Understanding China’s Tea Harvest
In China, the tea plant can be harvested anywhere from once to as many as 6 or 7 times per year. In addition, the first harvest – the first flush in Indian nomenclature – [...]
Anxi Tie Guan Yin Oolong
Etymology: “Tieguanyin” translates to “Iron Guanyin,” Guanyin being the “Goddess of Mercy” Other Names: Iron Goddess of Mercy, Ti Kuan Yin, Ti Kwan Yin Origin: China, Fujian Province, Anxi County Taste: Overwhelmingly floral and [...]
Describing Muscatel
Muscatel is an elusive taste found in some Darjeeling teas, most likely second flush teas. It is very hard to describe the taste in words, but it is easy to recognize the taste once [...]
How to Start an Online Tea Business
I get questions from people that are in the early stages of launching an online tea business several times each week. Many of the questions are the same, surrounding the topics of technology, marketing, [...]
An Homage to Chicago Tea Garden
This is more of a bit of disconnected ramblings that I needed to get out since deciding to close down my company, Chicago Tea Garden. Hopefully you find what I've learned useful. Seven years [...]
Kill-Green in Tea Production
Have you ever wondered why Japanese green teas are so green? And why Chinese green teas are not as bright green, but are typically yellower? The reason lies in the processing steps for each [...]
What is Green Tea?
The definition of green tea in it's simplest and most generalized form is a tea that is made up of leaves that were prevented from oxidizing, shaped and then dried. https://youtu.be/4RU-clL8f9o?si=8MbYq0yZLzWztS0K However, green teas [...]
Wild Orange Pu’er
These tiny oranges, known as clementines in the United States, are typically hollowed out and filled with tea, then aged. I have several that were obtained in Guandong, China, in 2005 and have since [...]
Golden Bi Luo
Yunnan black teas come from China's Yunnan province and can be found in many different forms, this particular tea is comprised of twisted leaves similar to those found in Bi Luo Chun. Golden Bi [...]
What is Tuocha?
Tuocha or "dome-shaped bowl tea" is a compressed tea, usually made of pu-erh. The shape resembles a bird's nest and tuocha range in weight from 3g to 3kg or more. Tuocha are convex in [...]
What is Yerba Mate?
Yerba mate is a tree. Not a tall one, but a moderately tall tree. In the farms they are not that big because they are pruned to make it easier to harvest, a similar [...]
Nuo Mi Xiang “Sticky Rice” Pu-erh
There exists an herb in China's Yunnan Province who's aroma closely resembles that of sticky glutinous rice. "Nuo Mi Xiang Nen Ye" translates to "Sweet Rice Tender Leaves." This tea in maocha form, is [...]
The Importance of Doing Research for Your Customers
So many times I meet people that have been told erroneous information about tea. I have met countless people searching for certain teas that will cure certain disorders, from sleep apnea to arthritis. I [...]
Theanine: a 4000 Year Old Mind-Hack
Monks have been drinking tea for thousands of years to maintain a state of "mindful alertness" during long periods of meditation. But only in the last few years have studies shed light on why [...]
Hacker Monthly Magazine: Guide to Tea
Just wanted to share with everyone a beautiful PDF of my previous "Hacker's Guide to Tea" that will appear in the January 2011 issue of Hacker Monthly. Hacker Monthly is a collection of the [...]
Pu-erh Flower Beencha
I'm not even sure what to call this. This is a beencha of pressed camellia sinensis flowers! Opening the wrapper I was greeted by an amazingly fresh, flowery fragrance. When steeped, the flowers basically [...]
Tea from Brazil
I recently received a sample of shincha green tea from Stash Tea from Brazil. This is my first contact with Brazilian tea. Stash's website says: "The Yamamotoyama Brazilian tea gardens are in two highland [...]
Lead Testing a Cheap Yixing Pot
It is believed that some tea-ware coming from China may contain lead. Especially pots supposedly made of Zisha clay from Yixing, China. A few years back there was a thread in TeaChat about this, [...]
Pu-erh Tea and Tobacco: A trip to Iwan Ries
Much has been written on tobacco notes in young pu-erh teas. Because of this, some local Chicago tea friends and I decided to take this idea for a spin and spend a day at [...]
Why is There Oil in My Tea?
Sometimes when steeping a tea - you may notice a small oil slick floating on the surface of the tea liquor. This is likely to occur when steeping teas that have been pan-fired. The [...]