Oolong Tea Times

The Chinese Character I Couldn't Read: How I Ended Up in Taiwan

Rejected by college, then sent back to level one in Taiwan because I couldn’t read one simple character: 田, “field.” Here’s how a wayward kid from Oregon found his way to Mandarin, Taiwan, and even...

Glass vs Porcelain vs Clay: Which Teapot Makes the Best Tea?

Glass, porcelain or clay? Learn which teapot material suits which tea, and how to match clay color to your oolong or Puer for a better brew.

Green Oolong: The Green Tea Lover's Secret

Love green tea but not the bitterness? Green oolong gives you the health benefits with a smooth, floral flavor and a creamy umami finish.

Is My Tea Real? How to Know You're Buying Quality

I spent the last couple of weeks digging through Reddit's tea communities, looking for the most common questions that stop people from getting into loose-leaf tea. This question keeps coming up: Is...

The Master's Path: A Taipei Tea Journey

We staggered off the high-speed rail at dawn like pilgrims returning from an all-nighter, the sun breaking through the horizon to our left. Behind us was an epic day that had started sixteen hours ...

Tea Tasting 101: The 5 S's (It's Not Snobbish, I Promise)

Here's the thing about tea tasting: it doesn't have to be intimidating or pretentious. You don't need to wear a monocle or use fancy terminology to appreciate a great cup of tea. All you need is cu...

Gong Fu Brewing: The Art of Tea Interaction

There's something profound about the gong fu brewing method. It's not just about extracting tea—it's about having a conversation with your leaves, your vessel, and yourself. Every steep is an oppor...

Why I Fell in Love with Oolong Tea (And Why Your Body Will Too)

Oolong Tea Boosts Metabolism (Yes, Really) One of the first things I noticed was how alive my body felt after drinking oolong. There's this zippy, energized sensation—like someone flipped a switch....