Tea Blog

Did you hear about

this report on a 900-year-old caffeinated beverage discovered in the southeastern United States
?
Before getting too excited, it’s worth noting that it wasn’t actually tea made from Camellia sinensis.

Instead, the beverage was likely made from Ilex vomitoria, a holly plant used by Native American cultures to produce what is known as the “black drink.”

On a lighter note, there’s also the story of tea-drinking orangutans in a Sydney zoo. According to

this report on zoo orangutans choosing herbal teas
,
they appear to favor varieties such as jasmine and

chamomile herbal tea known for its mild flavor and calming properties
.

In more conventional tea news, see

this account of a large-scale tea brewing event led by chef Heston Blumenthal
,
in which a giant teapot holding approximately 500 liters of water was used along with an oversized tea bag.

If you’ve ever wished for a steady supply of teapot inspiration, you might enjoy

this photography project featuring a new teapot image each week for a full year
,
created by photographer Luke Avery.

From the realm of clever teaware, consider

this concept for a “floating” mug designed to appear suspended above its base
,
which was developed as a creative product concept seeking funding.

For a more practical innovation, take a look at

this ceramic cup design that incorporates a holder for a tea stirrer
,
offering a simple solution to an everyday problem.

Finally, fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation may recognize Captain Jean-Luc Picard’s famous preference for “Earl Grey, hot.” That association inspired products such as

this themed Earl Grey tea concept based on the Star Trek franchise
,
which blends pop culture with traditional tea.

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