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What better way to test out a new brand of British tea than to pit it against a long-time favorite and champion of British blends.

There is definitely a place in the industry for tea bag teas. To those who say that tea bag tea is disgusting and undrinkable, we say - expand your palate. If you were a wine drinker and only drank expensive bottles every night then you would never really know if you have it good. Drinking ordinary table wine allows you to really appreciate a great top-class wine. It's the same way with tea. There are plenty of drinkable teas out there packaged up in tea bags and drinking them will help you appreciate the subtle qualities of a good oolong, or a fresh Darjeeling. Here, in America, when it comes to standard, blended brands, we are limited. However, in Britain, the blended brands are plentiful.

In this review, we are taking the old and trusted PG Tips, and pitting it against a new underdog brand, Make Mine a Builder's. In the process, we are going to learn a little something about tea from our British friends across the pond. Namely, that blended tea brands are more sophisticated and complex than many people realize.



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Jan 29 2010 Chinese Impressions
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Art


Da Hong Pao (photo: sina.com)
The visual arts on a massive scale. The kind of which can only be seen in China. Each production is an undertaking of seemingly inhuman proportions, telling tales that are both epic and fundamentally simple. Acclaimed Chinese film director, Zhang Yimou, this week presented the fifth in a series of massive scale musical productions he has become renowned for. His most recent production titled Impression: Da Hong Pao is performed in southeastern China, in the Wuyi mountains, a dramatic natural backdrop. This region might be known to tea drinkers as the home of a special oolong tea; the legendary Da Hong Pao which is among the finest and rarest of teas. Yimou's latest production "incarnates local folk tales, tea culture, and town life."

Yimou is most known to westerners as the genius behind the dramatic opening and closing ceremonies for the 2008 Olympic Gamesin Beijing, and the brilliantly colorful martial arts films House of Flying Daggers and Hero. He has since moved forward with his theatrical talent, and continues to present shows and tell tales to thousands of people.

The five productions of his Impressions series are: Liu Sanjie, Lijiang, West Lake, Hainan, and as of this week; Da Hong Pao. A sixth one, Impression: Putuo is currently in production.Yimou makes impressive and dramatic use of natural landscapes to support his already impressive shows. They combine gigantic storylines with simple and fundamental human themes.

Click through to learn more about this impressive series of shows

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Editorial

Brick Tea SignThere is a Holy Grail for the tea industry, but it isn't what you think it is.

Some folks in the tea industry say that in order for tea to get the recognition it deserves someone is going to have to become the Starbucks of Tea. Believe it or not, it's a phrase that is tossed around in trade journals and at trade shows. A shop on every corner, in every town across America. Each one situated across from your friendly, but aging, Starbucks store in a true standoff of American brands.

The American message about tea will be revitalized and modern. Images of wrinklies, china cups and Zen enlightenment will be buried. The image of tea will be updated and everyone will be stopping off for a cup. There will be glitz and glamour, and somebody is going to make a hell of a lot of money. All for the benefit of the American consumer.

It will be a great day for tea drinkers and for American industry. A new, shiny brand, selling a wonderful product that deserves the limelight after so many years in the shadows. It will be proof of American ingenuity and perseverance. It is the future of American tea, the story of how one small company took advantage of a growing demand for tea and took on a global giant in true, underdog fashion. It will be talked about in business schools for decades.

But what does it really mean? Only more overpriced tea. Just like it is now, some things will never change.

The Holy Grail of tea is far more mundane and far more boring.

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Put the kettle on!

Grab your teacup, turn up the volume and listen to these great songs, because tea needs a soundtrack!

This music compilation features some more great songs of 2009 including a modern retrospective by some artists we've listened to for years.

We kick it off with Yo La Tengo and Spoon. They are followed by M. Ward, Great Lake Swimmers and Pete Yorn (and actress Scarlett Johannson) with a set of modern Americana rock. Death Cab for Cutie leads off an alternative set which includes trance-master Moby followed by the Fleet Foxes. The Monsters of Folk and Jason Isbell (formerly of the Drive-by Truckers) rock us out before we reach back a few years for a set of awesome indie tracks by The Republic Tigers, Bon Iver, and Arcade Fire.

This sets us up for our look back to some great artists of the last 20 years with some new songs released in 2009. Dolores O'riordan starts it out before Zee Avi covers one of Morrissey's hits, which, of course sets us up for the Moz himself as he Throws his arms around Paris. Legacy band Echo and the Bunnymen also released a new album in 2009, and their style is as relevant as it was back in 1984. We finish up with a great song by Modest Mouse and British supertalent Bat for Lashes.

Click through to start the music.
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Editorial

flirting coupleDrinking tea just for the health benefits is like having sex just for the exercise.

There is something about tea that sometimes inspires one to think about sex. Perhaps it's the hot, steaming liquid, or the sensuous, complex flavors that bathe the tongue and slip down your throat. Maybe it's the aromatic smell of the tea - firing up your senses as the natural and earthy scents reach your nose, unconsciously turning on more primal urges. Maybe it's the elemental nature, the combination of earth, fire and water captured in a cup in that you hold in your hand, close to your face. It might be the steam, wafting over your cheeks, warming and moistening your skin. Maybe it's not the tea at all.

Click through to find out what moves you.
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Jan 15 2010 Giveaway Winner #3
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Giveaway Winner

The winner of giveaway #3 is:

Melissa Munn
of South Carolina

Melissa won a kilogram Gift Box of various organic Darjeeling teas from Boston Tea Campaign.

A special thanks goes out to the Boston Tea Campaign for their very generous contribution for this giveaway.
BTC Leaf

BTC logo

Thanks to all those who entered and even if you didn't win, we encourage you to shop for tea from our sponsor. We choose and invite companies to sponsor our giveaways based on the special and unique qualities of their business. Boston Tea Campaign's business model provides value and savings to consumers on a product that is usually over-priced at most companies. Darjeeling tea is widely considered to be the finest tea in the world, and Boston Tea Campaign makes it affordable and accessible. You can shop online with them here.

Their tea is not only certified by the Tea Board of India to be Pure Darjeeling tea, it is organic and laboratory-tested to be some of the cleanest and purest tea on the market.

Congratulations to our winner!
(Who is a really nice person!)

Click through to read a short Q&A with her
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People

Winston ChurchillWinston Churchill is probably the most famous man in modern British history. His powerful oratory helped hold the spirit of his nation together at a time when all seemed lost. He is a hero of almost indescribable magnitude, but also a scone-gobbling thief...

He is famous for quotes like this, "A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on."

But what happens when he travels into the country to visit an old school mate? During tea he is introduced to a young girl who is in the employ of his friend, Lord Cavendish. She helps tend the gardens around the castle. The young girl says something to him that fires up his oratory and becomes part of what is now remembered as a powerful, influential and inspiring speech.

Who was that girl? What did she say during tea that day?

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Giveaway

Free Tea!

This giveaway is closed. We hope to announce the winner very soon!

Sponsored by:


In this giveaway, one lucky winner will have delivered to their door a gift box of organic tea from Boston Tea Campaign. The prize is a full kilogram of tea certified to be genuine Darjeeling tea by the Tea Board of India

Included in the prize will be:
  • An award-winning 2008 First Flush black tea, blended by the BTC teamaster
  • A 2008 Second Flush black tea, blended by the BTC teamaster
  • A single-estate tea from the Ging Garden, a heritage garden planted in 1864, located in the Lebong Valley in West Darjeeling
  • An all-season blend of Darjeeling green tea

The winner will receive 250 grams of each tea for a total of 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) with total retail value of $49.00





Click through for entry details
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