Yes, I am still searching for the perfect Yixing Teapot. However, after my last post, I feel much more equipped to make an informed purchase. This is due the email I received from the proprietor of YaYa House of Excellent Teas in New Zealand as well as additional research. Jo shared some advice from her vast wealth of tea knowledge. Many of my concerns about purchasing Yixing teaware were put to rest after several email exchanges. First and foremost, I narrowed my concerns down to following... Read Full Story

Kraft Foods, Inc., a global leader in branded foods and beverages announced that its next generation TASSISMO hot beverage system by Bosch was featured at the House Beautiful “Kitchen of the Year” Exhibit, July 15 - 17 in New York. So what is TASSIMO?  Not just another hot beverage maker, TASSIMO is a new way to perfectly prepare a variety of delicious hot drinks. The Secret is in the T DISC. Every T DISC contains a unique barcode that instantly tells the TASSIMO machine precisely how to... Read Full Story

I woke up Sunday morning with an overwhelming desire to have a nice, hot, robust cup of tea. My taste-buds sought something pure, no added flavors just tea. When rummaging through the tea stash, I came across my puerhs. Purchased three months ago, I have not enjoyed a cup since sometime in May. I could not remember the taste of the 2005 MengHai “Meng Song Gu Cha Shan Peacock” tea. Yet I knew I was in for any adventure! Composition: According to Hou De Fine Asian Art’s website, this tea is... Read Full Story

I had the opportunity to try another new tea today. I’ve been experiencing new tea withdrawal this week - simply relying on the comfort and familiarity of previously enjoyed teas. The last couple of weeks have been full of rooibos, oolongs, and black teas - I have yet to deviate. This morning I am drinking NYC Breakfast. I borrowed a picture from Tavalon Teas website. Composition: A hearty blend of the world’s best black teas from India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia created for the New Yorker... Read Full Story

You may remember a previous tea review from me detailing my experience with Dragonwater’s Honeybush Vanilla. Upon brewing and tasting, not only did I fall in love with this tea, my husband (the non hot tea drinker) also really enjoyed it. So I thought, perhaps I should make a big pitcher of Iced Honeybush Vanilla Tea. On Sunday, after preparing a big dinner, I set out to make a batch. Let me tell you… the family loved it! Iced Honeybush Vanilla is absolutely delicious. It is officially our... Read Full Story

Last week was full of tea adventures. More than I have had time to write about. I often wonder where does the time go?  Before I fall into philosophical rhetoric, I’ll get on to the meat of this post. The focus… recounting what new teas we were drinking last week. It’s Monday night - at least it is in my time zone so I better finish writing this post before Tuesday arrives… 1. Summer of Felicitea - “This week I drank a lot of Earl Grey. I’m making a custom blend for Brandice of SteapTV and... Read Full Story

As the name suggests After Dark is the perfect drink when you want a warm, soothing cup of tea during the early to late evening hours. A purely herbal tea, evidenced in the picture I utilized from the Tavalon Tea website, that contains no caffeine and promises to not to keep you awake through the wee hours of the night. Last night, with these things in mind, I brewed and tasted After Dark… Composition: A blend of Chamomile, Blood Orange, Cranberry, Apple, Cherry and Hibiscus flowers. Dry... Read Full Story

I think I am becoming tea logged! I have been trying albeit unsuccessfully to study this weekend (yawn) and in the midst of my studying I have been drinking tea nonstop! A lover of chai, I decided to brew a cup of Black Vanilla Chai given to me (actual gift - not a swap) by one of my friends at work. Of course it was Kim!  Needless to say for my third cup of tea today, I enjoyed the Black Vanilla Chai. Composition: Indian black tea, ginger root, cinnamon chips, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger... Read Full Story

It wasn’t until recently that I enjoyed my first cup of Oolong Tea. I often chuckle when I reminisce about my complete lack of knowledge of the world of tea. The more I learn, I realize how much I do not know. So many varieties… brewing techniques… terminology… distinguishing characteristics… it is mind boggling. Admittedly, it’s always difficult to decide what new tea to order. I am sure you can imagine the internal debate I experienced when vacillating between whether or not to order... Read Full Story

During the past few months, I have had the pleasure of meeting Jessica of Authori+ea. Jessica and I as well as others have a grand time swapping tea with one another. So we thought… instead of only swapping amongst ourselves, lets extend the offer to all our friends in the tea community. We may live in different parts of the country, even different parts of the world, but our common bond is tea. Black tea, white tea, flavored tea, herbal tea, simply anything and everything about tea. So... Read Full Story