During recent east coast snow storms, it's the ideal time for family and friends to sit around table and share hot meals accompanied by a pot of good tea. Here is a video demonstration of how to make the seasonal Chinese hot pot soup . Enjoy!
February 18, 2010
February 3, 2010
Seasonal beauty of nature enhansed by tea
What a seasonal cycle of beauty to behold and enjoy. The wintery snow melts which brings vibrant spring growth. These garden pictures were taken 3 months apart last year. Imagine sipping tea along a hot pot meal with family and friends in cold winter--the house filled with delicious aroma of the broth and foggy windows covered with warm steam. Then spring comes--tea in gazebo surrounded by blooming plants!
January 6, 2010
World Tea News
(picture above: Christmas table centerpiece made with fresh cut camellia, heavenly bamboo and cypress brances from my garden. Note the camellia flower buds--those remaining on the tree will be blooming in spring!)
As a tea enthusiast, I subscribe to "The World Tea News". It updates me with tea research and development around the world, as well as tea-related cultural happenings in US. The recent issue has two articles of great interest. One is a Korean study on the influence of tea's chemical components (which directly influence taste quality of tea) by shading tea plants during the growth. The article provides scientific proof on the shading effect at tea plantations. Another article is a research report by Ito En (a Japanese bottled tea company) on EGCG's (a prevalent component in green tea) inhibition effect of flu virus. Quite a reassuring article for all to continue the daily enjoyment of tea sips!
