Artisan teas are excellent conversation pieces. Someone who has never before experienced a blossoming tea bouquet inside a pot will be pleasantly surprised and thrilled. In addition, artisan teas are hand crafted with specially prepared whole green tea leaves and flowers, such as lily, jasmine, osmanthus, and/or chrysanthemum.

We discuss a customers concern regarding the safety of Chinese tea.

Often mistaken for a mushroom, Kombucha is in fact a colony of yeast and bacteria. The tea is concocted by adding the colony to green or black tea with some sugar, and then allowing the mixture to ferment. The resulting beverage will then contain B vitamins, vinegar, and other chemical compounds. In the realm of Traditional Chinese Medicine, this type of tea is labeled as the “elixir of life” and “Tea of Immortality.”

Yixing teapots are ornamental clay pots steeped in Chinese culture. These prized Chinese pots are made from Yixing clay, a special type of clay from the region near the city of Yixing in Jiangsu province, China. The clay absorbs a tiny amount of tea during brewing. After prolonged use, the pot will develop a coating that retains the flavor and color of the tea.

Dr. Oz has recently recommended several tea varieties - this article will explore some of these and offer recommendations to new tea drinkers.