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Happy New Year! I hope you had an enjoyable holiday season and that 2026 is off to a great start.
Congrats to Lisa Z for winning the 14th Annual Holiday Raffle!
January is National Hot Tea Month! Be sure to celebrate and indulge in lots of cups of hot tea all month-long. Most holiday and autumn teas are still available, but some are now in limited supply. See below for the list of your returning favorites and grab the ones you need before they are out of stock. All can be found in the online shop at https://www.pleasuresoftea.com.
Since September we have been "traveling" through the tea-producing provinces of China. I am coming to the conclusion that I love Chinese teas because there is so much diversity in types, styles, and aromatic and taste profiles. I can't get bored! To date, we have explored the major producers of Yunnan, Fujian, Hunan, Sichuan and Guizhou Provinces. If you missed any of these newsletters, you can view them here (scroll to the bottom). This month we are going to discover the provinces of Anhui and Zhejiang and we'll continue our journey next month in a few more!
As always, I appreciate your continued support of my small business!! Wishing you and your family all the best that this new year has to offer :)
-- Kristine, NBC-HWC, FDN-P, CIMA
| | Orange Almond Green Tea, Honeybush Caramel Creme Herbal Tisane, Relaxation Blend Herbal Tisane and Banana Coconut Fruit Tisane are back in stock!! Blended up fresh batches of Black Jasmine Cream Black & Green Tea Blend, Cold & Flu Blend Organic Herbal Tisane and Throat Soother Organic Herbal Tisane! | | |
Gift Certificates
As a reminder, you may redeem any outstanding gift certificates in the online shop! To redeem, please input the following information in the Comments section in the cart: compliments of, especially for, gift certificate number, amount, and date. You will still need to input your credit card, but only the balance will be charged, if there is one. Gift certificates never expire - I put an expiration date on them because I want them to be used, not forgotten in a pile of paper ;).
Need to purchase an e-gift certificate? Feel free to email me at kristine@infuseteabarny.com - be sure to include name from and to and the gift certificate amount. I will email you an invoice that you may pay online. The gift certificates will be emailed to you and you can either email it to the recipient or print it out and give it to them.
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Teas of Anhui & Zhejiang
Our first stop this month is to the Anhui Province, which is a land-locked region in eastern China. It is comprised of flat land in the north and mountainous topography in the south. The province has a mild monsoon climate that receives ample rainfall. There are several mountain ranges in Anhui, with one of them being the world-famous and picturesque Huang Shan (Yellow Mountains) Range in the southeastern part of the province. The mighty Yangtze River also winds through southern Anhui. This province has a history of tea production that goes back to the Tang Dynasty in the eighth century.
Anhui is another major tea producer, focusing predominantly on black and green teas, and many of its teas are renowned. In fact, the province has the distinction of having several of its teas on the various lists of China's Ten Most Famous Teas. Qimen (also spelled Keemun) is a black tea that originates from Qimen County in the province. It is listed as one of the ten most famous teas of China and is the only black tea to have ever been included on the list. Production of Qimen black tea began in 1875 and it quickly became in demand for its high quality and alluring aromas and flavors. They are known for their small black leaves that create a naturally sweet and rich infusion and were the original English Breakfast tea. There are several grades of Qimen, among them Qimen Hao Ya-A, Qimen Hao Ya-B and Qimen Mao Feng. The difference between them is reflected in the final size of the leaf, with the Hao Ya-A being the smallest leaf (highest grade) and increasing leaf sizes in the subsequent grades. The grade does not reflect quality; however, Qimens continue to be considered a high quality tea, regardless of the grade. It tends to be a dark, full-bodied, wonderfully rich, complex, smooth, and sweet infusion with notes of cocoa, toast, and earth.
Among the green teas produced in the province, Huang Shan Mao Feng, Lu An Gua Pian, and Taiping Hou Kui are the most notable, all of which are also on the list of China’s Ten Most Famous Teas. Huang Shan Mao Feng is produced in the areas around the Huang Shan Mountains, also the home of Huang Shan Huang Ya Yellow Tea. Its English translation is Yellow Mountain Hair Tip, a name that refers to the downy “hairs” that cover the tea buds used to produce this tea. This tea is known for its subtle aroma and delicate vegetal flavor. Lu An Gua Pian is produced in Lu An County from the larger second leaf of the tea shoot. After the central vein of the leaf is removed, the leaf is pan-fired and shaped by hand. The shape is reminiscent of melon (or pumpkin) seeds; hence the name “Gua Pian” which translates into English as “melon seed” or “pumpkin seed”. It is a hearty tea, lacking the refinement of Huang Shan Mao Feng, but it is notable, delicious and satisfying, nonetheless. Taiping Hou Kui is one of my favorite teas - probably, in part, because of the stunning large leaves. This tea is processed only two weeks of every year. The large, leaves are dried and then pressed between layers of cloth, which leaves an imprint of the weave in the tea leaves. The leaves yield a light-bodied, smooth, and slightly thick infusion with a clean finish and a delicate savoriness and trademark sweetness. I love to prepare this one using the Gong Fu method.
As mentioned above, Huang Shan Huang Ya Yellow Tea, translated as Yellow Mountain Yellow Bud, is also produced in Anhui. It is not produced in large quantities and is a treat to enjoy. A young bud set comprised of either one leaf and a bud or two leaves and a bud is hand-plucked and hand-processed. The leaves yield a very smooth, mellow, and clean, light– to medium-bodied infusion that is aromatic and fresh with herbaceous and subtle smoky notes.
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 | | Our next stop is Zhejiang Province, which is a predominantly hilly and picturesque province on the eastern coast of China. It has a humid, subtropical climate and rich soil. Over 85% of the tea produced is green tea, accounting for about a quarter of China's total green tea production. Zhejiang's notable teas are Gunpowder, Anji Bai Cha, and Longjing (Dragon Well) green teas, the latter of which is another one of the Ten Most Famous Teas of China - and another one of my favorites. It is believed that Gunpowder got its name from its tightly rolled shape, which resembled the gunpowder pellets at that time. It is a widely consumed tea with a robust flavor and a subtle earthy and smoky aroma...and a perfect starter green tea for its forgiving preparation. Anji Bai Cha is named after Anji County and is often classified as a white tea; however, it is actually a green tea because of the way it is processed. It gets its name from the white "hairs" on its leaves and buds. Longjing green tea is named after the small town of Longjing near the city of Hangzhou and is known for its flat leaves and unique rich, nutty flavor. Other regions manufacture this tea, but authentic Longjing only comes from the town that gives the tea its name.
I offer a solid selection of high quality teas from the Anhui and Zhejiang Provinces of China. They are available in the online shop https://www.pleasuresoftea.com. To easily find them, type Anhui or Zhejiang in the search box. Each tea will have a description about where and how the tea is grown, cultivar information and/or aromatic and taste profiles. Enjoy your "travels" to these two provinces and feel free to share your experience! :)
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New Teas
Nothing new, but the following holiday teas and tisanes are still available, some in limited supply: Christmas Blend Black Tea; Chocolate Peppermint Black Tea; White Chocolate Peppermint White Tea; Rooibos Chocolate Peppermint Herbal Tisane; Rooibos Christmas Cookie Herbal Tisane; Rooibos Orange Gingerbread Herbal Tisane; Candied Pomegranate Herbal Tisane; and Holiday Punch Fruit Tisane!
The following autumn blends are still available, some of which also are now in limited supply: Apple Molasses Black Tea, Gingered Vanilla Toddy Black Tea, Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Black Tea, Pumpkin Pie Black Tea, Roasted Chestnut Black & Green Tea with Yerba Maté Blend, Maple Walnut Green Tea, Rooibos Maple Walnut Herbal Tisane, Rooibos Pumpkin Crème Herbal Tisane, and Rooibos Pumpkin Spice Herbal Tisane.
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The Pleasures of Tea
www.pleasuresoftea.com - online shop
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500+ Loose Leaf Teas, Herbal Tisanes & Functional/Medicinal Herbs
Certified - Tea Professional, Tea Sommelier & Tea Health Expert
Forever Student of the Art & Science of Herbalism
NBWHC Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach, Certified Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, MRC Certified Healthy Gut Practitioner, Certified Terrain Advocate, & Certified in Functional Nutrition - Vitality Holistic Wellness
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