Classic Style Phoenix — Xingren Xiang Dancong
A few people have asked me whether there are other classic style Phoenix oolong except the popular Milan Xiang — better known to some in the English name I gave...
Red Jade, The Fragrance of Taiwan
I would have continued to ignore this tea had it not been the surprising tasting experience of the last sample. It was similarly bold as a Ceylon, spicy as a Darjeeling,...
To blanch or not to blanch? That is the question
One of the perpetuating questions in tea infusion is to blanch or not to blanch — we look at it in a practical perspective and referencing the true qualities of tea to come up with a detail answer
Shou Cha or Shu Cha?
In the recent couple of decades, pu’er dark teas that are produced with the piled post-fermentation method have come to be known as “cooked” pu’er, a direct transliteration of the...
Naming of a Tea
Naming of teas has always been problematic, especially when there are so many different ways of doing it for such a huge number of varieties in so many different regions. We summarise the different ways it is done for better understanding as a foundation for your tea search
How are these tea names formed?
There are 7 popular tea names below. Select an answer that you think is how the name is formed. Fill in your name and email and send your finished quiz to us. Those who have all the answers correct will be entitled to a pack of very nice Fenghuang Dancong for free
Special Feature: Renaissance of Dianhong
In recent years, with the general awareness-building of gongfu black tea in the burgeoning market in China, more producers have entered the game to make different varieties of the subcategory,...
Renaissance of Dianhong Part 1: the War
In recent years, with the general awareness-building of gongfu black tea in the burgeoning market in China, more producers have entered the game to make different varieties of the subcategory,...
Renaissance of Dianhong Part 2: Competition
I had no idea what quality of Dianhong Queen Elizabeth II received as a souvenir when she visited Yunnan in 1986. It was said that the tea was full of golden...
Is Pu’er Cha Bing an Investment Tool?
It makes perfect sense to stock up a few pieces of cha bings for maturity and to save some money. However, it is quite another matter to buy with the intention to invest. This article deals with this latter idea.