Culture and history
Lapsang Souchong: Why It's Smoky (and When It Isn't)
The pine-smoked black tea from Tongmu in the Wuyi mountains, and the unsmoked original most of the West has never tasted. Plus brewing, food pairing and how to buy it.
Why is tea called tea?
This blog explores the historical origins and linguistic evolution of the two main terms used to refer to tea around the world - "tea" and "chai". It traces how the Portuguese, Dutch, and Spanish colonial trade influenced the spread and adoption of these tea-related words across different regions.
Are there best times to drink tea?
"Thirteen Rules" was proposed by Kebin Feng, a renowned Ming dynasty scholar, for the meaningful enjoyment of tea. He emphasized that tea drinking should be done in a tranquil environment, with good friends and a focus on savouring each sip to achieve a calm and peaceful state of mind.