Tea Guy Speaks

Half-Full: Musings Of A Wannabe Tea Bottler (1)

2009-07-12T23:16:00.003-07:00

I've studied and written about tea for about four years now, most notably at this site for the last four years. I've also written about tea for various other web sites and publications. It's brought in some ad revenue and led to a few decent writing jobs, but if I'd been doing it for the money, I'd count it a failure.

Fortunately, I haven't been doing it for the money. I've been doing it because I like tea and I find it an endlessly interesting topic. One of the best perks that comes with publishing a tea site is all the great tea I get to sample, be it loose, bottled, or even bagged.

At some point, the notion began to form in the back of my mind that it might be interesting to be involved in the tea business in some way. But until just recently - as in a few days ago - the idea didn't come into focus. What moved things along was when I brewed up a batch of homemade iced tea - as I so often do. It was an offbeat mix and I didn't really expect much but I took it to work anyway, and found it to be quite good.

I won't get into the specifics of the blend just yet - let's just call it Product X - but I thought it might be interesting to explore what's need to get such an animal onto the market. So, for better or worse, that's what I'm going to try to do. Stay tuned.

Half-Full is a periodic chronicle of my efforts to conceive of, manufacture, distribute and market a premium quality bottled tea - in spite of my near total ignorance of the mechanics of doing so.

Adagio Teas triniTea Tea Maker
Zarafina Tea Maker Suite

Green Tea Cheesecake & Tea-Pops

2009-07-12T09:53:00.003-07:00

If tea stuff with a sweet twist is what you're craving, check out these delights. From the Los Angeles Times, a recipe for
Layered Green Tea and Black Sesame Cheesecake. By way of Tavalon's The Voice of Tea, here's a recipe for Blueberry Tea Cream Pops.

Adagio Teas triniTea Tea Maker
Zarafina Tea Maker Suite

Tour Charleston Tea Plantation With Cindi Bigelow

2009-07-10T10:50:00.000-07:00

Tour Charleston Tea Plantation With Cindi Bigelow
(from a press release)

A little Southern hospitality goes a long way in South Carolina's Wadmalaw Island, home of America's only tea garden, the Charleston Tea Plantation. Cindi Bigelow, President of Bigelow Tea, gives a fun and informative video tour of the idyllic plantation, purchased by the Bigelow family in 2003.

The plantation receives over 30,000 visitors each year, many of whom are curious to see a real, unique tea garden -- in all its 127-acre splendor -- and perhaps want to plan their weddings/special events on the grounds or to explore the rich history of Charleston or to simply just enjoy a lovely a cup of the plantation's signature American Classic Tea. Visitors from near and far are fascinated by the knowledge imparted by plantation founder and passionate tea aficionado Bill Hall, who now partners with Bigelow Tea in running the Charleston Tea Plantation.

Adagio Teas triniTea Tea Maker
Zarafina Tea Maker Suite

Tea Review 101 - Jing Tea Chinese Greens

2009-07-09T09:33:00.002-07:00

Pre Rain Organic Dragon Well Supreme Green Tea
Pre Rain Organic Anji Bai Cha Green Tea
Jing Tea

Now this is more like it. I've had the good fortune to sample some nice Chinese greens lately, but nothing that really made me leap from my seat and click my heels. Until now.

Jing Tea refer to their Pre Rain Organic Dragon Well Supreme Green Tea as "our highest grade Dragon Well green tea" and I certainly wont quibble with that. It's a classic Dragonwell sensation - and if you've ever sampled a good one you'll know what that means - with a nice smooth feel and a much fuller flavor than most of the varieties I've tried.

Jing's Pre Rain Organic Anji Bai Cha Green Tea also compares rather favorably to some of the other Chinese greens I've tasted. In their words, "vivacious and exuberant flavours combine spring blossom scents with sweet sappiness, lush textures and beautiful floral top notes." Here here.

Adagio Teas triniTea Tea Maker
Zarafina Tea Maker Suite

Lyons Quick Brew Tea Ad

2009-07-08T11:00:00.001-07:00

Another one from Lyons, circa 1985.

Adagio Teas triniTea Tea Maker
Zarafina Tea Maker Suite

Tea Tasting Time Lapse Video

2009-07-06T10:07:00.002-07:00

So much tea. So little time. From the New Mexico Tea Company.

Adagio Teas triniTea Tea Maker
Zarafina Tea Maker Suite

Lyons Commercial & English Tea Blog Articles

2009-07-04T09:53:00.002-07:00

Here are few of my brief tea articles from The Taste of English Tea Blog:

Sweet Tea: House Wine of the South
Tea and Hydration
Tea Movie Review: All In This Tea

Adagio Teas triniTea Tea Maker
Zarafina Tea Maker Suite

Drink Real Tea

2009-07-03T15:59:00.001-07:00

The good people at teapigs are on a mission. Though the UK has been closely identified with tea for hundreds of years, the truth is that much of what's being consumed there is not very good. The teapigs crew refer to it as "shameful brown slop" and are "calling on people to demand better quality tea from cafes, restaurants, and hotels across the country."

For more info and to sign the mission petition, go here.

Adagio Teas triniTea Tea Maker
Zarafina Tea Maker Suite

Animated Barry's Tea Commercial

2009-07-02T09:47:00.001-07:00

Adagio Teas triniTea Tea Maker
Zarafina Tea Maker Suite

Tea Review 100 - Mighty Leaf (x4)

2009-06-29T09:54:00.002-07:00

Organic Emerald Pearls
Organic Yellow Flower
Marrakesh Mint Green
Orange Dulce
Might Leaf Tea Company

Organic Emerald Pearls
Organic Yellow Flower
A nice pair of loose-leaf Chinese green teas from Anhui province. Quite a delicate flavor in both cases. This can be a bit of a drawback if you're used to stronger stuff, but nothing really to complain about here.

Orange Dulce
There are a few flavored teas I like, but as a general rule I'm not the target audience for this sort of thing. Orange Dulce is a blend of black tea with orange, vanilla and jasmine. Not to my liking, so much, but your mileage is likely to vary.

Marrakesh Mint Green
As with most mint teas, the mint component of Marrakesh Mint tends to overpower the green tea. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing. For my money, a good peppermint tisane is as good as anything, but if you want a bit of a pick-me-up, you could do worse than this mix of China green teas and Moroccan mint that's been "cultivated on a mountainside in Tiznit."

Adagio Teas triniTea Tea Maker
Zarafina Tea Maker Suite

Tea-Riffic Cricket

2009-06-28T10:36:00.001-07:00

Another one on the miraculous powers of tea. Aspiring cricketers, take note.

Adagio Teas triniTea Tea Maker
Zarafina Tea Maker Suite

Mold Growing On Tea Time Lapse

2009-06-26T09:07:00.002-07:00

Not sure why you'd want to do a time lapse sequence of mold growing on tea. Or why you'd want to watch it. But if you do, here you go.

Adagio Teas triniTea Tea Maker
Zarafina Tea Maker Suite

Drain Cleaners, Tea Thermometers & Hemp Teabags

2009-06-24T12:51:00.003-07:00

So this first one's not strictly tea-related, but it does relate to one of my favorite themes - tea marketers and others inflating the health benefits of their products in order to make a buck. Which is not to say that's what the sugar water makers and all around humanitarians at Pepsi are doing in developing "an ultra-cheap softdrink that will aid fight against anaemia in women in rural India." But it never hurts to have your BS detector activated. More here.

On a totally different tangent, here's an interesting one from Marshal at A Tea Addict's Journal. It's about drain cleaners, his term for puerh teas that are of a certain vintage and that often possess a not completely delightful flavor. On a similar theme, here are Marshal's reflections on one of the worst teas he's ever encountered.

If it's gadgetry that gets you all weak in the knees, have a look at this quite nifty digital tea thermometer.

And here's one for the patchouli and Phish crowd - reusable hemp tea bags.

Last up, the winners of the Tea-Off! Tea Kettle Design Competition.

Adagio Teas triniTea Tea Maker
Zarafina Tea Maker Suite

Zhena's Gypsy Tea Brews Up Dynamic Difference

2009-06-23T09:34:00.002-07:00

Zhena's Gypsy Tea Brews Up Dynamic Difference
Beyond Organic Biodynamic Zhena's Gypsy Tea
(from a press release)

When it comes to innovating a product that is nearly 5,000 years old it takes more than reading the tea leaves, it takes an understanding of the environment with a consideration for future generations. With its new line of Beyond Organic Biodynamic Teas, Zhena's Gypsy Tea brings to the marketplace teas grown in Demeter certified Biodynamic gardens, where an emphasis is placed on protecting the complexity of the ecological whole.

The five new Demeter(R) certified Biodynamic green tea experiences include: BLUEBERRY VANILLA, KIWI PEACH, MANGO GINGER, CARAMELIZED PEAR, and BLACK FOREST BERRY. Available in 15 eco-friendly sachets, beautifully packaged for functionality and conservation in recyclable, air-tight tins, that keeps the tea fresh.

Adagio Teas triniTea Tea Maker
Zarafina Tea Maker Suite

Automatic Lego NXT Tea Machine

2009-06-22T09:18:00.000-07:00

While ambling through the tea blogosphere - as they're calling it these days - I ran across this gadget-oriented tea video posted at Tavalon's The Voice of Tea.

Adagio Teas triniTea Tea Maker
Zarafina Tea Maker Suite

Tea Extravaganza 2009

2009-06-21T09:37:00.001-07:00

Tea Extravaganza 2009 Set For The Drake Hotel - The First Independent Tea Tasting in North America
(from a press release)

Similar to a fine wine tasting, the Tea Extravaganza 2009 is an opportunity for tea aficionados with a sophisticated palate to sample and taste at least 15 of the finest, rarest, and often hardest to acquire teas from the world's premier estates. The event is the first independent tea tasting of its kind in North America, and will be held at the luxurious Drake Hotel in Chicago, August 10th and 11th.

more

Adagio Teas triniTea Tea Maker
Zarafina Tea Maker Suite

Lipton Continues Sustainability Expansion

2009-06-19T10:16:00.002-07:00

Lipton Tea Continues Major Expansion of Sustainability Initiative
(from a press release)

Lipton Tea, an industry pioneer in sustainable agriculture practices and social responsibility, is undertaking a major expansion of its long term commitment to sustainability. Starting this spring, select Lipton Tea products bearing the Rainforest Alliance-certified seal will be available on grocery store shelves across the United States. The brand is also launching an integrated partnership with National Geographic Global Media to highlight the social, economic and environmental benefits of Lipton's sustainability practices.

more

Adagio Teas triniTea Tea Maker
Zarafina Tea Maker Suite

Trini Tea Commercial

2009-06-18T09:43:00.002-07:00

A cursory search didn't turn up much info about Trini Tea, but this is apparently one of their commercials.

Adagio Teas triniTea Tea Maker
Zarafina Tea Maker Suite

Tea Champs, Damn Fine Tea & More

2009-06-17T09:26:00.003-07:00

Would you like to see who walked away with the laurels at the recent World Tea Championships? Click here.

Ready for some damn fine tea? The boys over at Andrews & Dunham Damn Fine Tea have just the thing for you. Their second series was recently released and includes two black teas, one from India and one from China.

The publicist for Teapod Organic Tea Bar apparently has a real knack for getting the word out. Profiles of the California-based teahouse appeared recently at T Ching and World Tea News. Love that minimal look.

Speaking of profiles, here's one of Rooibee Red Tea, a Kentucky-based company that aspires to bring bottled rooibos to the masses.

Adagio Teas triniTea Tea Maker
Zarafina Tea Maker Suite

Japanese Tea Commercial

2009-06-15T09:43:00.000-07:00

Adagio Teas triniTea Tea Maker
Zarafina Tea Maker Suite

Video: Tetley Red Tea Commercial

2009-06-13T09:40:00.002-07:00

Here's an artfully done commercial for Tetley's Red (rooibos) Tea. Just turn off the sound and watch.

Adagio Teas triniTea Tea Maker
Zarafina Tea Maker Suite

Tea Review 99 - MateVeza Organic Yerba Mate IPA

2009-06-12T11:25:00.003-07:00

MateVeza
Organic Yerba Mate IPA

Beer, ale and whatnot - it's a world that's far removed from tea and one that I'm not very familiar with. While I like the taste of all of the aforementioned, I mostly steer clear of them because alcohol makes me feel sluggish.

What I'm getting at is that I may not be the best person to weigh on in on the merits of Mateveza's Organic Yerba Mate IPA. Then again, I know what I like and I like this yerba mate-flavored ale rather well. If you're keen on frosty beverages with a nice touch of the bitters - courtesy of that yerba mate, I'd wager - you might want to look into this one.

Here's the press release for the product and here's a review I wrote of another of their yerba mate ales a while back.

Adagio Teas triniTea Tea Maker
Zarafina Tea Maker Suite

Video: Tetley Tea Extra Strong

2009-06-09T09:47:00.001-07:00

The wonders of tea - indeed.

Adagio Teas triniTea Tea Maker
Zarafina Tea Maker Suite

Green Tea Coke & More Health Hype

2009-06-08T09:28:00.003-07:00

Just when you thought the green tea hype couldn't get any more absurd, here comes an announcement from Coca-Cola about a green-tea flavored version of Coke they're releasing in Japan. An idea so dreadful that my taste buds cringe at the very thought of it. Here's a brief news bit about green tea Coke (and basil Pepsi - yum).

On a similar note, though not tea-related, is an incarnation of 7UP, complete with antioxidants.

Speaking of tea, health benefits and hype, here's a timely report about Tetley's misadventures over a TV ad that's been airing in Britain.

Adagio Teas triniTea Tea Maker
Zarafina Tea Maker Suite

Video: Bubble Tea Documentary

2009-06-07T14:15:00.001-07:00

Documenting the interest in bubble tea in the Toronto area:

Adagio Teas triniTea Tea Maker
Zarafina Tea Maker Suite