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Tea Blog

Official Blog of the English Tea Store


  • Iced Tea Around the World

    For as long as I have been writing about tea the common wisdom about American iced tea consumption is that we drink a lot of it. The figure given for the percentage of tea we drink in iced form is typically in the range of 80-85%. Which I don’t dispute, although I find it odd… Continue reading

  • 5 Teas to Get You Through August

    The Dog Days of Summer are upon us. They were originally named for when the dog star Sirius rose over the horizon about the same time as the sun did. Now, though, the dog days refer to the 40 or 50 days when temperatures are likely to be at their hottest. Never fear, though, you… Continue reading

  • Why Soft Drinks Are NOT a Substitute for Tea

    When you’re out and about and feel the need for your fave tea but can’t get it, don’t fall into the trap of having a soft drink (soda, pop, coke, soda pop, fizzy drink, tonic, seltzer, mineral water, sparkling water, carbonated beverage, or whatever you call it). You will be tempted. After all, soft drinks… Continue reading

  • Tea History – The Commutation Act of 1784

    The notion of tea as anything but a relatively inexpensive commodity is something of an unfamiliar concept to most modern-day tea drinkers. Yes, there are plenty of varieties that you can lay your hands on these days that are quite expensive, but it doesn’t have to be that way. If you’re looking for a passably… Continue reading

  • Tea in the Movies — “If Winter Comes”

    Another great tea moment popped up in a movie I was watching a little while ago. Maybe as I have evolved into a more involved tea drinker, I am just noticing these things more. Whatever the case, I sat up and took notice of the tea moment in “If Winter Comes.” This is another of… Continue reading

  • Frustrations of Online Searches for “Tea”

    Online searches can be fairly frustrating, with results (called “hits”) coming up that have little or nothing to do with what you’re looking for. And there you are, sitting in front of your computer screen scrolling through screenful after screenful of links to irrelevant stuff. Some of that irrelevant stuff: Woman’s name: Tea Town name:… Continue reading

  • Tea Pioneers: Richard Twining

    Say what you want about a company that’s been around longer than the United States, but you’ve gotta assume that they’re doing something right. There may be other tea companies that have been doing business as long as Twinings of London but I’m not aware of any. The firm got underway 307 years again, in… Continue reading

  • Monthly Tea Gadget and Offbeat News Report 9

    I recently wrote an article in these pages about the pros and cons of sun tea, which is made by leaving tea leaves and water in a jug to steep in the sun. For an interesting variation on this theme, check out this solar kettle that claims to be able to harness the power of… Continue reading

  • Teas of the World: Silver Needle Versions

    Silver Needle (Baihao Yinzhen) is one of the finest white teas available. As such, teas are popping up everywhere on the market bearing the name “Silver Needle.” The question is: how many versions of this tea are out there? Of course, we then have to ask: are these versions really “Silver Needle”? I’m not sure… Continue reading

  • Dunoon Tea Mug Design Classics

    Some of my favorite tea mugs are from Dunoon. I have sipped many a hot cuppa with meals or by itself, during stormy weather or clear, in beastly heat or bone-chilling cold. Those mugs have never let me down. Time to check out some of their classic designs and see which you might want for… Continue reading