English Tea Store Tea Header

Tea Blog

Official Blog of the English Tea Store

  • A Not-So-Serious Guide to Shopping for Teapots

    We all know that spout shape is important, that short, squat teapots can be better steepers that those taller, thinner ones, and that different materials (glass, metal, bone china, terracotta, zisha clay, etc.) affect how the teapot steeps. But it’s time to take a look at some not-so-serious reasons to buy that teapot for your… Continue reading

  • Historical Takes on Iced Tea

    As I write this, we’re approaching the midpoint of summer—and if that’s not prime iced tea season, it’s hard to imagine what is. While it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly who first created iced tea, Americans have embraced it enthusiastically for generations. By many estimates, roughly 80 percent of tea consumed in the United States is… Continue reading

  • 5 Surprising Things About Tea

    Think you know about tea? Here are a few things that may surprise you. 1 The Dutch first brought tea to North America We hear about the Boston Tea Party and think that it was the British who first brought tea to North America. However, the Dutch, who introduced tea to their country and then… Continue reading

  • The Great Tea Bag vs. Loose Tea Controversy

    Unless I’m forgetting something, I think it’s fairly safe to say that there aren’t that many terribly contentious issues having to do with tea. There’s that business about whether to put the milk in first and some minor disagreement about how to evaluate the caffeine content and there may be something else that’s slipped my… Continue reading

  • “Afternoon Tea” vs. “High Tea” — Should We Preserve the Distinction?

    In a previous article, I looked at what “high tea” was back then and how the term is used now, which is pretty much as a synonym for “afternoon tea” (also called “low tea” by some). The question is whether to re-establish that distinction or not of high tea (also called “meat tea”) as dinner.… Continue reading

  • Wild Tea, Mid-Atlantic Style

    As a native of Pennsylvania writing for tea merchants headquartered in the same state, I’d like to say it’s a hotbed of tea production—but it isn’t, and likely never has been. However, I came across an interesting historical account suggesting that wild tea plants may once have been found growing in Pennsylvania and in neighboring… Continue reading

  • Teapot Styles — Transferware

    Transferware revolutionized teaware designs. Teawares and decorations go together like tea and cookies. Hand-painting teacups and teapots had been popular for centuries. But they were slow to make and had to be limited in detail. Where It Started As tea in Europe became more popular, the demand for fancier teawares grew. Famed potter John Sadler… Continue reading

    , ,

  • Tea While Playing “Mille Bornes”

    Tea is the perfect accompaniment for many pastimes. Uh, wait, I mean many pastimes are the perfect accompaniment for tea. You need something to do between sips other than say “Aaahhhhhh!!” The other night, hubby and I filled in those “sip gaps” with a game of “Mille Bornes.” Years ago (as in “during my childhood”… Continue reading

    ,

  • Designer Tea

    This blog has examined some of the ways in which artists have used tea in their work, or as inspiration for their art. But what about all the designers out there? If images of tea equivalents of Gucci or Dolce & Gabbana are flooding your mind, fear not. I am thinking more of designers interested… Continue reading

  • Tea Garden Visionary: Rajiv Lochan

    Many tea gardens have been around for a hundred years or more and are the result of persistence, but some are much newer and have been the result of true vision. Such is the case with Doke Tea Garden in the state of Bihar in India. It was first planted with tea plants (Camellia Sinensis)… Continue reading

    ,

search

Recent Posts

follow us

Newsletter

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Thank you! You can now check your email to confirm your subscription.

Tag cloud

Assam Tea Autumn Black Tea british british food caffeine cake Ceylon chai Chocolate Christmas Darjeeling Tea earl grey English Tea Store fall flavored tea Green Tea Herbal Holidays Iced Tea Loose Tea oolong PG Tips recipe recipes rooibos Scones stash Steeping Tea tea tea book Tea Books Tea Gadgets tea party Teapot teapots Tea Recipe Tea Recipes tea review tea reviews tearoom tea room tea time tisane twinings

blogroll

our stores

Awarded top 100 Tea Blog badge