May you spend a moment in reflection of all that 2013 has brought you. May you sweep clean your world for the start of a new year. ...

I had the wonderful opportunity to make matcha for a good friend and my niece while visiting my family over the Christmas holiday. It...

Twinkle, twinkle oh bright star Happy solstice!  I'm observing this longest night with a fire, herbal tea, Portland Cello Project ...

Different people need different things at the holidays.  Some people love big, loud family gatherings. Others prefer quiet moments of r...

This bright green little apple floats and bobs in my teacup.  Hidden beneath is a stainless steel mesh tea strainer.  A gift from a frien...

Do you enjoy an occasional lunch of Chinese dim sum?  It's a tasty and fun experience, with its historical roots and modern day pra...

Many of you have probably tired these green tea mints from the Sencha Naturals  company.  What do you think of them?   I enjoy them.  ...

"When we cannot bear to be alone, it means we do not properly value the only companion we will have from birth to death - oursel...

A whole chicken, deep fried Muzha, Taiwan Well, here's another way to cook up a holiday bird - you can deep fry the whole thing!...

Old growth tea plants in between betel nut trees I've been sifting through Taiwan Tea Tour photos and will return to blogging ab...

Bamboo vase with rose hips I've always liked the look of bamboo , but after a recent class on carving bamboo scoops and making ba...

Ginger-Thyme Tea Hello , blog readers - As the nights grow longer, darker and cooler, I find myself wanting a warm beverage to sip in the ...

Watermelon Radish Way back in 2005, when I started this blog - Wow, really?  Has it been that long?! - I thought first about the messa...

Homemade macarons I know how much work it is to host an afternoon tea gathering.  The planning, the shopping, the cleaning, the deco...

My tree-lined street, vibrant with color I used to feel a little sad when autumn would come.  I knew the days would grow shorter, da...

Camellia Sinensis blossom My tea plant has had a beautiful flush (growth spurt) this autumn, including a profusion of flower buds. I ...

A formal mate gourd and the loose leaf brand my friend prefers I am very happy to co-author this blog post with my good friend, AM.  I...

I'm about a month late in writing about this... Back in mid September, the huckleberries were ripe in the Pacific Northwest.  I ...

Ti Guan Yin tea in Muzha, Taiwan What is oolong tea ?  This is perhaps the most difficult Tea 101 topic I've written.  The tea i...