It's All About Tea — western tea

Ever since I became serious about tea, I noticed that when I visit friends, they hesitate to offer me a cup. They think I'll be quietly (or not so quietly) snubbing their tea choices. The truth is – I won't. Not every cup of tea has to have an amazing, mind-opening taste, and not every tea intake has to be a "tea ceremony" with a Yixing teapot. Sometimes, tea is just a way to warm your hands on a cold walk or to keep the conversation going around a busy table.

There are many ways to drink tea, and each makes sense in its own time and place. That might sound obvious, but in tea circles, especially in those built around Gong Fu Cha, it's easy to feel like there is a "right" and a wrong way to have tea. We, the tea buffs, tend to develop strong opinions about how tea should be brewed and appreciated, and it can make everything else feel lesser. 

But tea is what you make out of it. Sometimes, it's a means to an end, not an end in itself, and every means serves its purpose. And what works on a quiet Sunday morning won't always fit into a rushed weekday commute or a loud dinner with friends.

This article is about recognizing the full spectrum of how tea fits into our lives. From a paper cup of bagged black tea to a mindful Gong Fu session – each approach has its place. Let's look at a few common ways of enjoying tea and the kinds of moments they match best. (Read more)

In an earlier blog post, we witnessed the beauty of tea rituals outside of China. Today, we continue to explore the path of cha in near and distant lands. In today’s post, we’ll set on a journey to the vast Russian planes.

Russia’s connection to Chinese tea is ingrained into the local culture in a way so profound few other countries can compare to it. As its territory changed through the ages, so did the cultural landscape, influenced by the lands and people the empire included during its different periods. Chinese tea was ubiquitous to the point of being considered a national drink in pre-Soviet Russia. Its history started with the establishment of the Silk Road and has been ongoing ever since. (Read more)

Last time we traveled to the cradles of tea culture – China and Japan. We learned about the local tea experience and how it changed with time.

Today, our path takes us to more near and distant places to explore their relationship with tea. We’ll witness the vital role tea plays in the social culture and customs of the local people in Portugal, the Netherlands and Morocco. (Read more)

Are you thinking of getting into the world of tea but don't know where to start!?

Don’t worry, that’s why we’re here!

Let’s say you have a tea you want to try. The next step: brewing!

Brewing is much easier than you think. If you’re new to tea, the important thing is not to overthink it.

We've made some short, straight-to-the-point videos on how to brew teas both Western style and Chinese style. (Read more)

We have already discussed Chinese tea tradition and Japanese tea tradition, but how about the rest of the world?

Granted, most tea we find in other countries all over the world once did come from China through the Silk Road, and then slowly developed to have their own tradition and drinking practices in other countries. (Read more)