Tea History: East Frisian Tea

Every tea tells a story. Today's post is about a cup of tea that feels like a novella: complete with a beginning, middle, and a sweet ending. The characters are all strong on their own but they share a common thread. At first the story is a bit disconcerting, as the flavor is so rich. But then as it lingers, it’s pure comfort. You can’t put this story down. You want to keep going, to see how it progresses. The next few sips balance out the narrative. The tea is super strong, independent enough to stand up to the cream. You're rooting for the main character. The last few sips reveal a surprising sweet finish, and you wish the adventure didn't have to end. This is the story told in a cup of East Frisian tea.

Let's uncover the authors of this story. One of most surprising tea drinking areas in the world is East Frisia. Have you heard about this small pocket of passionate tea drinkers? East Frisia is in the North West corner of Germany, right on the coast. It is right next to the Netherlands, and its location is one of the reasons why they drink tea. I recently had the opportunity to try an East Frisian blend of tea and starting reading about the full ritual behind it. Of course I ended up doing a bit more research. Turns out East Frisia has a very interesting tea history woven into one complex cup of tea.

Interview: Bruce Richardson of Elmwood Inn Fine Teas

Photo Courtesy of Bruce Richardson

As a fan of tea history, I first came across Bruce Richardson's name as the co-author of a book I reach for often, A Social History of Tea. Since then I've noticed his name pop up on numerous books, lectures, tea history sites, and as the co-owner of Elmwood Inn Fine Teas with his wife Shelley and son Ben.

Last month I had the pleasure of speaking with Bruce face to face at the NY Coffee & Tea Festival, and knew he'd be a perfect person for a blog interview. As expected he's very knowledgeable about all things tea, but also fine art, music, and travel. Read below for our interview, including one of his most memorable tea adventures, and a special personal tea ritual.

Interview: Tyas Huybrechts of The Tea Crane

Photo courtesy of Tyas Huybrechts

Tyas Huybrechts is not just someone that sells tea. He is a Belgian ex-pat living in Japan, teaching Japanese tea culture, and living the beautiful tea life. He also sells tea at The Tea Crane but, as he says, "I don’t actually consider myself a tea vendor, but rather something closer to a missionary spreading the value that tea can bring to our lives." These are the wise words of Tyas.

I'm excited to bring you our interview below. He explains the beauty of Japanese tea culture quite poetically. Find out what teas he recommends for Japanese tea newbies, the challenges of teaching the Japanese tea ceremony, and many more beautiful facts about his tea adventure.