Tea Talk

After last week’s article on cold brewing black, oolong, and Puerh teas, I fielded many questions about whether and how to cold brew herbal teas. At this point, I’d like to clarify — so that we’re all on the same page — that herbal tea is any tea or tisane beverage that does not come from the tea plant Camellia Sinensis. So now, onto my thoughts on cold brewing herbal teas. There are two views on this: yes, you can and no, you shouldn’t. I’m not trying to be funny, but if you smiled and thought, “Yep, that cleared it...

I’m always sampling new teas. Some of the black teas, oolongs, and puerhs have been recommended to brew cold in addition to the traditional hot brew method, so I thought I’d give it a try. If I’ve made you scratch your head and say, “What’s a cold brew, and how is it different than a hot brew?” here’s a quick tutorial. Cold brewing is very simple. You portion out the same amount of tea you would use to brew a hot cup. But instead of the hot water, add the coldest water you can and put it in the refrigerator...

I don't know about you, but my days start early and are jam-packed with family, business, dogs, and activities. I can't imagine getting through the day without my teas. In the morning, I look forward to my first cup of tea. It sets the tone for my whole day. I rotate between a smooth cup of black tea, like Imperial Breakfast, a blend of Darjeeling, Keemun, and Assam. If I feel I need more of a pick-me-up, I'll head toward Breakfast Cuppa or Organic Rise & Shine. Breakfast Cuppa has Ceylon black tea with roasted Mate and hazelnut flavoring. It's...

Sunday, May 14th, is fast approaching. On this day, we get to celebrate all the wonderful and special Moms and Grandmas in our lives. We wouldn’t be who we are without these special ladies. I feel very blessed to have had an amazing Grandma and Mom in my life. Unbeknownst to them, they actually started me on my tea journey all those years ago. When I was a child, my Grandma would make a pot of tea and add some shortbread cookies to a plate. Then my Grandma, my Mom, and I would drink our tea out of her special...

I’m always on the lookout for new teas I can share with you. There are so many options out there, and it’s loads of fun to get samples, brew them up, and taste-test them. After the samples arrive, the first step is to open the package and literally smell the tea. After taking in the aroma, I look closely at the tea and its ingredients. What I can see visually is also important. It will tell you a lot about what’s in the tea. Plus, it’s fun to guess what’s blended into the tea if I don’t cheat and look...