Black tea, especially from older plants, contains extremely high levels of fluoride which can lead to brittle bones and teeth at high concentrations.

I have a cabinet of like 40 different teas to choose from, so I can go in many different directions. That said, my current favorite teas are jasmine pearl and this lovely emerald sun that I was gifted. I can really feasibly bring only one container with me, so I need to choose. Would your preference be jasmine, emerald sun, or something else entirely?

Also, if I go with either jasmine or emerald sun: both are light sweet teas, with the emerald sun having more complex flavors due to the citrus and almonds. I'm not sure whether a cold brew or a hot brew would be better.

Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated - thank you!

Welcome to share your thoughts on what you like, don't like or anything you do that I don't.

I keep a small setup in my room for tea

A 3.5 cup pot.
A matching cup
A cup for holding the tea strainer.

Water is placed in the pot outside and allowed to brew in room. Once brewed tea strainer can be left in the spare cup, and tea can be enjoyed.

Occasionally I will bring condiments of jam, juices or sugar in the spare cup, in which case I use the saucer to hold the tea strainer.

I've compiled a quick list here of reputable and generally well-regarded tea vendors. I can’t vouch for all of these personally but have done my best to research each thoroughly. The list is pretty brief at the moment but of course open to expansion. Feel free to leave a comment if you've had a positive experience with a vendor not on the list!

• Yunnan Sourcing [China], [US] - Highly reputable vendor sourcing from the Yunnan province of China. Generally good-quality tea of all types, and a great starting point for beginners. US website will ship from their Texas warehouse but with somewhat reduced selection.
• Teavivre [China], [US] - Another well-regarded tea vendor sourcing from a variety of regions in China. Also has a US warehouse.
• Upton Tea [US] - US-based vendor that imports tea from all over the world. Particularly recommended for their Indian teas.
• Teabox [India] - Another vendor with a great selection of Indian teas.
• Ippodo Tea [US], [Japan] - Japan-based tea vendor with a large selection of Japanese teas like matcha, gyokuro, sencha, and more.
• Hibiki-an [Japan] - Budget-friendly Japanese tea vendor. Fast and affordable shipping directly from Japan.
• Republic of Tea [US] - Vendor with a large selection of teas in both loose and bagged form. Sources from various countries including China, India, and Japan. Can be found in many grocery stores.
• Harney and Sons [US] - Another vendor with a huge variety of flavored and unflavored teas, though mainly recommended for their black and flavored teas. Offers both loose and bagged forms, and can also be found in many grocery stores.
• Floating Leaves [US] - Very well-regarded specialty vendor specializing in Taiwanese oolong teas, also offering black, puer, green, and white.
• Crimson Lotus [China/US] - Seattle-based vendor sourcing directly from Yunnan, China, specializing in puer tea. Ships mainly from China with some inventory at their Seattle warehouse.
• white2tea [China] - Heavily puer-focused vendor with an expansive selection of raw and ripe puers. Also offers some higher-end black, oolong, and white teas.

The ‘Cha Jiu Lun’, A Debate Between Tea and Wine

If you’ve heard of an old Chinese text concerning tea, it’s probably Lu Yu’s The Classic of Tea. This debate amusing and short, and a reminder that tea drinking was once a new custom in China, too.

I created this magazine as a space for all tea lovers, as well as those new to the hobby, to discuss anything they wish about the drink, from growing to preparation to consumption. Whether you want to spread the word about a favorite vendor or grower of yours, post a picture of your tea stash, or just share what you're drinking today, all are welcome!

Thanks for stopping by, and I look forward to making this magazine the best it can be.