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HWN Suggests

Tea Has No Rules

Tea has no rules, but others may try to tell you otherwise.

There are thousands of years of tradition and history behind these leaves. So what? Each and every tradition can and should be questioned–at least until your understanding of them is more complete. Then you can judge for yourself whether any tradition is worth upholding.

Tea is not the end, it is the means. It’s an ingredient of the human experience that is drinking tea (don’t forget caffeine is psychoactive so, yes, you are altering your mind when you consume it). If anyone says “you’re doing it wrong”, ask them why they think so. If their reply is something along the lines of “because this is how it’s…

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Featured

 A nice cup of tea is always welcome, but centuries ago it truly was a lifesaver

The mere act of adding boiling water to a beverage cut death rates and even helped fuel the Industrial Revolution

 Can You Find Wellness in a Cup of Tea? A Soothing Guide

Venerable brands and upstarts alike are encouraging us to steep and sip our way to vitality, better sleep, even happiness. These delicious brews are the ones worth choosing.

 The World in a Cuppa (Tea)

Here’s a list of teas that are steeped in local tradition—and how you can try them at home...

 What science says about getting the most out of your tea

Tea is a source of micronutrients, including fluoride, magnesium, and zinc. However, the health benefits are mostly linked to three main bioactive compounds; Catechins, caffeine and L-theanine. Bioactive compounds are non-essential nutrients that may impact health.

 Why tea drinkers live longer

This ancient beverage does more than hydrate—it’s packed with antioxidants and compounds that boost your health, focus, and longevity.

Articles of Interest

Coffee or Tea, Which Brew is Healthier?

Nowadays hot drinks are hot! Unlike soft drinks and hard drinks, tea and coffee are healthy. But are they?

Why Drinking Tea Was Once Considered A Dangerous Habit

Given tea's rap today as both a popular pick-me-up and a health elixir, it's hard to imagine that sipping tea was once thought of as a reckless, suspicious act, linked to revolutionary feminism. Huh? Well, the feminist complaints came from 19th century, upper class Irish critics who argued that peasant women shouldn't be wasting their time — and limited resources — on tea. If women had time to sit down and enjoy a tea break, this must mean they were ignoring their domestic duties and instead, perhaps, opening the door to political engagement or even rebellion.

A Strange Brew May Be a Good Thing

Looks and aroma notwithstanding, kombucha is gaining popularity among those who favor organic beverages, and it is showing signs of turning into a gold mine for some companies.

Are Tea Bags Turning Us Into Plastic?

Some of the fancy new tea bags are made of fancy plastic. A fair price to pay for drinkable luxury?

Brewing tea removes heavy metals from water, study finds

Scientists say consumption of the beverage may have health benefit by reducing intake of metals such as lead

Britain's Great Tea Heist

In the 1848, the nation’s obsession with tea resulted in one of the biggest thefts of intellectual property in history.

Can White People Please Stop Demonizing Bubble Tea?

We don't see health warnings about unicorn lattes or rocky road ice cream, yet bubble tea remains the subject of incessant fear-mongering.

Coffee And Tea Trends: Fuel Or Flavor?

Coffee and tea are versatile drinks. Both can provide an energy boost while serving up interesting and inviting, piquant aromas. Whether it’s to prime the pump to help jumpstart the day or be a small, anticipated treat, coffee and tea work either as a peripheral add-on or the forefront of many a food and beverage occasion.

Does Matcha Beat Green Tea in Health Benefits?

Devotees of the powder cite its delivery of antioxidants.

Green Tea Compound May Protect Body And Brain

Though green tea isn’t wildly popular in the U.S., it’s actually one of the most consumed beverages across the globe. And the many people for whom it’s a staple may be the healthier for it, both physically and mentally.

Green tea doesn't prevent cancer — but it might reduce the chance of heart disease

Many people religiously drink green tea because of a belief that it provides health benefits — specifically, the idea that it might prevent cancer or heart disease. But when it comes to hard data involving human subjects, the evidence is mixed.

Health Benefits of Tea? Here’s What the Evidence Says

Unlike coffee, tea does not seem to generate negative perceptions. I know many more people who think that tea is beneficial, much more so than coffee. (That is, until my coffee column, I hope.)

Herbal Tea is Not Medicine

But it can still help you out—provided you keep your expectations in check.

New Reasons to Drink More Tea

The top researchers in the tea-health field (yes, it's a field -- a glorious one) propose tea as part of the approach to weight loss, heart health, and bone/muscle strength.

Reading the Tea Leaves for Health

Her clients, Ms. Malka said, include casual tea drinkers and those looking to kick the coffee habit or spur weight loss. Sometimes, she will host tea parties (not the kind with scones and clotted cream, alas) to discuss brewing time and tea varieties.

Should You Steep Before Sleep?

If a particular sleepy tea seems to help with that in your specific case, by all means brew a cup. But don’t treat it as a guaranteed method or a magical remedy. Instead, look on it as a tool—one route among many that can take you to dreamland.

Tea and Cancer Prevention: Strengths and Limits of the Evidence

Tea drinking is an ancient tradition dating back 5,000 years in China and India. Long regarded in those cultures as an aid to good health, researchers now are studying tea for possible use in the prevention and treatment of a variety of cancers.

Tea and Cheese Pairing

An introduction to the concepts of pairing tea with cheese. In this part Don and Li discuss the ideas behind pairing and try to find a match for Goats cheese.

Tea's health benefits exist, but many claims remain cloudy

Black and green teas have properties that are good for you, but mostly if you brew your own. Herbal teas run hot and cold when it comes to health claims.

The Ancient and Best Way to Brew Loose-Leaf Tea

America's leading tea expert explains how to brew with a guywan, a covered cup and saucer used since the 1300s.

The most inspiring tea blog posts of 2017

Here's a roundup of the tea blog posts of 2017 that I found most inspiring (in random order).

The Solitude of Western Tea Culture

Recently I was catching up on some TeaDB reading and came across an article written by James called “Western Tea Culture & Tea Hermits”. In the article, James talks about the difference between tea in Asia versus tea in the West. In short, whereas tea is part of the social fabric of life in Asia, many western tea drinkers are drinking alone. The article resonated with me and I thought I’d chime in with my own thoughts and experiences on the matter.

What’s your cup of tea?

One plant is the source for a complex variety of teas, differing not just in colors but also in effects. This one calms, another one energizes—and some even do both. Here’s what makes the difference.

Resources

9 Reasons You Should Drink Tea Every Day

While everyone continues to go crazy for coffee, we’d like to point your attention toward tea. Yes, tea, the beverage that can soothe you when you want to relax or wake you up when you need an extra push. Basically, tea is great and you should consume it just as much as your beloved java.

Tea & Coffee Trade Journal

The international voice of the tea and coffee industries since 1901.

The Tea Letter

The Tea Letter is a an online newsletter all about tea. From tea culture, to tea history, and learning more about tea, come join a community of tea lovers!

Notes on Tea

Tea drinker with a sweet tooth but I wouldn't turn down a cheese plate. Currently drinking tea in VA and DC.

Oh, How Civilized

For all things afternoon tea and other refined experiences.

Steep Stories

As you peruse the various musings on this blog, you’ll notice that I don’t really “review” teas. This isn’t a tea review blog. There are far better people out there who do that sort of thing. I’m in it for the stories, and I’m happy to share them with all of you. I rarely write about teas I don’t like or tea people I don’t like. Life’s too short for both.

Tea For Me Please

Tea for Me Please, a tea review blog and the story of my journey with the leaf. I drink more tea than any normal person should.

Tea Happiness

A site dedicated to all things tea. Find NYC tea spots, read tea reviews, join contests to win free tea!

Tea Thoughts

Join me for tea, recipes & crafts.

Teaspoons & Petals

teaspoons & petals shares my journey with everything tea. from delicious steeps, tea inspired recipes, style, and decor, my tea adventures travel well beyond the leaf.

The Cup of Life

I'm a tea enthusiast and writer based in Ontario, Canada. I'm always seeking new ways to incorporate tea into my life and looking forward to sharing them with you here.

The Tea Squirrel

The Tea Squirrel wants to transform authentic tea into an approachable, fun and sophisticated experience. I love tea and gourmet food pairings and I'm fascinated by the great potential tea has in bringing people together and bridging cultures.

Thirsty for Tea

If you’ve made it here, chances are that you either love tea or want to learn more about it. Drop me a line about your favorite teas, recipes you’d like to see posted, or even your latest awesome tea experience. I’d love to hear from you! Make tea often and stay thirsty!

International Tea Committee

The ITC is an unbiased, non profit making organisation, supported and recognised by many of the major tea producing and tea consuming nations as the official source for tea statistics.

Tea and Herbal Association of Canada

Our mission is to provide proactive leadership on behalf of all members in the areas of advocacy, generic promotion and education/information to ensure the long-term viability of the tea industry.

Tea Association of the USA

The tea industry looks to The Tea Association of the USA, Inc., The Tea Council of the USA, and the Specialty Tea Institute (STI) for its wholesale and retail needs.

Green Tea Lovers

We are green tea lovers specializing in premium Japanese green tea/white tea for health conscious consumers meeting the highest standards of safety environment & ethics.