British Tea Culture – Solace, Snobbery and Sharing the Love
British people are infamously obsessed with tea. It was described by the author, George Orwell, as “one of the mainstays […]
Heritage
Uzbekistan – A Country of Green Tea
When you visit an Uzbek family, don’t be surprised to see them pour very little tea into your bowl. Tea is poured into the bowl little by little, literally for 1-2 sips. This is a sign of special respect for the guest. The more often the host pours tea into the guest’s cup, the more precious the guest is to him.
Kyrgyzstan – A Country Of Mixed Tea Culture
If you decide to visit a Kyrgyz teahouse, first of all you should take off your shoes, then lie down on the carpet near the dastarkhwan (traditional table cloth), on which there is a bowl and a teapot with aromatic hot tea. You can spend the whole day in a teahouse, because time flies unnoticed over a cup of good tea and friendly conversations.
Families And Festivities
When the tips of leaves start to turn yellow and fallen chestnuts scatter on the sidewalks, it’s time to bake pumpkin cookies—because Thanksgiving is coming.
On A Chai Trail: Laal Saah in Assam
“Right from the tea workers who pluck the bud at the crack of dawn to the manager of the tea estates who still live in a time-warp in their colonial bungalows, laal saah rules the roost from morning to sunset. But don’t be fooled by its outwardly egalitarian existence, it is only a ruse. If one is inclined to look hard, then the differences unravel themselves…”
Journeying on the Darjeeling Train
In 1881 when it was completed, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was the only option to commute. Anyone who missed the train boarded a bullock cart on a much longer journey. There was no concept of a “Toy Train” back then. In the decades since it was constructed the commuter railway with its 55 miles of zig-zags and loops has established itself as a tourist attraction. It was a welcome change for those who prefer a closer look at the Hills instead of just check-boxing! Among those who came were authors, filmmakers, poets, scholars, and artists. When the Buddhist monks traveled on regular passenger trains, they also had opportunities to interact with residents, which brought them closer to the realities of daily life at the hills.
On a Chai Trail: The Bengali and their Cha
That the Bengali love tea is now legendary. And in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, tea is part of the social and cultural fabric. Our Chai Trail series takes readers up close and personal to the tea culture across India, and this story is a peek into the Bengali homes and the place that tea has in their lives.
Cocooned in Darjeeling: The Mayfair Manor, Jungpana
Stay in a restored bungalow originally built in 1910 and once the residence of the Nepali royal family. It offers 12 exquisitely decorated and spacious suites, each named for an historical figure attached to the estate.
Tea Under the Palms
This book is for every person who has ever dreamed of having formal tea with the upper classes, perhaps at Downton Abbey. The photographs of bone China cups and saucers, three-tiered plates of scones, savories, and sweets, and settings for enjoying afternoon tea’s decadence will make you swoon — a true hedonist’s delight.
The Tea History Collection
The Tea History Collection fills a huge gap in the documentation of the history of the business of tea the world over. Very few individual tea companies possess archives that relate to their own history, and many other tea businesses simply disappeared when they closed or were bought out.
Rediscovering 174 years of Tea
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew houses a remarkable cache of tea leaves and tea material culture collected over the past 174 years. Kew, a 326-acre botanical garden southwest of London opened in 1759 and today houses one of most diverse living and dried botanical and mycological collections in the world.
Mother’s Day Teas That Empower Women
The tea industry runs on the backs of women. Their strong yet nimble fingers pluck the delicate buds from the trees, and sort the imperfect from the perfect leaves. Yet in many tea-producing countries, women are far more likely to live in extreme poverty and have less access to education. However, some people are striving to change that narrative by educating, empowering, and enabling women in tea to rise up and bring others with them. This Mother’s Day Tea Journey wants to celebrate the companies and individuals who are helping make a difference for mothers and female tea workers around the world.
Badulla’s Annual First Tea Festival
In Badulla, Sri Lanka, farmers bring their first tea harvest to the Muthiyangana Raja Maha Vihara Temple for blessings. Dan Bolton joins in the celebrations on a visit to the island, enjoying the vibrant cultural experience it offers.
Families and Festivities
When the tips of leaves start to turn yellow and fallen chestnuts scatter on the sidewalks, it’s time to bake pumpkin cookies—because Thanksgiving is coming.
On a Chai Trail: The Bengali and their Cha
That Bengalis love tea is now legendary and in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, tea is part of the social and cultural fabric. Our Chai Trail series takes readers up close and personal to the tea culture across India, and this story is a peek into the Bengali homes and the place that tea has in their lives.
Teahouse Treks: Of Himalayan Hospitality and Tranquility
The aroma of sweet tea wafts through the air, that weary trekkers like us respond eagerly to. Over the years, I have taken to stopping by the teahouses on my treks, even if for a brief pause.