A Steep in the Right Direction

Providing information and promoting wellness through tea.

[asteepintherightdirection]

New Year, new perspective, new camera!

I'll be working more on this blog in the coming weeks as work situations change. Please stay tuned and if you have any questions don't be afraid to ask!

I know I've neglected the blog for a while but that's all about to change.

[simpl-beautiful]

[rain-tea-coffee]

[rain-tea-coffee]

[autumnghoul-deactivated20151109]

[wolftyla]

stressed. — lemon balm tea. bloated. — peppermint tea. slow metabolism. — green tea. nauseous. — ginger tea. sleepless nights. — chamomile tea. common cold. — elderflower tea.

[lalalalyndsey]

[asteepintherightdirection]

Not the way I would do it, but definitely an option!

[day-and-moonlightdreaming]

Tea cups.

[intergalacticju]

First steep of this tasty #taiwanese #oolong that @hoosierapple sent me! It’s a much richer flavor than Chinese oolong and has a deep amber color. I’m definitely a fan. I wish I knew the name of it.

#tea #taiwan #wulong #bluetea

[redneckthorn]

http://www.distinctive-decor.com/franz-collection.html

Some very lovely tea cups @the-wind-calls-your-name

[the-wind-calls-your-name]

Very lovely, indeed.

[asteepintherightdirection]

Hi! I'm wondering if you could outline some herbs and spices that you think go along with a white tea base? Thank you so much!

Sure thing!

So it does depend on what kind of white tea base you’re going for. Sweet white tea bases go well with soft florals like chamomile or jasmine flowers, coconut chips, or light amounts of sweet cinnamon. Sweet white teas I’m thinking of are yin zhen and mao feng.

If you’re using a floral white tea, like a white peony, then florals are definitely the way to go; as well as the two listed above, I also like lavender in my white tea.

If you’re using something like a shoumei, which is a bit stronger, you might like to use lemongrass, hibiscus flower, or maybe even clove or ginger. 

When it comes to white tea, I do suggest using a small amount of herbs and spice to start, so you don’t overpower the white tea, as it is a more delicate flavour, and see how you like it. I hope this helps, and please don’t hesitate to ask any follow up questions (:

[melon-sodaa]

♡ Melty Heart Tea and Valentine Afternoon Tea set from Q-pot cafe ♡

[tealeavesandteacups]

Does someone want to get me this?

[huffpost]

This Is How You’re Actually Supposed To Make Tea, According To Brits

If the British Standard’s Institute says so, it must be true.

[tealeavesandteacups]

Do you all agree with this? I for one, can’t get on board with the milk first thing.

[asteepintherightdirection]

This is actually a really interesting read. While I've spoken about how to steep black tea, lowering temperatures and raising steep time does work. I urge anyone interested to try it out!

[verdanttea]

Say hello to the newest addition to our yixing collection: this beautiful heini shi piao from Ms. Lai Xiaohong! 

We’re really excited to be offering more of her lovely work right now, and so happy to have a piece of our very own to use every day.

[tealeavesandteacups]

[tealeavesandteacups]

[vacilandoelmundo]

This Tea Rituals Around the World slideshow at Condé Nast Traveler (condenasttraveler) is a tea-lover’s delight! Never before have I seen tea time look so sumptuous. Click through to learn about the tea traditions behind these beautiful and mouthwatering arrangements. Just looking at them has inspired me to make a cuppa!

[asteepintherightdirection]

Oolong tea: Sheng Cha Oolong

Oolong is a great tea for digestion, as well as speeding up the metabolism, while containing more caffeine than a cup of green tea. Sheng Cha is grown in Nantou, Taiwan, at an elevation of 1,100m. What makes it particularly interesting is that it is a wild grown tea. Taiwanese oolongs are also oxidized a little longer than Chinese oolongs, giving the tea a darker or more tippy flavour.

This particular batch is from Simple Loose Leaf, and contained alternate instructions. It is also the first prepackaged tea company I have come across so far to contain re-steeping instructions right on the package.

The cup on the left was brewed at 195F for 3 minutes. The body of the liquor turned into a nice gold colour, with a rich aroma that is familiar in pure oolongs. It has a silky mouth feel and taste, with an earthiness that finishes with baked wheat. It lacks a yeasty flavour, which I enjoy, and is astringent.

The cup on the right was brewed at 200F for 2 minutes. The body of the liquor is lighter, but still golden, but the aroma was lacking. It has a stronger baked flavour than the cup on the left, but the earthiness was lessened by that. It's not as silky in the mouth, but it is more astringent.

As for the re-steeping instructions, the package states 200F for 1-2 minutes on the second steep, and to decrease the time for every steep after that. A part of me wonders if it was meant to say "increase", however, as usually that is the case.