Tea isn’t perishable in quite the same way as produce and other grocery items, but it still will go bad over time. To make sure your tea tastes fresh and maintains its maximum health benefits, proper storage is key. The three most important variables to control are light, temperature, and moisture.  ..read more

If you’re familiar with matcha, you probably at least know it is made of powdered green tea leaves. But the matcha production process is complex, so sometimes even the most enthusiastic consumers aren’t aware of all the details. If you’re curious about what it takes to create the matcha that eventually makes its way to your cup, read on to find out.  ..read more

Craig Mod is a walker, writer, photographer, and a book maker. Originally from the US, he immigrated to Japan, where he explores Japanese society through walking and by engaging with locals in remote places. He tells us about how to stay focused, how to be aware, and why it is important to find a meditative way to help us maintain control of our attention ..read more

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If you’re a tea drinker, perhaps you’ve wondered how much caffeine you’re consuming each time you finish off a cup. The answer is: It’s complicated. Caffeine content depends on many factors, some of which are within your control as the consumer, and some of which are not. Instead of aiming to calculate the exact amount of caffeine in your tea, it’s more plausible to identify an estimated range of caffeine levels, as well as the relative differences between different types of tea ..read more

is green tea from Japan that has been steamed, dried, and then roasted. The taste of can be described as reminiscent of caramel, cocoa, or nuts, but every product has its own unique flavor profile, the same as any other tea. Much of the tea’s caffeine degrades during the roasted process, so is a good option for tea drinkers who are sensitive to caffeine, or those who want to drink tea close to bedtime ..read more

is one of many traditional vessels used to brew tea. The is an unassuming small bowl, but its distinctive feature is its lid, which is held ajar to strain the tea as it is poured. This Chinese teaware dates back to the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), and can be made of porcelain, clay, or glass ..read more

All true tea comes from the same species of plant, , but the differences in processing methods are what distinguish teas as white, green, oolong, or black. To produce black tea, dried leaves are allowed to oxidize longer than the other types of tea. The result is a dark, and tannin-rich brew ..read more

is one of many traditional vessels used to brew tea. The is an unassuming small bowl, but its distinctive feature is its lid, which is held ajar to strain the tea as it is poured. This Chinese teaware dates back to the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), and can be made of porcelain, clay, or glass ..read more

With so many teas available on the global market, it can be challenging to make sure the tea you’re purchasing was ethically sourced. Various certifications stamped on tea packaging seem to indicate something about fair labor practices or environmental sustainability, but what exactly do those certifications promise?  ..read more