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Tea Blog

Official Blog of the English Tea Store


Preparing Tea and Herbals

How to properly prepare teas and herbals.

  • Hot Toddies and Tea

    Writing articles for this site has been something of a learning experience for me lately. One of the last topics I wrote about was cream tea, about which I knew absolutely nothing prior to getting started. From there we turn to the topic of the hot toddy. Which is a term I’ve probably heard all… Continue reading

  • Tea by the Numbers

    You don’t have to know much about tea in order to drink it, although it wouldn’t hurt to know how to select it and prepare it properly. But if you’re interested in a few facts on the topic, read on. 1 There is only one plant from which tea is derived. It’s called Camellia sinensis.… Continue reading

  • Do Tea Pods Have a Future?

    In the interest of full disclosure, I should note that I’ve never had a cup of tea prepared using a single-cup brewing system. These devices—often referred to as single-serve brewers—use pre-packaged portions designed for quick and convenient preparation. I can also say with a fair degree of confidence that I’m unlikely to adopt this method… Continue reading

  • How Precise Do You Want to Be with Your Tea?

    Tea isn’t rocket science. You don’t have to be accurate down to the milliliter. A bit of icing on the fuel lines won’t lead to a catastrophe. But how precise do you want — or need — to be with your tea? Are you losing spontaneity and the flow of the moment? Or are you… Continue reading

  • Speed Tea Revisited

    As I’ve noted many times before—though it’s worth repeating—tea is often presented as a calming, low-key alternative to coffee. While both beverages contain caffeine, tea also includes theanine, a compound often associated with a more relaxed alertness. Combined with a slower, more deliberate drinking culture, tea is frequently viewed as the more tranquil option. That’s… Continue reading

  • More Offbeat Tea Patents

    It’s hard to say how much time and effort has gone into solving the problem of dealing with soggy, used tea bags, but “a lot” would be a fair estimate. I explored several inventive solutions in this overview of unusual tea-related patents and creative solutions, but there are always more worth examining. Handling used tea… Continue reading

  • Should You Squeeze That Teabag?

    The story is out there about not squeezing that last drop out of your teabag so you don’t get an excess of tannins in your tea. Is it true? Should you leave those last few drops behind or risk adding them to that perfect brew in your cup? The sentiments among die-hard teabag users seems… Continue reading

  • How to Choose the Right Tea for Your Recipe

    With an infinite number of possibilities for tea out there, it can be a bit daunting trying to decide which one to use in your recipes. Often times several teas will work in the same dish; each will simply bring a slightly different flavor profile. Think of tea as broth or base that will promote… Continue reading

  • Tea in Space

    One of the perennial favorites on my tea site is this video demonstrating how an astronaut drinks tea in microgravity using chopsticks. The unusual method provides a fascinating look at how liquids behave in space and helps explain why preparing a traditional cup of tea beyond Earth presents unique challenges. For additional context, see this… Continue reading

  • The REAL Time It Takes to Prepare Tea

    In your busy schedule every minute is precious, so it’s good to know the real time things take, not the “fast-talking salesman going through his spiel” time. They are masters at making their products seem easier, faster, and overall better than that “junk” you have now. Tea is no exception. As a former project manager,… Continue reading