World of Tea Archives | Page 4 of 7 | Arogya Holistic Healing

Teaware 101: Yixing Teapot, Perfect for Pu’er and Oolong

There is a huge variety of teaware available, and at Arogya we get many questions about which kind of teapot is best. Glass, cast-iron, unglazed clay, or porcelain? The truth is, it depends on which kind of tea you prefer to drink. There are certain teapots that work well with all teas, while other teapots truly enhance specific kinds of tea. One of my favorite teapots, the unglazed yixing teapot, is amazing for pu’er and oolong teas. It’s also the original teapot! In this, and the next couple blog posts, we will explore the different styles of teapots, which teas, and tea drinkers they work best for, and little history behind the development of the teapot, starting with the classic yixing teapot.

Goddess of Tiny Blossoms

My deep appreciation for tea began when I was a child growing up in China. There tea has been an integral part of everyday life for centuries. My parents would drink tea throughout the day, taking pause to savor each cup. My father’s favorite tea has always been classic dragon well green tea, while my mother prefers jasmine green. Jasmine also holds a special place in my heart. I love its aroma and the story of how the flower’s blossoms are infused with green or white tea leaves many times to receive the most potent flavor yet without any other additives.

Creamy Masala Chai

I’ll never forget the first time I enjoyed a cup of classic masala chai tea. I was 20 years old and had just embarked on what would be the first of many trips to India in the decade that followed. It was about 5:00 in the morning and the overnight bus I was aboard from Delhi to the northern city of Dharamsala pulled over on the side of a road in a tiny town nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas.

Bancha Hojicha – a Roasted Green Tea Perfect for Dinnertime

Lately, we can’t get enough of our newest Bancha Hojicha, a nutty, rustic, and roasted Japanese green tea! Hojicha is unique among Japanese teas because it is roasted in a porcelain pot over charcoal, whereas most Japanese teas are steamed.

How to Make Loose Leaf Iced Tea

With summer’s balmy weather, there is nothing like a refreshing cup of iced tea to cool you down and quench your thirst. Here are three easy techniques that show you how to make loose leaf iced tea as an instant cup, a pitcher, or a gallon or more with your favorite Arogya tea.

How to Make Dairy-Free Thai Iced Tea

On a sizzling day last week, we created this easy and refreshing recipe for dairy-free Thai iced tea. It’s a healthier twist to traditional Thai iced tea, using coconut milk instead of condensed milk and raw honey or organic agave nectar instead of sugar. It’s also chemical free. You might notice the color of our Thai iced tea is not as red or orange as the tea you might order at a restaurant. That’s because the vibrant color we’ve grown familiar is a product of artificial food dye.

The Allure of the Matcha Latte & How to Make a Perfect Cup of Matcha

Matcha is having a good year. If you are unfamiliar with Matcha, it’s a powdered green tea made famous by Japanese Zen monks. It has been used for centuries to create a sense of calm and focused alertness in both meditation and mindful living. We’ve been seeing all kinds of recipes lately using Matcha in sweets, hot drinks, and cocktails. Matcha is also showing up more and more in coffee shops and cafés. Even Starbucks now features a Teavana Green Tea Latte made with Matcha (and a whopping 40 grams of sugar per 12 oz cup). Though I’m familiar with traditionally brewed Matcha, which creates a naturally creamy, frothy, sweet, umami, and tremendously satisfying cup of opaque green tea, I was inspired by the Americanized recipes using Matcha. I set out to make an Arogya-style Matcha Latte, made with homemade almond milk and our ceremonial grade Matcha.

Turmeric Ginger Chai

Something a number of us here at Arogya have in common is a shared interest in visiting India. Our experiences there have also fostered a mutual love for traditional Indian chai, which is a creamy blend of black tea, milk, sugar, and aromatic spices, typically ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, clove, nutmeg, and black pepper. On a cold, rainy day last week, we decided to create our own rendition of a warming, caffeine-free, and sugar-free turmeric ginger chai using our most popular healing blend. The result was a nourishing and calming tonic that’s perfect to sip anytime, as well as when the weather’s hot or cold.

Assam Tea with a Medicinal Kick

During my most recent trip to India in January, an inspiring young man named Lokesh Jadev taught me a delightful, throat-soothing way to prepare Assam tea. Before I tell you more about this spice-up twist on a classic black tea, however, I’d like to share a little but about Lokesh.

Tulsi, an Herb for Everyday Health and Stamina

With so many delicious and healing herbs in the world it would be hard for me to choose a single favorite, but without a doubt Tulsi, also known as Holy Basil, would be high up on the list. Lately, Tulsi has been an herb of choice for my morning quart of tea, which I feel helps me get through the day with ease and sustained energy. If you haven’t tried Tulsi, which we feature in our Calming De-Stress and Detox blends, the taste is reminiscent of mint, clove and fennel. With a delightful aroma and a host of medicinal properties, Tulsi is a wonderful herb to get to know.