Tea 101

Green tea, a beverage revered for its delicate flavor and health properties, varies widely in type and has specific brewing techniques which enhance its taste and maximize its benefits. Types of Green Tea Sencha: This is the most common variety in Japan, known for its balanced flavor and grassy, vegetal notes. Dragon Well (Longjing): A well-known Chinese green tea with a distinctive flat leaf; it offers a mellow, sweet taste. Matcha: This is a powdered form of green tea, bright green in color, and is used in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies. It has a creamy texture and a savory, umami-rich...

Earl Grey tea is a distinctive blend, famous for its bold, citrus-infused flavor. It originates from black tea leaves flavored with oil from the rind of the bergamot orange, a fruit mostly found in the Mediterranean. You’ll recognize Earl Grey by its unique taste: the bergamot oil provides a floral and lemony quality that sets it apart from other black teas. The taste-profile of Earl Grey tea can be broken down as follows: Aroma: A pungent citrus fragrance. Flavor: A balance of rich black tea with bright citrus notes. Body: Generally possesses a medium body, though this can vary with...

Hyssop tea is an herbal drink made from the leaves of the Hyssopus officinalis plant, a member of the mint family. This herb has a long history of use for medicinal and culinary purposes, dating back to ancient times. To make hyssop tea, you steep the dried leaves of the hyssop plant in hot water. The resulting infusion has a minty and slightly bitter taste with floral undertones, and its aroma is similarly herbaceous. Health Benefits: Supports Digestion: Hyssop tea can help in relieving digestive issues such as gas or bloating. Respiratory Relief: It's often used for its expectorant properties,...

Yellow tea is a rare and elegant type of Chinese tea that sits between green and oolong teas in terms of oxidation. It is often prized for its gentle, smooth taste and the unique processing method that gives it its characteristic mellow flavor and yellow hue. Processing Steps: Withering: Freshly plucked leaves are allowed to wither under the sun or in a controlled environment to reduce moisture. Pan Firing: The leaves are lightly pan-fired to halt the oxidation process, a step similar to green tea processing. Sweltering: Leaves are then wrapped in paper or cloth to lightly oxidize in a...