nicely balanced cup and a very interesting combination of flavors! The post Vanilla Mint Chai from Rishi Tea appeared first on SororiTea Sisters.