Matcha Alternatives: Affordable Japanese Green Teas for the 2026 Matcha Shortage
The best matcha alternatives in the 2026 shortage: autumn bancha, hojicha and Kagoshima sencha, at 50 cents to $1.60 a cup. Taste, brewing and where to buy.
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Small Objects, Grand Rituals: A Curated Selection of Russian Tea Antiques
Discover Russian tea antiques such as samovars and silver tea ware that were part of Russian culture and tea tradition.
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Le Comptoir Florian, Belgium’s Quiet Tea House That Feels Like a Secret
Discover Le Comptoir Florian (La Maison du Thé) in Brussels; a charming, old-world Belgian tea house full of thoughtful teas.
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Fresh Mountain Air in a Cup
Discover the hidden story of Taiwan high mountain oolong (gaoshancha), from its 1980s rise to today’s greener tea trends.
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Knowledge | News | Tea history
Tea vs Cha: Why the World Says Tea, Cha or Chai (Map)
First published September 2018. Updated October 2026 with a new map, the story behind each word, the exceptions, and books for going further. Tea and cha are the same word. Both come from the Chinese character 茶, which is pronounced te in the Min Nan dialect of coastal Fujian and cha in Mandarin and Cantonese….
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Adapting Tea Rituals to a Busy Work Schedule
Finding Space for Tea During the Workday When I had to commute to office to work, one of the first things I did was build a small tea setup at work. Now, I use a portable one on days I commute which are much less often. At this point, I probably have an entire drawer…
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Tea Spaces in NYC Continue to Evolve
Tea Spaces, Minimalism and Modern Tea Culture I came across several tea-related stories that felt connected in an unexpected way. Each one explores a different side of modern tea culture. For example, one focuses on Pu’er sourcing in Yunnan, while another highlights minimalist tea spaces in Japan. At the same time, I also noticed how…
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Kombucha SCOBY (Art) Experiment
The “Mushroom” Everyone Had Growing up in Russia, you eventually encounter a strange creature in someone’s home. People simply call it “mushroom” or “гриб.” It sits quietly in a jar. It looks unusual. Yet everyone seems to have one. For years, we would keep it, forget about it, let it die, and then get another…
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Tea Culture Stories From Around the World
Lately, I’ve still been reaching for familiar teas during busy weeks. I’m currently finishing a stash of Earl Grey that I buy in bulk from Oriental Pastry & Grocery on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. I always enjoy stopping there for raw almonds, cardamom seeds, tea, and pantry staples. The two brothers who run the shop…
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Tea News Digest – Global Tea Culture and Industry Stories
I collect tea-related stories from newsfeeds, articles, and research. This is not a news cycle recap.It is a curated view of how tea appears across culture, industry, design, health debates, and daily life. Tea ranks among the most widely consumed beverages in the world.It also connects economies, rituals, and everyday habits across China, India, Kenya,…
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Humble Tea Leaf: How it all started!
How I started tea blogging. From working at a Chinese Television to Tea Blogging
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Austrian Tea Culture: The Sacher Blend by Demmers Teehaus
The Sacher Blend is a bergamot-scented black tea made by Demmers Teehaus for Vienna’s Hotel Sacher since 1981. Its story, ingredients and taste.
