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Tea Blog

Official Blog of the English Tea Store


  • 5 Teas to Get You Through February

    Phew! You made it through the first month of the year and are now embarking on the second. Did any of your New Year’s resolutions endure this long? Don’t feel bad if the answer is “no.” Mine went by the wayside a couple weeks ago. Best to look to the month ahead here. And tea… Continue reading

  • Tea Pioneers: Catherine of Braganza

    If you’ve visited this site before you might recall that yours truly and various other contributors have occasionally discussed (and sometimes debunked) some of the better known myths about tea. To name just a few, there’s the one about the Chinese emperor who discovered tea some centuries ago when tea leaves drifted on the wind… Continue reading

  • Teddy Bears and Chocolates and Tea — Oh, My!

    A Valentine’s Day riddle: What’s plush and cuddly and sweet and hot and steamy? Answer: No, it’s not that… gee, people, this is a family-oriented blog! It’s a Valentine’s Day teatime with teddy bears and chocolates and tea! What better way to say “You’re my Sweetie” than with sweets and tea (no, that’s not another… Continue reading

  • In My Cups: Indian Clay

    I believe I’ve mentioned here once or twice that since 1998 I’ve been running an online chat group that over the years has attracted members from around the globe, from consumers to tea professionals. Some years ago the group was discussing disposable cups and the effects they have on the tea served in them. This… Continue reading

  • A Jane Austen Teatime

    Tea being a beverage very much associated with Britain, and Jane Austen being one of the foremost British authors of all time, it seemed fitting to have a teatime that incorporated the atmosphere her novels conjure — the Georgian Regency period amid the country gentry and simpler townsfolk. The very language in a Jane Austen… Continue reading

  • Does Green Tea Help Burn Fat?

    Buyer beware. Don’t believe everything you read. Okay, they’re not the most original phrases, but when it comes to the marketing of tea and the many health benefits that it’s said to bestow on us, they’re appropriate maxims to keep in mind. My standard disclaimer here. Yes, I do believe that tea can have some… Continue reading

  • A Valentine’s Day Tea Gift Basket

    I want to make one thing very clear: my dear husband doesn’t need a special day to surprise me with flowers, candy, or other little gifts. But in case he should happen to want to get me a nice little something for this lovers’ holiday, I’m happy to help him out with a few suggestions… Continue reading

  • Enjoying a Fresh Mint Tisane

    I was recently reminded just how wonderful fresh mint tisane can be when I had occasion to order it at a restaurant. Numb from the cold, and in need of a hot drink without caffeine (it was late in the evening), I was loathe to order a “herbal tea.” I knew that would more than… Continue reading

  • Teas of the World: Chinese Fujian Teas

    Teas are grown in an ever-increasing number of countries in the world, with China still being one of the leaders. Your first stop on our world tea tour is the Fujian Province where a good portion of these teas come from. About the Province During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Fujian Province served as the… Continue reading

  • Monthly Tea Gadget and Offbeat News Report III

    If I may pull out my swami hat and gaze deeply into my crystal ball, I’ll forecast (educated guess) that 2013 will be a year that’s going to bring us many tea gadgets. Which is hardly what you’d call a bold prediction, given the number of these clever little gizmos that regularly make their way… Continue reading