Teapot Styles — Asian Traditions

Awhile back I posted some info about a very Asian style of teapot: the Kyusu. I have also written about a distinctive style of clay teapot from the Yixing area of China. But others abound. They speak of hundreds, and possibly thousands, of years of craftsmanship building up and being preserved as an object of delight to tea drinkers today.

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Thai tea set as seen on Facebook

© 2013 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Another Tea Expo Came and Went but New Tea Business Boot Camp Is Forever

The annual World Tea Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, has once again come and gone. Tea vendors and excited attendees mingled and interacted about the latest in tea. Dozens of new tea products were introduced. And a host of tea-related events took place. The most significant part (in my humble opinion) was…

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The World Tea Expo showcasing the latest in tea. (screen capture from site)

© 2013 A.C. Cargill photos and text

The Overuse of “Tea Room”

You know your inner “tea princess” is in full swing when you’re starving and parched so you stop in a place called “tea room,” are shown the tea selection (consisting of bagged teas from a couple of fairly well-known but not necessarily high-grade tea companies) and leave, still starving and parched. And disgusted. Since when did “tea room” apply to such a place? Seems to me like the name is getting totally overused.

Is it or isn’t it? Sometimes you never know
until you step inside. (Yahoo! Images)

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

© 2013 A.C. Cargill photos and text

The “AppeTEAzer” Pot of Tea

Can’t wait for that large pot of tea to steep up? Sounds like time for an “appeTEAzer” pot of tea. It’s usually about a one- or two-cup potful and can save your sanity while you’re waiting for that 6-cupper to steep.

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

© 2013 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Father’s Day Fine Tea Extravaganza

Before we get started, let’s clear up a misconception here: men like tea about as much as women do. Now, logically, since fathers are men (duh!), they will like a nice Father’s Day Fine Tea Extravaganza. Honest!

Fine teas are those that are considered top quality, often ones that have been…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

© 2013 A.C. Cargill photos and text

3 Reasons to Standardize the Spellings of Tea Names

In a recent article, Bill Lengeman, that intrepid tea guy and reporter of all things tea, wrote about the “poetry” of tea names. Awhile ago, I wrote about the “circus” of tea names out there in this article. Let’s face it, consistency is not a byword in the world of tea! Romanizing tea names can be very tricky, based partly on tradition and partly on mistranslation or miscommunication between…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.



Pai Mu Tan, Bai Mu Dan, or White Peony? Tea name confusion. (ETS image)

© 2013 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Tea in the Movies — “The Verdict”

You never know where a tea reference will
pop up! (image: screen capture from site)

Nothing is better than cozying up on the sofa, a fresh pot of tea ready and at hand and piping hot scones nearby, and watching an old movie. Of course, seeing an interesting tea-related incident in that movie can add the perfect touch to that moment.

Hubby and I were all settled in and enjoying a movie that was part of…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

© 2013 A.C. Cargill photos and text

U.S. League of Tea Growers has founding meeting

The World Tea Expo just held in Las Vegas, Nevada, was the perfect venue for the founding meeting of the U.S. League of Tea Growers. Nigel Melican of Teacraft.com and Jason McDonald, soon to be a major grower, led the presentation. Details to come in a future article.

“Sweet Tea” Explained (Sort of)

Having lived in the Southeastern part of the U.S. for several years, I never quite managed to understand the phenomenon known as “sweet tea.” Now, after moving away, I think I finally get it. In short, it’s sort of a brown Kool-Aid, especially when made with the teas that have fruit flavors added to them.

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

© 2013 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Teas of the World: Chinese Anxi Teas

China, the much-acknowledged birthplace of tea drinking in the world, is a large country divided into provinces. Fujian is one such province and is also a source of some fine teas. They are so varied, though, that we will start with the county of Anxi. Time to go exploring!

About Anxi County

The area has the perfect balance of red, sandy soil plus climate and elevation, and most teas grown here are…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Qi Lan Oolong (Wikipedia image)

© 2013 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Tea Memory — the “Napoleon of Napa Valley”

Imagine sitting across from this
during a job interview.
(screen capture from site)

Once upon a time, hubby and I lived in what others regard as the beautiful idyllic Napa Valley in California. Steep yourself a nice hot pot of tea and read about my experience there with the guy I refer to in my memory as the “Napoleon of Napa Valley.” Ready? Here goes!

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

© 2013 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Tea Kettle Philosophy — The Demise of the White Picket Fence

The kettle is on, and my water boiling skills are being stretched to their max. Okay, it’s a black tea, so full-boil water is needed. That means I have plenty of time for a bit of mind wandering into the forest that is sometimes the province of philosophical thought (as in “you can’t see the forest for the trees”), so here goes: ever wonder what happened to white picket fences?

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

The end of the white picket fence era? (from Yahoo! images)

© 2013 A.C. Cargill photos and text