Some records tell us that the Japanese have been drinking tea since the 8th Century. It was particularly linked to Buddhist ceremonies in the early years but for some strange reason tea drinking took a break from Japanese culture for about 400 years and then re-emerged in the 12th Century. A Buddhist monk called Eisai […]
There are approximately 300 types of aromas which can be found in the tea leaf and the liquor of the tea. Many of these aromas have desirable notes and are often highly fragrant which is what makes tea so pleasant. The different types of aromas are attributed to things like altitude, climatic conditions, country of […]
To the artisan drinker, tea bags are the cruelest thing to happen to tea. When they were introduced – by accident – in the early 1900s tea would change forever. A New York tea dealer called Thomas Sullivan began sending out tea samples to his clients in small silk bags, with no explanation. Clients thought […]
Tea has had just as turbulent a history as coffee. Tea has come from being a common commodity in China to a beverage consumed by millions of people all over the world. It is no longer just plain tea and has now been flavoured, smoked, rolled, shaped and iced. It is also used in different […]
High tea is now a very popular practice throughout the world. But this wasn’t always so. The practice of “taking” afternoon tea kicked off in the late 1800s. Anna, Duchess of Bedford, is credited with creating afternoon tea in 1840, when she began having tea with a light snack around 4pm to ward off “that […]
Gong fu is a skillful Chinese tea ceremony. It is labour intensive and the act of devoted tea afficionados, designed to provide the peak appreciation of tea. Gong fu cha started in Guangdong Province, China, which is nearby the Fujian Province. The practice is designed for leafy oolong teas and is to highlight the flavours […]
In its heyday tea was mostly used for medicinal purposes. Its bitterness, not common in any other food or drink, was considered a health fuel. It was found to be a soft stimulant, good for digestion and also an aid in general health and wellbeing. It wasn’t until about the fifth century AD, when China’s upper […]
In the world of tea there are many different words and interesting terminology. If you intend on pursuing tea as an interest or a profession then learning the basic terms will set you on your way. Agony of the leaves:Â This is a term used to describe the unfurling of the leaves after boiling water has […]
Tea travelled from China to Europe on the boats of Dutch and Portuguese travellers at the start of the 17th Century. This was a key part of the history of tea. Teas were popular with the British and were auctioned to the wealthy. The cost of tea was quite high and therefore this meant that […]
Professional tea tasters learn to identify the individual characteristics and traits of various types of tea. Merchants and tasters conduct professional tastings which follow precise procedures, enabling the tasters to analyse the special qualities of each type. The steps are as follows: A professional tea tasting takes place around a tasting table laden with bowls of dried […]
Australian Tea Masters
