Guides

What Is Tuo Cha? The History of China's Bird's Nest Tea
What Is Tuo Cha? The History of China's Bird's Nest Tea
Why is tuo cha shaped like a bird's nest? Explore the history of China's bowl-shaped compressed tea, its origins in Xiaguan, its relationship to pu'er, and how to brew it. Read more...
From Blossom to Jar: Understanding Honey
From Blossom to Jar: Understanding Honey
Follow honey from Appalachian sourwood blossoms to Tanzania’s Miombo woodlands, and learn what origin, harvest, and texture can tell you about a jar. Read more...
What's the Difference Between a $4 Box of Tea and a $20 Box?
What's the Difference Between a $4 Box of Tea and a $20 Box?
What makes one box of tea cost $4 and another $20? Explore tea grades, hand harvesting, processing, sourcing, packaging, and how to judge whether expensive tea is better. Read more...
A vintage illustration of an assortment of tea pots and kettles
Types of Teapots: Which One Should You Use for Different Teas?
Which teapot should you use for green tea, oolong, or pu'er? Explore porcelain, Yixing clay, Japanese kyusu, gaiwans, glass, and cast iron, and learn how to choose the right brewing... Read more...
Tea Lexicon
Tea Lexicon
A glossary of the language of tea, from leaf grades and processing methods to traditional brewing techniques. Explore the terminology, history, and practices behind the world's great tea traditions. Read more...
From Leaf to Cup: A Guide to Loose Leaf Tea
From Leaf to Cup: A Guide to Loose Leaf Tea
A tea leaf carries the work of a season, a maker, and a trading history. Follow it from harvest to cup, with practical advice for brewing loose leaf tea. Read more...