A Nice Cuppa

Even though Chai originated in the 1500’s, this import has captured the crowd that is beginning to feel overstimulated by too many tall cups of latte and shots of double espresso. Chai is also referred to as “Tea au lait, Indian style.” In Europe it is called “Yogi tea.” Exotic as it sounds, chai is […]

Illustrator and author Christoph Niemann published a brilliant series of “cocktail napkin” sketches and statements about his love for coffee within the Abstract City blog of the New York Times website.  His work is sheer brilliance and really worth a look.  It is rare to find art that so perfectly illustrates life.  His work and […]

The word tea should only be applied to the beverage made with the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant. Other brews are usually referred to as herbal infusions or tisanes. They are caffeine free because there is no actual tea in them. The drinking of healthy herbal brews has a long history - the […]

I’m not a fan of coffee.  Or tea.  Really just hot drinks altogether.  However, after this recent news from a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, I just may have to rethink my stance.  After studying the effects of 1,003 Japanese men and women, the study found that drinking just two cups […]

Devout coffee and tea drinkers enjoy their beverages for many reasons: pleasure, relaxation, refreshment, habit, and more recently for various health benefits.  Over the years numerous studies have been done on the components of tea and coffee, especially on caffeine and the health risks or benefits related to regular consumption.
Late last month, at the International […]

Since January, The Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven, Connecticut has been hosting an exhibit and related lectures and demonstrations illuminating the importance, breadth and evolution of Japanese tea culture.  The show continues through April 26th and features 100 tea objects, some dating as far back as the ninth century.  Today’s New York Times […]

For the coffee lovers anxiously awaiting the arrival of Via Ready Brew instant coffee to their local Starbucks, you might have to wait a little longer.  That is, unless you are among the lucky ones located within Chicago or Seattle.  Chicago and Seattle residents are able to attend tasting events and purchase the product at […]

The upcoming issue of Kyoto Journal is featuring some of the finest voices of tea. Looks like issue #71 is the lucky number of tea. It does not get much better than this. Some of the most passionate tea lovers who have made tea their way of life are covering every leaf and bud.

Tea […]

British physicist, Len Fisher, has been employed by a well-known biscuit (cookie) manufacturer to define the optimum dunking time for its confectionery. His findings are way off the mark. For the uninitiated, bickie dunking is a procedure by which you plonk yourself down in your favorite chair, take the weight off your feet and slurp, […]

The folks at Starbucks have caught Volunteerism Fever, and now you can too.  Starbucks and HandsOn Network have joined forces to encourage Americans to pledge just 5 hours of their time this year to support the volunteer organization of their choice.  And besides that warm, fuzzy feeling you get for volunteering, you’ll get a free […]