tea stories
There is no shortage of stories about the history of tea. Some are more factual accounts about a commercial crop that changed the course of trade around the globe and the staggering economic shifts that took place because of tea. Other stories are more in the tradition of folklore, oral and written histories passed down through the ages and accepted as the cultural legacy of the earliest tea growers, producers and drinkers.
Whether you find them to be informative or enjoyable historical accounts, we hope that some of these tea stories enhance your appreciation of tea over the centuries and bring into focus your place in the newest chapter of this enchanting history.
The distinctly different histories of black and green teas -
In the lands where tea began, black tea was almost unheard of and rarely drank. In Europe and countries further west, green tea was rarely considered a true tea. Read more... [coming soon]
Tea, like wine and coffee, is a drink whose main ingredient is dramatically effected by the local climate, soil and harvesting techniques. Certain "origin" teas grow best at one location and nowhere else -
Maybe it all started with the insistance that the only true "champagne" could be grown and produced in a particular region of France. It may have been taken to new levels when certain famous coffee producing locations known for their exceptional quality such as Kona, or Blue Mountain somehow appeared in volumes on retailers shelves that far exceeded the amount of coffee grown at these plantations. Now it is tea which faces these same questions of regionally specialized teas and their provenance. Read more... [coming soon]
New teas, new countries, new stories -
Tea first brings to mind the traditional sources of teas which we have known for centuries - China, Taiwan, India and Japan. There are geographic considerations that make these countries the natural first homes of the world's tea production. The tea plant and the skills of cultivation have spread to other countries who are increasingly matching the quality of the earliest tea producing regions as well as developing their own specializations. Kenya, Vietnam and Thailand are bringing mature teas to the marketplace - a boon for tea drinkers everywhere. Read more... [coming soon]