Here's part two of the list of old tea books that I've reviewed at The English Tea Blog. Most of them are available in free online or ebook editions. Check out part one of the list here.
Tea-Blending as a Fine Art by Joseph M. Walsh link
Here's a video from Amber McCarroll with some pointers on how to read tea leaves. While we're on the subject don't forget to check out our list of books on the subject, including two free ebook editions. It's right here.
Here's the latest update to our Tea of the Month Clubs page. A couple of the listings are lifted from Katrina's directories here and here at The Tea Pages, where you'll find more in-depth descriptions of each club. Feel free to add your club to the list.
Tea Guy Speaks is a one-man show and doesn't do as many reviews as some of the other tea review sites. Here's our list of some of the best of those sites.
If you'd like to send samples for review, please read these guidelines first.
1. Given our slim resources, we only review tea that's a cut above the rest and that we feel is worthy of calling to the attention of our readers. Please send only your best.
2. No flavored teas. I've reviewed these in the past but I don't like them much and thus am not the best person to review them. What I'm most interested in reviewing is black tea, but I'm also open to green, yellow and the lighter grades of oolong.
3. Reviews are subjective, but we strive to give a fair, honest and constructive appraisal of the product under consideration.
4. We will disclose whether the product being reviewed has been supplied by a merchant.
5. We sometimes review products provided by a merchant with whom we have a prior relationship. We will disclose whether such a relationship exists.
6. We don't accept payments or gifts in exchange for reviews.
Here's the latest version of the Tea Review Sites list. Some sites don't appear to be active but I've left them on the list for reference purposes. If you know of a site I've missed please leave a comment.
Here are some tea-related video channels. If you have anything to add, feel free to leave a note in the comments. If you have a tea-related podcast or you know of one, feel free to add it as well and we'll include it in the list.
Here are the latest additions to the Tea Blog List. As always, you can find the full list here. Feel free to add your tea blog to the list and please consider linking back to us.
If you know anything about Alex Zorach you probably know that he's the tea guy behind RateTea, one of a number of great resources featured in our listing of Tea Review Sites. Alex also holds forth on tea-related topics at the appropriately named Alex Zorach's Tea Blog, where he writes about "tea, business, sustainability, herbs, culture, ecology, and more." Which makes for pretty interesting reading and I don't say that just because Alex was kind enough to profile Tea Guy Speaks recently. Here's the link.
We're not planning to branch out into career advice and job postings and that sort of thing but it's interesting to note that there's a truly one of a kind job now available for a tea person with the right credentials.
The Charleston Tea Gardens, located in South Carolina, is the most significant producer of tea in a country that grows very modest amounts of the stuff. They're currently looking for a qualified person to fill the General Manager role. More at this link.
Here's out latest update to the tea room and tea house directory list. As always, if you know of others please leave a comment.
Benjamin Press - Publisher of The Great Tea Rooms of America, The Great Tea Rooms of Britain, Tea in the City: New York, Tea in the City: London, and Tea in the City: Paris.
Great Tea Rooms of America - Claims to list more than two thousand tea rooms and allows you to search for them by zip code, state and city.
TeaGuide - Bills itself as "the Original Tea Room and Tea Shop Directory" - Lists tea rooms and shops in the U.S. and worldwide and includes a number of reviews.
World Tea Expo Names Six Leading Tea Trends for 2012 (from a press release)
Organizers of World Tea Expo, the largest and most prominent B2B event for the industry, pinpoint quality tea, growth in tea retail, cold brew green tea, green tea popularity, Matcha lattes and tea-enhancing wares as six of the key tea trends for 2012. World Tea Expo, which covers the latest retail developments, takes place June 1 – 3 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Registration and information is available at www.WorldTeaExpo.com.
"At World Tea Expo, we always strive to stay one step ahead of emerging trends, so we can deliver a relevant event to participants that fuels business growth," says Kim Jage, sales and marketing director, World Tea Media, a division of F+W Media. "Each one of these six trends – as well as numerous other hot topics – will be addressed and explored during the Expo this year. At the event, attendees can: taste cold brewed green tea and the latest Japanese Matcha lattes; gain current knowledge regarding tea retail growth, supply chain transparency and FDA regulations; learn how to capitalize on tasting trends; and taste for themselves whether or not the newest tea ware on the market does in fact enhance the flavor of tea."
Six Notable Tea Trends 1. Quality Tea on the Rise 2. Tea Retail Continues Its Upward Trend 3. Green Tea Grows in Popularity 4. Tea-enhancing Tea Wares 5. Cold Brew Green Tea 6. Matcha Lattes (Real Ones)
Certified Tea Blending Opportunity (from a press release)
Beautiful San Diego sets the backdrop for an intensive 2-day hands-on Certified Tea Blending Course at the Courtyard by Marriott Liberty Station in San Diego, California, January 19 – 20, 2012. The course will be led by Certified Tea Master Diego Morlachetti, Executive Director of the Escuela Argentina de Té in Rosario, Argentina, a licensee of the American Tea Masters Association. It will be followed by 3-months of intensive home study involving various blending formulations and periodic online sessions for support. The course will focus on the hidden secrets and mysteries of tea blending and professional techniques for developing both traditional blends and signature formulas.
With blended teas the first choice among many tea drinkers today, registrants will be trained in blending various types and grades of tea with other teas and with ingredients like herbs, dried fruit, flowers, flower petals, and spices, including Ayurvedic formulations. They will learn to create professional blends, based on traditional formulas and current market demand, achieving results based on the technical criteria acquired during the course. They will also learn to determine the freshness of the ingredients they are using in the mixing and blending phases to assure a natural and satisfying taste.
The course is ideally suited for tea business owners and managers, restauranteurs, wine someliers, chefs, caterers, tea aficionados, industry suppliers, and others who wish to incorporate tea blending skills into their daily lives or current profession.
This feature from The Independent goes back a few years but it's still worth a look. Even if you're not going to visit the United Kingdom any time soon it still makes for an interesting slide show.
Looking for the perfect cup of tea? Do a Google or YouTube search for this phrase and you'll find that there are any number of people itching to help. Here's one of the most popular videos on the topic. For more on the subject, check out the articles I wrote at the English Tea Store Blog, here and here.
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Here are a few tea-related social networking sites, aside from such obvious suspects as Twitter, Facebook and MySpace. And don't forget about our Tea Blog List, which currently numbers almost 300 blogs.
Hot For Tea A Social Networking Web Site For Tea Lovers From Around The World
International Tea Sippers Society The International Tea Sippers Society is an opportunity for tea lovers to discover fun, value and the latest trends in the World of Tea.
New Zealand Tea Lovers A place to meet fellow tea lovers from New Zealand and beyond to exchange experiences & tips, arrange tea meetings and discuss tea
Steepster Three dudes in New York City built this site as a way of keeping track of the teas they were drinking. Since then, it's turned into one of the liveliest tea communities on the Web.
Tea Appreciation Society The Tea Appreciation Society was originally set up in 2007 by a small group of designers, since then it has grown into a wonderful worldwide collective of tea lovers, many of whom are artists, musicians, photographers and other creative types.
Here are a few educational resources for anyone seeking a somewhat more formal approach to increasing their knowledge of tea. If you know of others, list them in the comments and we'll update the page from time to time.
Tea Master Training Slated for San Diego (from a press release)
Aspiring tea aficionados will be gathering in San Diego in January to take part in the 13-Week Tea Mastery Certification Course offered by the American Tea Masters Association. The training includes the initial 3-Day Comprehensive Tea Mastery Course held on-site at the Courtyard by Marriott, Liberty Station, followed by the 12-Week Tea Master TeleCourse involving home study, tasting and evaluating 38 different teas, and weekly group teleconference calls for registrants to share their personal experiences.
The program offers the high level of focus and support needed to gain the competence and confidence to serve as a tea master or tea sommelier at any distinguished restaurant, hotel or tea room in the country, or start or expand one's own enterprise. It contains all the educational requirements an individual needs for achieving the association's prestigious Certified Tea Master designation and lapel pin once the training program, final examination, and blind tea tasting are successfully completed.
The 13-Week Tea Mastery Certification Course is open to a maximum of 12 participants. Tuition for the complete program is currently $2,475, less our Economic Stimuli Discount (worth $500), resulting in a net cost of $1,975. However, the Economic Stimuli Discount expires on December 31st.
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