Silver Needle is one of my favorite kinds of teas. It is a white tea produced in the Fujian Province of China. Also known as Baihao Yinzhen, this tea is made only from hand-picked buds. Each leaf is covered in downy white hairs called trichomes. I typically steep it in a glass teapot so that […]
Tai Ping Hou Kui has long been one of my favorite Chinese green teas. The distinctive leaf shape was what initially drew me to it but I also love its sweet, mellow character. It is usually featured on the lists of China’s most famous teas and its history dates as far back as the Qing […]
When we think of Taiwanese tea all of the wonderful oolongs that are produced there come to mind. However, one of my all time favorites will always by Ruby #18. You might also see it referred to as red jade. Many people don’t realize this but black tea was once a primary export for Taiwan, […]
Sencha is a style of green tea that can be found in every tea growing region of Japan, so much so that it actually accounts for 80% of all of the tea grown there. The name literally translates as infused tea. This was to differentiate it from whisked tea, like matcha, which had been more […]
The ability to discern what you’re tasting is a learned ability. Although some individuals may have been born “supertasters” the majority of us have to take the time to improve our taste buds. In China, professional tea tasters are a highly paid profession. They can earn a good amount of commission just by drinking tea every day. And behind all this is their tireless study and hard work. If you think you are talented, I think you can soon be just like them.
Cast iron teapots are an elegant method to make tea. But it is crucial to understand how to make use of them and maintain these pots. Here are some helpful tips and tricks to ensure that you’ll have many years of tea-making together.
