It's All About Tea

Ah, Sencha. Japan's most beloved tea. Found in nearly every household, every vending machine, and in every convenience store in Japan. Chances are you've had it too! As sencha is served in most Japanese restaurants and sushi bars. Often free of charge. 

Was it always this way? Nope. (Read more)

While butter tea usually causes confusion in most not familiar with it, it actually has a rich and interesting history. It has been a staple for people living in the Himalayas for centuries and continues to be so.

 

WHAT IS BUTTER TEA?

Butter tea has many names in different languages but is commonly known as po cha. It originated in the Tibetan Himalayas but is now commonly enjoyed throughout Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, India, western China and Mongolia. To make butter tea, four ingredients are needed: tea leaves, butter, water, and salt.

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Hei Cha is a post-fermented tea, just like Shou Pu-erh. In fact, essentially, Shou Pu-erh is Hei Cha. But it's not that simple. Not everyone can tell the difference between Hei Cha and Pu-erh.

Hei Cha is an ancient tea with a rich tea history. For example, the original processing techniques of Liu Bao Hei Cha served as the basis for modern-day Ripe Pu-erh preparation. (Read more)

Before we go into the details, it's important to note that tea as we know it didn't appear until the 13th century. Before then, tea was brewed in a whole other manner. It was brewed as a medicine. Even the term brewed is a strong word. To say it more correctly, tea leaves were powdered then whisked in a fashion similar to modern-day matcha. Often times this was with the addition of other herbs and spices which had medicinal properties. This was during the Tang Dynasty (618–690, 705–907). China's Top Ten Teas list is a modern-day invention, although it is based on teas that have historically been enjoyed by the country's elite. (Read more)

We all know the basics of quality loose leaf tea standards: Don’t buy tea in tea bags and make sure that the tea leaves are not just dust. However, there are so many standards that go into tea picking and production. While these standards also vary by tea type and variety, there are a few that hold true to most loose leaf teas. (Read more)