Tea Blog

There are a couple of themes that tend to surface periodically in the world of tea-related novelties. One involves using tea as a medium for art, while another centers on incorporating tea into beer or spirits. The latter is a topic I explored previously in this discussion of tea-infused beers and experimental brewing with tea, and it has continued to attract attention in the press.

For example, a collaboration between Eteaket and Barney’s Beer in Scotland produced several tea-flavored brews. Initial attempts, such as a chili rooibos blend, were less successful, but later creations—like a smoky Lapsang porter and a breakfast tea-inspired brew—fared better. You can read more in this report on tea and beer collaborations in the Scottish craft brewing scene.

Tea has also found its way into the art world. This feature on an artist using tea and coffee as painting mediums highlights detailed portraits created entirely with brewed beverages, some taking months to complete.

Turning to gadgets, the German company Finum produces a range of tea and coffee accessories. Their Traveler Zita tea tumbler designed for convenient on-the-go steeping allows users to control infusion with a simple twist mechanism that prevents oversteeping.

Modern technology continues to influence tea preparation as well. This Time magazine report on app-controlled kettles and smart tea-making devices discusses innovations like the iKettle, which can be activated remotely using a smartphone. While it doesn’t literally boil water with the phone, it represents the growing role of connected devices in everyday routines.

As tea culture evolves, these creative and sometimes unusual applications demonstrate how versatile—and marketable—the beverage has become.

See more of William I. Lengeman’s articles in this archive of tea-related writing by the author.

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