Loose leaf CommuniTEA

So it turns out that there are A LOT of tea blogs out there - I am not the only tea freak after all. It's a huge communiTEA (hehe) of tea lovers like me!


Loads of the blogs do tea reviews which I think it's a pretty bloody good idea!

So I am going to carry on blogging about my normal tea rants and related escapades but I think I'll throw in the odd loose leaf tea review too!

So if you are a Chinese tea company and want me to review your tea then please do get in touch.

In the meantime I'll have a look in my tea cupboard and see what I've got....

*runs to kitchen and checks*

Ok, I'm back, and I think I will do my first review on LuLin Teas Da Hong Pao - a dark Oolong that tastes like.....find out more tomorrow!!

Oh I'm all excited now!

Know any good companies to get tea from to review? Let me know!

Peace Out,
Gary the Tea Freak
xx

One Direction in tea news AGAIN!

Well well well looks like One Direction have been in the tea drinking news again (I wrote about them a few weeks ago here).

This time they have shunned alcohol on their most recent tour for Peppermint tea - how very on rock and roll!!

How old are those boys anyway? Are they even old enough to drink alcohol?

Anyway I'm all for it - it's great to see role models in the spotlight setting a good example for their fans.

Hmmmm what could I do to get famous so I get sent free tea? I'll have to get my thinking cap on!!

Read the full article here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2294451/One-Direction-shun-booze-order-peppermint-tea-drink-backstage-tour.html

Peace Out,
Gary the Tea Freak

xx

What's in a Chinese tea name?

If you like Chinese tea as much as I do then you will be aware that there are many funny and pretty crazily named loose leaf teas out there.

Let’s take a look at a few of my favourite ones:

Monkey Picked Oolong: This Oolong tea hasn’t actually been picked by monkeys but the legend surrounding the tea does state that monks used to train monkeys to climb to the top of the wild tea bushes to pick the youngest buds and bring them down. Read more here.

Big Red Robe: Another Oolong tea with a funny name, it is traditionally known as Da Hong Pao but was named big red robe because the original tea bushes were protected throughout the winter by being covered by red robes. You can read more about that tea here.



Iron Goddess of Mercy: Yet again another Oolong tea! This tea is also known as Tie Guan Yin. The name Iron Goddess of Mercy comes from the goddess who gave a tea plant to a monk to reward him for making offerings in and keeping tidy an abandoned temple. You can read more about this tea here.

I love all the different funny Chinese tea names – these are just a few but there are plenty more!
Do you know any more you want to share with me? I’d love to hear from you!

Peace out,
Gary the Tea Freak
xx

Went to Harrods last weekend

Hey guys,

So I went to Harrods on Saturday while on a trip to London and I just had to go in and visit the Food Pantry to see their tea selection. As my friends perused the shoes and handbags (yes it was me and a bunch of girls!) I spent a good 45 minutes analysing the tea they sell.

I have to say they have a pretty good selection. Unfortunately my phone had run out of battery and we didn’t sit at a seat with plugs on the train so I couldn’t charge it and therefore couldn’t take any pictures but you can see examples of most of the teas on their online store.

I love the Harrods own brand packaging of tea – the little gold tea caddies with the image of Harrods on the front. It seems to combine Chinese and English tea culture for me very well.

I am also quite a big fan of the We are Tea range in their metal tubes – I like that it’s a bit different.

Anyway it was pretty cool but I’ve really gotta rush and get back to work. Sorry about the short entry and lack of photos but please do comment if you’ve been to Harrods and checked out their tea section!

Peace out,
Gary The Tea Freak