30
Jun
an unusual infusion – cold brew tea
In this video, I am going to show you how to make lemon tea using the cold brew and the hot brew method. Include recipe: “Cold Brew Golden Monkey”.
Tag Archives: black tea
27
Jul
Robert Fortune: tea thief or hero?
One Victorian traveller brought rhododendrons, jasmine, azaleas, peonies, magnolias, kumquat (and tea) from the far east. The story of tea thief Robert Fortune, a botanist who served the British Empire by snatching tea to India. Robert Fortune (the Scot who stole tea from China) travelled in Chinese dress (& pigtail) to avoid unwelcome attention. How tea thrived in India/SriLanka only after Robert Fortune stole 20,000 teaplants and all the secret knowhow. Download Robert Fortune’s book ‘Journey to the Tea Countries of China’ free of charge.
29
Jun
Bubble Teas
Bubble tea has become a ‘fast food’ kids drink from disposable plastic cups with an extra wide straw. Bubble tea’s called ‘bubble’ cos of the chewy pearls/boba of yam, tapioca, sago or jelly, or else the foam topping. Original bubble tea consisted of hot Taiwanese black tea, tapioca pearls, condensed milk, syrup or honey but are now mainly a mixture of coloured syrups. Delicious Dragon Well bubble tea caught my eye at a Hangzhou street stall & recreated in London with purple yam mochi. Recipe for Singaporean Nonya ice dessert called Chendol.
14
Jun
Mistake Tea: Emperor’s Golden Monkey
Great things come from accidental discoveries, penicillin, champagne & now my own new v modest addition. Chinese character for ‘vinegar’ combines 3 characters for ‘wine’, ’21’ & ‘days’: wine that’s been left to go off for 21 days!
How I ‘discovered’ Emperor’s Golden Monkey and found it was surprisingly delicious! Red tea is really ‘black’ and black tea is actually ‘red’ – an accident of history, or a misunderstanding. Emperor’s Golden Monkey tea liquor is red/mahogany, tastes malty, earthy, caramel, marmalade & sweet longan.
26
May
tea and meditation at kyoto garden
Nine of us gathered with our own tea-sets in a silent & serene tea-sharing circle round the Kyoto Garden’s stunning lake. I spent a restorative, meditative 45 min at Holland Park enjoying a simple ritual of sharing tea with eight amazing people! Rain stayed away and the sun came out for last Sunday’s 1st open-air medTEAtation in beautiful Kyoto Garden Holland Park! The ducks, squirrels and tourists were curious & bemused as we sat in the park to brew our teas for medTEAtation. Holland Park medTEAtation went so smoothly, all were delighted, & we came back to Chaya Teahouse for more tea & chitchat.
01
Apr
silk stocking milk tea
Strong black tea with a big dollop of condensed/evaporated milk would fill & warm my tummy as a kid. My Hainanese Grandpa used traditional cotton conical sieve & woodfired stove 2 mk smooth sweet creamy tea! ‘Gou cha’ is the typical Hainanese way of brewing thick creamy black tea I remember from childhood. V calming! My Grandpa sold his own special blend of delicious milky tea in Malaysia. Lovely with kaya toast!! HongKong has a milky black tea called ‘silk stocking’ after the cotton sieves used to make it.
25
Mar
yuan yang: mandarin ducks of coffee-tea
Yuan-Yang tea-coffee is the ‘Mandarin duck’ of Hong Kong beverages, i.e. a solid tho unlikely pairing! Mandarin Ducks symbolise conjugal affection & fidelity & the name’s bn gvn 2 this tea-coffee-combo concoction! HongKongers appreciate the oomph of Yuan-Yang tea-coffee. I tried it out in Birmingham! Yang (warming) coffee mixed with Yin (cooling) creamy is a delicious HongKong drink: here’s the recipe! I’m intrigued by Yuan-Yang, complex, nuanced, East-West fusion of tea and coffee!
28
Feb
chaya teahouse is now open
A heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped us inaugurate chaya teahouse this weekend, after such a long gestation period! Here is a review by tea lover Erin in yelp.co.uk. And here are a few of the pictures.
11
Dec
Lychee Black: a very Christmasy Tea
Recipe for a non-alcoholic Lychee Black tea “mulled wine” that is perfect for Xmas. Recipe for Lychee Vibes – a cocktail with lychee black tea and vodka. Recipe for Consort Yang’s Deep Fried Lychees – a quick and easy delicious festive dessert. Learn how Consort Yang’s favourite fruit Lychee has inspired the great lychee black tea! Natural sugars in Lychee black tea caramelised during roasting giving it an opulent, mahogany hue & fragrant aroma. From a Chinese traditional medicine perspective, Lychee Black tea can relieve fatigue and is Yang in nature so is very suitable for drinking during autumn and winter as an antidote to the Yin season.
03
Dec
Masala Chai – India’s Eight Treasures Tea
Buddhist pilgrimage tour of India & Nepal where I fell in love with Masala Chai. Learn all about tea as the ordinary Indians make it, spicy, hot & sweet. Amazing “green” little clay masala tea cups known as chullarhs. Masala Chai tea recipes & tea culture in India. Ingenious portable tea kettles from my Buddhist tour of India.