It's All About Tea

Jian Zhan pottery is the perfection of Chinese black porcelain. It was an inseparable part of tea culture in the Song Dynasty, however it slowly gave way to Yixing teaware. It continued to prosper in Japan, where it is known as Tenmoku. Nowadays, it is a national treasure in Japan and many local pottery artists in China are hard at work to remake this once forgotten part of the Chinese tea ceremony. Jian ware is not only teaware, it is an art form and an important part of history. One we can get lost in for hours just by looking at its cosmic-like glaze. (Read more)

Addiction is one of the most destructive human ailments there is. It can sabotage relationships, jobs, and, most importantly, personal health and well-being. Addiction can be found in alcohol, drugs, gambling, harmful foods, or anything else that we practice excessively, which does not benefit us at large. 

Thankfully nowadays, we have plentiful research and natural remedies that we can apply to ourselves to combat our addictions. (Read more)

For many of us, the world is going through a turbulent time. It is easy to get overwhelmed with stress, anxiety, and uncertainties. Lately, I found myself in this situation. At times it can seem as though I am no longer in control of my own life.  

While many of us are going through quarantine and social distancing, some professions continue to go to work. Whatever the situation, it is not an easy time. 

Being based in big and bustling New York, it is hard not to feel the effects of the quarantine first-hand. When I become overwhelmed, it can even be hard to remember about the remedies I have at my side.

So I decided to turn the situation around — I picked up a packet of my favorite tea. (Read more)

Tea brews can have so many beautiful color schemes: oak brown, amber orange, jade green, honey yellow… and the list goes on. 

As we’ve already learned, the color of the tea doesn’t always correspond with the tea category. In the west, we are mostly used to ordering a black tea and receiving a dark brown, almost black tea brew. When it comes to Chinese black teas (red teas), the color of the brew can vary from a darkish umber brown to a light golden liquid. 

So what are some of the things that influence the resulting color of the tea brew? (Read more)

A Russian Caravan tea blend is described as the ideal melange of woody, smoky aroma and velvety sweet taste. It originated over years of loose leaf teas being transported over the harsh wintery Russian steppes. Finally, the tea would arrive to Russia’s elite, fully smoked out from the numerous campfires lit along the way. Today we can enjoy a perfect blend of loose-leaf Chinese teas creating the taste that was once so craved, centuries ago. (Read more)