Herbal tea is an herbal infusion made from anything other than the leaves of the tea bush (Camellia sinensis). The English word “tisane” originated from the Greek word, a drink made from pearl barley.
Herbal teas can be made with fresh or dried flowers, leaves, seeds or roots, generally by pouring boiling water over the plant […]

In 780 A.D., Lu Yu wrote the first definitive book on tea, the “Ch’a Ching”. He was orphaned and raised by scholarly Buddhist monks in one of China’s finest monasteries. However, as a young man, he rebelled against the discipline of training.  In mid-life he retired for five years into seclusion. Drawing from his vast […]

The Chinese character for tea first appeared in 725 A.D. It is said that the Chinese associate the adoption of tea with the introduction of Buddhism from India. Some believe that a Buddhist Monk, Gan Lu (Sweet Dew) who was in India on a pilgrimage, brought tea back to China in the first century. The […]

Chinese tea drinking is on the rise, as are elegant teahouses and teacups carefully crafted from porcelain and pottery. Drinking compressed tea cakes (cakes were made by using a binding agent and pouring into a mould) which are then powdered and frothed (by whisking into boiled water) or tea scented with flowers (such as jasmine, […]

During this time, tea drinking evolved into an art form. Tea as part of the Chinese culture was epitomized by the book “Ch’a Ching” or “Tea Classic” written by Lu Yu in 780 A.D. This three volume book covered everything related to tea from the proper techniques to growing plants to brewing tea. There was […]

 805 A.D
A Buddhist monk returning from China in 805 A.D. brought green tea seeds to Japan. The seeds had been collected from Mt. Tiantai in the Zhejiang Province. Only the affluent could afford the beverage in the beginning. The drinking of tea soon became popular among all of the people. Japan grows green tea and […]