Tea Facts

A Rubyland Poet Puerh Review: Autumn 2023’s Flavorful Escape

Feb

Tea FactsBenefits, Father, Poet, Puerh, Rubyland

A Rubyland Poet Puerh Review: Autumn 2023’s Flavorful Escape

If you're chasing the elusive balance between fruit-forward charm and earthy depth, the 2023 Autumn Mengku Sheng Puerh from Rubyland Poet delivers a rare harmony. This tea marries the brightness of dried apricots with the grounded richness of old-tree terroir, creating a profile that feels both inviting and refined. The first steep reveals a floral perfume that lingers like a whispered secret, while the body carries a dense, almost creamy texture that coats the palate without overwhelming. Its minerality is forward, sharp enough to cut through the sweetness but not so assertive as to disrupt the delicate equilibrium. What sets…

The Smoky Mystery of Upton’s 2016 Sheng Pu’erh

Feb

By ADMIN@CoffeeWineTea.com

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Tea FactsAgroforestry, California, Father, Sheng

The Smoky Mystery of Upton’s 2016 Sheng Pu’erh

If you’ve ever wondered why pu’erh tea smells like a campfire, you’re not alone. A recent attempt to dive into Chinese tea traditions led to a perplexing discovery: a 2016 Sheng pu’erh from Upton Tea that smelled more like a charcoal grill than a tea cake. The aroma was unmistakably smoky, almost as if the leaves had been stored in a firepit. For someone new to the world of pu’erh, this was a confusing experience—especially since Sheng pu’erh is meant to be earthy, not acrid. Sheng pu’erh, or "raw" pu’erh, is known for its vibrant, floral notes and a subtle…

The Smoky Echoes of a 2006 Gaoshanlaoshu Raw Puerh

Feb

By ADMIN@CoffeeWineTea.com

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Tea FactsBy, Father

The Smoky Echoes of a 2006 Gaoshanlaoshu Raw Puerh

Here’s something to stir your curiosity: A 2006 Gaoshanlaoshu raw puerh delivers a smokestack of hickory and barbecue pit, but the rest of the story feels unfinished. The tea’s aroma is a quiet rebellion—hickory without the sharpness of a charcoal grill, oatmeal without the cloying sweetness of breakfast. It’s a scent that lingers, but only in the upper register, like smoke drifting above a campfire rather than settling into the air. The first steep reveals a paradox: lightness that hints at depth. Oatmeal and woody incense dance with a peppery edge, while a fleeting strawberry note vanishes like steam in…

Feb

By ADMIN@CoffeeWineTea.com

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Tea Factsacidity, But, California, Father, Stick

The Puer Tea Newbie’s Burning Questions

Time to spill: You’re not alone if you’re sipping puer and wondering how long a session can stretch. That first brew is a revelation—rich, earthy, and oddly soothing—but the second, third, or even fourth? It’s a dance between patience and practicality. The rule of thumb? Stick to a 30-minute window between infusions. Beyond that, the tea loses its clarity, and the flavor becomes muddled. But here’s the catch: if you’re sipping over an hour or two, you’re already in the sweet spot. Just don’t let the clock dictate your pace. If you’re working, split the session into chunks—maybe a few…

Golden Needle White Lotus Shou: Aged Depth in Every Sip

Feb

By ADMIN@CoffeeWineTea.com

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Tea Factsacidity, Father, What

Golden Needle White Lotus Shou: Aged Depth in Every Sip

The 2003 Golden Needle White Lotus Shou isn’t just another aged pu-erh—it’s a revelation in how time transforms tea. Steeped in a wood-fired teapot, this 7g sample in 110ml yields a first infusion that’s light, woodsy, and faintly medicinal, like stepping into a forest after rain. But the magic unfolds with each subsequent steep. By the second or third infusion, the tea deepens into a rich, almost chocolatey complexity, still carrying that medicinal edge but now layered with warmth and earthiness. The mouthfeel is silk-smooth, a contrast to the boldness of its flavor profile. What stands out isn’t just the…

Feb

By ADMIN@CoffeeWineTea.com

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Tea Factsacidity, alchemy, Flower Tea, Gaiwan, how to clean your coffee maker

The Gaiwan That Rewired My Tea World

There’s a Gaiwan that rewired my tea world. It arrived as a gift, a catalyst for a journey that bridged family tradition and personal curiosity. My roots are steeped in tea—my mom’s herbal rituals, my husband’s East Frisian heritage, where black tea is both comfort and cultural anchor. But for years, I clung to simplicity, convinced there were only two kinds of tea: Tiele Silber and Bünting. That changed when a colleague gifted us Dianghong red tea, smooth and balanced, its depth revealing layers I’d never tasted. It was the first sip of a revelation. Tea became a language of…

Why Your Tea Turns Bitter—And How to Fix It

Feb

By ADMIN@CoffeeWineTea.com

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Tea FactsFather

Why Your Tea Turns Bitter—And How to Fix It

Let’s talk about the moment your favorite tea transitions from sublime to soured. You’ve mastered the pour, the heat, the ritual—but once you’ve sipped past the halfway mark, that once-delicious brew becomes a bitter punch to the palate. It’s a common frustration, especially with delicate teas like oolong orange blossom, where balance is everything. The culprit? A steeping process that’s gone too far. Tea’s bitterness stems from tannins, the same compounds that give wine its edge. In oolong, which sits between green and black tea in oxidation, these tannins are both a feature and a foe. Oversteeping allows them to…

When Tea Snobbery Meets a Black Tea Mix-Up

Feb

By ADMIN@CoffeeWineTea.com

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Tea FactsDianhong, Father

When Tea Snobbery Meets a Black Tea Mix-Up

This is worth savoring: A tea snob’s moment of humility. I received a package labeled as yellow tea, only to discover it was a Dianhong black tea. The mix-up wasn’t just a logistics error—it was a masterclass in how our biases can warp our palate. I brewed it at 80°C, expecting the floral notes of a yellow tea, only to be met with a sweet, almost corn-like aroma. My mind raced to rationalize it—“maybe it’s hay?”—before the truth hit: the leaves were dark, the taste profile unmistakably black tea. The vendor had mislabeled their stock, pairing a Yunnan Golden Tip…

Tea Time as Self-Care: How a Simple Ritual Can Transform Your Day

Feb

By ADMIN@CoffeeWineTea.com

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Tea FactsCubelic, Father, Flower Tea, This, When

Tea Time as Self-Care: How a Simple Ritual Can Transform Your Day

Real talk: Tea isn’t just a drink—it’s a reset button for your mind and body. When life feels like it’s spinning out of control, a mindful cup of tea offers a pause, a reset, and a way to anchor yourself in the present. This low-cost act of self-care slips effortlessly into any routine, whether you’re craving solitude or looking to connect with others. “Tea is for community, connection, and self-care,” says Bree Sharratt, founder of Island Elixir Tea Company, who leads tea workshops in Langford, B.C. “We want five minutes of calm for every Canadian every day, through tea with…

Celebrities Prefer $200 Teas—Here’s How to Match Their Taste Without Breaking the Bank

Feb

By ADMIN@CoffeeWineTea.com

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Tea FactsBrands, Earl, Father, Grey, Oprah

Celebrities Prefer $200 Teas—Here’s How to Match Their Taste Without Breaking the Bank

Consider this your morning briefing: The same tea that graces celebrity Instagram feeds costs hundreds per cup, yet affordable versions exist. Silver Tips Imperial white tea, handpicked under moonlight, commands $1,000 per kilogram due to its rarity and labor-intensive harvest. Yet, White Peony—using both buds and leaves—offers similar elegance for $15 to $30. The gap between luxury and everyday tea isn’t about flavor but about exclusivity, branding, and the myth of scarcity. Celebrities like Oprah and Serena Williams choose teas for their health benefits and ritual, not just taste. Oprah’s Teavana Chai, priced at $200 per cup, is a collaboration…