Russian Tea Culture

Teatrition Facts:
The Russians began purchasing tea from the Chinese in the 17th century. Because the trip took nearly a year to complete, the tea was very expensive. The completion of the Siberian Railroad in the 1800's made the trip shorter and tea more widely available. The Russians used a samovar, an urn that holds hot water, to make tea at any time of the day. The water from the samovar was used to dilute a concentrated form of tea called tscheinik. This smoked tea flavor is unique to Russian tea culture. Tea in Russia is sometimes consumed with a sugar cube in the mouth or with jam.  

For a tea with a strong smoked flavor, try the Russian style of brewing tea instead of your usual steeping method. 

Montagne de Jade

Mariage Frères - Montagne de Jade

Montagne de Jade is a Chinese green tea made by Mariage Frères. The leaves of this tea have an aroma of apple and papaya. The tropical flavors presented in this tea blend with the green tea leaves to produce a crisp and refreshing beverage.

Darjeeling Selim Hill

The Cultured Cup - Darjeeling Selim Hill 

Darjeeling Selim Hill is an Indian Darjeeling tea made by The Cultured Cup. This tea is a full-bodied beverage with an earthy aroma and flavor. The color of the infusion is amber and the liquor has a thick texture. 

Indian Tea Culture

Teatrition Facts:
India is one of the largest tea producing countries in the world. Because tea in India has gained popularity in recent history, the tea culture in India lacks the elaborate rituals one would find in China and Japan. Tea in India is consumed as a morning and evening beverage. The preferred style of black tea sold by tea vendors is called Cha-ya. Cha-ya is a black tea with various spices, milk, and sugar. In the West we call this beverage Chai Tea. 

If you want to try a quality tea from India, order a tea from one of their famous black tea growing regions: Darjeeling, Assam, or Nilgiri. 

Casablanca

Mariage Frères - Casablanca

Casablanca is a Chinese green tea made by Mariage Frères. The leaves of this tea have a strong mint aroma. The liquor has a golden brown color and has the aroma of clover honey. The mint and bergamot flavors blend with the green tea to create a sweet flavored beverage.

Russian Breakfast

Mariage Frères - Russian Breakfast

Russian Breakfast is a Sri Lankan and Chinese black tea blend. The aroma of the dry tea leaves are very powerful. The aroma of the infusion is light and filled with bergamot. I believed that this tea would be strong but was pleasantly surprised to find a light infusion that is full-bodied and flavorful.  

French Tea Culture

Teatrition Facts:
Although the French are well known for their coffee, tea is still a popular beverage in France. Tea is sometimes used as a beverage consumed after meals to focus on digestion and settle the stomach. Black teas like Earl Grey are consumed in France with breakfast or with some pastries. Some of these black teas may even be served as a fruit blend. Herbal beverages made from verbena and tilleul are also popular because they aid in digestion but are caffeine free. 

If you are in the mood for a tea with layers of flavor, try a French tea from a company like Mariage Frères. 

Wedding Imperial

 Mariage Fréres - Wedding Imperial

Wedding Imperial is a Chinese black tea blend made by Mariage Fréres. The dry leaves have an aroma of caramel and vanilla extract. The black tea flavor is light and somewhat masked by the sweet flavors in this blend. After the liqueur is sipped, the mouth is filled with a sweet and minty aftertaste. 

Gongfu Tea Brewing

Teatrition Facts:
The Gongfu tea brewing style is a Chinese style of brewing tea that became popular during the Ming Dynasty. This method of brewing tea calls for more tea leaves to be used and for a shorter infusion period. The method of brewing allows for many infusions. Gongfu tea brewing became popular among tea connoisseurs as a way to magnify the flavor of the infusion. This tea brewing method works the best on oolong teas. Using this method on oolong teas allows for each infusion to present its own unique flavor.

If you are looking for a way to intensify the flavor of your tea, give the Gongfu tea brewing style a try.        

French Breakfast

Mariage Fréres - French Breakfast

French Breakfast is a Chinese and Indian black tea blend made by Mariage Fréres. As opposed to earl grey tea this is a black tea with subtle flavors. The aroma of the leaves are sweet and earthy. The addition of cream and sugar to the liqueur give it a different dimension of flavor that dampens the strength of the black tea.

Capital Teas

Capital Teas is offering Teatrition readers a discount on their Artisanal Blends (http://bit.ly/Qx4gU3). When checking out, simply use the coupon code TEATRITION13 and you will receive 10% off all Artisanal Blends. This special will run until May 13. 

Below are some favorite Artisanal Blends:
Gone with the Peach: http://bit.ly/UoBhp4
Talk of the Town: http://bit.ly/TRVIGX
Mexican Mango Chili Mate: http://bit.ly/r0Gozs
Fountain of Youth White Acai: http://bit.ly/Ab8sfu
Royal Wedding Tea: http://bit.ly/I0Dw6v


I want to thank everyone reading the blog posts from my blog, Teatrition. Stay tuned for future tea related posts.   

The Cultured Cup

Recently I had the pleasure of attending a tea tasting at The Cultured Cup in Dallas, TX. The structure of the tea tasting was to give the guest a tea experience filled with tea history, processing techniques, and tea samples. For a free tasting, contact The Cultured Cup through the link shown below. 

http://www.theculturedcup.com/#!visit-us/c1cyn

Tai Ping Hou Kui

Teavana - Tai Ping Hou Kui 

Tai Ping Hou Kui is a green tea made by Teavana. The tea leaves are long and flat. The infusion yields a spicy flavored tea with a mild aftertaste. 

Liu An Gua Pian

Teavana - Liu An Gua Pian

Liu An Gua Pian is a green tea made by Teavana. This tea has a very mild aroma. The flavor of the tea is slightly grassy but mellows out after tasting.    

Dragonwell

Teavana - Dragonwell

This is a dragonwell green tea made by Teavana. The tea leaves have an earthy aroma. The color of the liquor is an olive green. This green tea has a mild flavor with a clean finish.  

Silver Yin Zhen Pearls

Teavana - Silver Yin Zhen Pearls 

Silver Yin Zhen Pearls is a silver needle white tea made by Teavana. This is a subtle tea with light flavors. The tea leaves are hand rolled into pearl shaped tea leaves. 

Nan Nuo Shan Pu-erh

Teavana - Nan Nuo Shan Pu-erh

Nan Nuo Shan Pu-erh is an aged pu-erh tea made by Teavana. This tea has the aroma of a black tea. The flavor is mild but ends with a clean finish.  

Phoenix Mountain Dan Cong Oolong

Teavana - Phoenix Mountain Dan Cong Oolong 

Phoenix Mountain Dan Cong Oolong is an oolong tea made by Tevana. The leaves of this tea are a flat dark green leaf. This is a full-bodied tea with a fruity flavor. Phoenix Mountain Dan Cong Oolong initially has a burst of flavor that quickly softens after tasting. 

Huang Shan Mao Feng

Teavana - Huang Shan Mao Feng

Huang Shan Mao Feng is a green tea made by Teavana. This green tea is mild yet full of flavor. The tea has a subtle aroma. Huang Shan Mao Feng pleases the palette without yielding a grassy aftertaste. 

Monkey Picked Oolong

Teavana - Monkey Picked Oolong

Monkey Picked Oolong is an oolong tea made by Teavana. This is a tea with subtle flavors and a fresh aroma. The tea leaves are a dark green leaf. This tea has a slight sweetness that ends with a clean finish. 

Bi Luo Chun

The Cultured Cup - Bi Luo Chun

Bi Luo Chun is a green tea made by The Cultured Cup. The leaves of this tea are dark green with light green tips. The tea gives off a grassy aroma. Bi Luo Chun initially has a strong green tea flavor that matures into a full-flavored tea with a clean finish.