[image description: Tea growers in Japan are throwing shade // Gyokuro (often used to create Matcha) and Tamaryokucha tea are grown in full or partial shade. Due to a lack of sunlight, shade-grown tea is vividly green with increased umami notes and higher levels of caffeine.]
oolong tea | guangdong province, China Grown on the Phoenix mountains in China, Dan Cong oolongs come from a special variety of camellia sinensis which presents as a tree rather than a bush. Phoenix oolongs (also known as Phoenix Mountain ooolong, Phoenix Mountain dan cong, Fenghuang Dan Cong, and even Phoenix Mountain Dan Cong oolong) …
the kingdom is full “teaplant03” painted collage by pheinixx | featuring the camellia sinensis plantvisit our art store to purchase this artwork (fine art prints, home décor, soft furnishings)
Sometime around 2737 BC Emperor Shen Nong dealt with the accident of tea leaves falling into his outdoor boiling water by drinking the steeped liquid. Since then, foraged plants have been brewed into remarkable and interesting concoctions. (please be smarter than the story of legend and know first what it is that you are ingesting)
The tea of ancient rituals can provide you with a moment of calm and focus. Matcha has a distinct earthy, vegetal bitter taste. The process of making it is simple and satisfying; but it will take practice to perfect your technique and will require some specialty equipment. step 1/ scoop 1-2tsp of matcha powder into …
what you find in each direction depends on what you carry with you “teacup13” collage by pheinixx | featuring vintage “soft lilac duchess” chelsea garden bone china, england + vintage aynsley bone china, england + vintage paragon bone china, englandvisit our art store to purchase this artwork (fine art prints, home décor, soft furnishings)
[image description: Flavour equals aroma and taste. What we perceive as flavour is created through the combination of aroma and taste: roughly 80% aroma and 20% taste.]
black tea (flavoured) Earl grey tea’s distinctive and iconic flavour comes from Chinese black tea enrobed in bergamot oil, first given to Charles Grey, 2nd Earl of Grey in the 1830s; the stories of how and why it was created and gifted to the Earl are varied, but the Lady of Grey began serving it …
when the fairytale daydream encroaches on reality “teacup12” collage by pheinixx | featuring vintage “blossom time” royal albert bone china, englandvisit our art store to purchase this artwork (fine art prints, home décor, soft furnishings)
The Kandy region in Sri Lanka produces bright, full-bodied black teas which are the favourite go-to cup of my wonderful partner.
Storing tea -whether yours is bagged, loose, in pouches or balled- will spark your joy in a number of ways. Express your style and have fun with storing your tea – jars and tins are just the beginning. Fill pieces of art, antiques and boxes with your tea. Tea -like vampires- do not fair well …
medicae salubritatis “teaplant02” collage by pheinixx | featuring the camellia sinensis plantvisit our art store to purchase this artwork (fine art prints, home décor, soft
[image description: Thank Anna for afternoon tea. Duchess of Bedford Anna Russell started the practice of taking tea and snacks to ward off her “sinking feeling” mid-afternoon. This turned into a routine which evolved into the social experience we know as afternoon tea.]
green tea | fujian province, china Jasmine tea is unique – the tea leaves are either layered or tossed with jasmine flower buds for several hours to scent the tea. The process can be repeated several times, resulting in tea which can be anywhere from delicately flavoured to overly perfumed. I am wary of all …
stories expand over time and change “saucer01” collage by pheinixx | featuring vintage hand decorated shafford bone china, japanvisit our art store to purchase this artwork (fine art prints, home décor, soft furnishings)
This green tea powder has the highest level of caffeine primarily because you are consuming the entire leaf: and all of this energy comes without any distracting buzz.
Lemony sparkly iced tea goodness – take my advice and make a bottle at a time. 16oz cold black tea6oz limoncellosplash fresh lemon juicesoda water Steep your tea according to it’s directions. I used a Nilgiri black tea from India – which I choose because it is very aromatic, with a fruit-forward smooth medium-body. Chill …
two leaves one bud “teaplant01” painted collage by pheinixx | featuring the camellia sinensis plantvisit our art store to purchase this artwork (fine art prints, home décor, soft furnishings)
[image description: Warm your pot. Warming the teapot, cup or mug with a swirl of the hot water from your kettle will open up the vessel and result in a more flavourful steep.]
black tea | china Lapsang souchong is distinctive due to the added process of smoking the tea with pine wood – which adds it’s characteristic smoky flavour. Grounded with a meaty earthiness and smooth mouthfeel, the spicy smoky flavours envelope rather than overpower. lapsang souchong :: tsaa tea shop
so many valuable things are never used “teaware03” collage by pheinixx | featuring silver-plated tea strainervisit our art store to purchase this artwork (fine art prints, home décor, soft furnishings)
Re-roasting tea every few years while aging is a delicate and rare process that results in sweet and smoky complexity.
Is there anything better than adding tea, graphics and plants to a space? No, I didn’t think so either. Reuse your old tea tins. First, thoroughly wash and dry the tins. Punch small drainage holes in the bottom (I used a hammer and philips-head screwdriver – and here is a lesson I learned, punch the …
my grandmother’s teapot unlocked stories “teapot02” painted collage art by pheinixx | featuring classic porcelain, englandvisit our art store to purchase this artwork (fine art prints, home décor, soft furnishings)
[image description: Do not drink around the tea bag. Steep the tea. Remove the tea. Enjoy.]
black tea (blend) | india “Chai” is a term that is tossed around quite a bit, and usually incorrectly. Chai as a word translates directly into tea in more than one language…it is not a type of tea. What many people consider to be ‘Chai tea’ (which is a statement steeped in redundancy) is a …
time spend in solitary pursuits do not have to be understood by anyone else “teaware02” collage by pheinixx | featuring porcelain giawanvisit our art store to purchase this artwork (fine art prints, home décor, soft furnishings)
Any tea type can be blended with your favourite flavours and aromas in order to create something new.
Using natural muslin pouches we can soak in a sumptuous tea bath. 1C epsom salts.25C jasmine tea.25C dried lavender10 drops lavender essential oil Mix ingredients together, and fill open-weave drawstring pouches half-way. Tie drawstring tightly to close opening and then tie the loose string again at the end, to provide a large loop. To use …
learning to create brings joy, regardless of skill “teacup11” painted collage art by pheinixx | featuring ‘botanic blue’ collection portmeirion, usa
[image description: Water always comes to tea. When you are steeping tea, bring the water to the tea, never the other way around.]
herbal tisane (blend) | prince edward county, canada I keep coming back to the same mental image when enjoying this tisane – a lush afternoon tea set in the middle of a wild meadow. Spicy, fruity, florals are tempered with a surprisingly smooth brightness that engages all of your senses. tea party :: honey pie …
time for tea every day “teacup10” painted collage art by pheinixxvisit our art store to purchase this artwork (fine art prints, home décor, soft furnishings)
The most versatile tea in the kitchen.
It is National Iced Tea Month (yup, that is a real thing) so let’s stop limiting what iced tea can be. When we forget the classic iced-black-tea-with-slices-of-lemon-at-a-picnic and simply think of iced tea as another cold drink, possibilities open up. Iced teas are excellent as a base for cocktails or something to mix with soda …
lead me on a simple path towards joy, and I will follow “teacup09” by pheinixx | inspired by vintage “wild strawberry” wedgwood bone china, englandvisit our art store to purchase this artwork (fine art prints, home décor, soft furnishings)
[image description : All tea comes from the same plant. White, green, oolong, black and pu-erh tea are all the same plant species, Camellia sinensis. What creates the different tea types is varying levels of oxidation. Mind blown, right?]
black + green tea (blend, flavoured) | india, china, himalayas There is a lot going on in this cup. Layers of aroma and flavour that work together, but striving to be detected individually. The green tea brings a bright astringency that cuts through the caramel and leather finishing notes of the black tea. paris afternoon …
life can be messy at times “teaware01” collage by pheinixx | featuring featuring bamboo gongfu tea accessories, chinavisit our art store to purchase this artwork (fine art prints, home décor, soft furnishings)
black tea (blend) The first “Breakfast Tea” was blended in the late 1800’s, and when Queen Victoria fell in love with this blend during her stay in Balmoral (and subsequently taking home cases with her) it was renamed “English Breakfast Tea”. Taking on a classic is fraught with peril, but this black tea blend offers …
diving in head-first “teapot01” collage by pheinixx | featuring spal porcelanas, portugal
A black tea blend with smoky, malty flavours.
pu-erh tea (blend) | yunnan province, china This tea blend (ginger and lemongrass) is made for multiple short infusions – providing a repeating heady cup. A lot of flavour, and difficult to isolate the different notes because it is so well balanced. A comforting balance of vegetal, smoky warmth and subtle citrus notes. yellow dragon …
Camellia sinesis var. assamica is the larger varietal of the tea plant, which can reach up to 60 feet.
as the world shifts, the reality of home is changing collage by @pheinixx | featuring vintage aynsley bone china, england
Yellow tea is very rare due to a unique additional step in processing the tea which requires skill and timing.
oolong tea (blend) | thailand A lightly oxidized oolong is closer to green tea. With a creamy mouthfeel and natural sweetness, this oolong is a perfect pairing for the magical Chinese herb, Nuo Mi Xiang which smells and tastes like sticky rice. With calm aromas and gentle flavours, this blend transports all of the fresh …
A delicate bud-only white tea that is naturally dried in the sun.
layers of exuberant conversation leaves impressions “teacup07” collage by pheinixx | featuring vintage royal albert bone china, englandvisit our art store to purchase this artwork (fine art prints, home décor, soft furnishings)
This fruity and colourful flower which grows throughout Nigeria is a mainstay within herbal tisane as well as tea blends.
black tea (blend) What’s the sitch? Two strong flavoured blends -Earl Grey and Vanilla Chai- have combined to create all the drama. A very long (too long?) steeping time produces a bold, obvious flavour with an astringent mouthfeel. Spanking flavours and heady aromas are not for the timid palate. kimpossibly awesome earl grey vanilla chai …
nighttime brew “teacup05” collage by pheinixx | featuring vintage royal albert bone china, englandvisit our art store to purchase this artwork (fine art prints, home décor, soft furnishings)
This green tea from Japan is steamed three times over which results in a taste that is both sweet and bitter.
green tea | kyoto, japan Not one to seek out bitter tastes, I enjoy this more delicate sencha tea as I get the green-ness I want without any mouth puckering. Japanese green teas are steamed during processing and are generally more grassy and bright. A short 1 minute infusion releases gentle waves of mineral and …
This tradition of sharing tea with strangers is a custom of the Hakka people of Taiwan’s Miaoli county. ReSuit is a fit-based, peer-to-peer clothing-sharing app that allows you to rent, purchase, lend or sell to a community of like-minded individuals
a spray of gold restricting indigo “teacup04” collage by pheinixx | featuring vintage paragon fine bone china, englandvisit our art store to purchase this artwork (fine art prints, home décor, soft furnishings)
Short steep for this high altitude oolong and no add-ins because you have sh*t to get done. @one2giveto | crowdsourcing essentials for local shelters
white tea (blend) | china A pretty blend that has a striking chocolatey aroma – all the more interesting because the taste is mostly almond, coconut and vanilla. Mutan white tea is known also by the names Bai Mudan, Pai Mu Tan and White Peony. This nutty sweet blend has a smooth mouthfeel underlined by …
A sweet blend of gunpowder green tea and mint. TO112 Palo Santo Candle
you can taste the bright, crisp sunshine “teacup02” collage by pheinixx | featuring vintage merit china, japanvisit our art store to purchase this artwork (fine art prints, home décor, soft furnishings)
Called the “champagne of teas” due to the muscatel flavours and astringent mouthfeel of this famous Indian black tea.
2013 Spring – First Harvest | 4th Anniversary 2009-2013 sheng pu’erh (raw) | yunnan province, china It seems right that this special tea -crafted to celebrate the anniversary of tao tea leaf- represents my first puerh experience and my first tea disk from my first Toronto Tea Festival. My recommendation to bring out the most …
a cacophony of colour underlined in gold as negative space arrives in unexpected places “teacups03” collage by pheinixx | featuring castle china, japanvisit our art store to purchase this artwork (fine art prints, home décor, soft furnishings)
oolong tea (flavoured) | wuyi mountains, china Do not be afraid of the word “flavours” in this ingredient listing, because it comes after the word “natural” – and that makes all of the difference: this tea has complexity and depth that only comes with restraint. The Wuyi Mountains in China is home of the gift …
busy birds and succulent roses indicating abundance “teacup01” collage by pheinixx | featuring vintage paragon china, englandvisit our art store to purchase this artwork (fine art prints, home décor, soft furnishings)
green tea | zhejiang province, china This is my personal favourite green tea – I do although prefer a 2 minute steep, rather than the traditional 3 minutes that are recommended. Named after a village in which the natural spring has uniquely dense water that dances and swirls like a Chinese dragon during rainfall. Long …