Tea Articles 
Welcome to our tea articles pages. Here you can find an ever evolving selection of articles relating to tea, tea wares, tea travels, tea culture and a mix of interesting stories the Wan Ling Tea House team have written.
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Have a topic or subject you like to read about? Why not suggest a topic to the team? A budding author or journalist? Please feel free to share your articles with us. We are always looking for new interesting tea related content.
Enjoy!
Methods of Fixation for Green Tea Production (20/05/2020)
In China, fixation or kill green is typically acheived by one of the following four methods:1. Pan-firing or frying
2. Baking
3. Sun-drying
4. Steaming
In modern day China pan-firing is most... Read More...
Fixation aka Kill Green: Tea Production and Processing (20/05/2020)
The making of green teas has one goal: to return freshness back to the picked and processed leaf. It is no easy task, and is only achieved using addition of heat and efforts of a skilled tea maker. ... Read More...
Tea Health: Nutrition and Functional Foods (09/05/2020)
If history suggests tea was first and
foremost medicinal, what can science tell us about the curative powers of tea?
Investigating the ancient and modern
claims of the health benefits ... Read More...
Corporate Events - Shanghai (08/02/2020)
Wan Ling is pleased to have worked with small and medium companies through to large multinationals to arrange events. Whether these are small group gatherings loosely based on our Cha Yi - Tea Art o... Read More...
Flying high. SAS and Wan Ling Tea House. (06/05/2019)
"Chinese scholars have long hailed tea's medicinal benefits and nobility have flaunted it as a status symbol for centuries. It first became popular among the masses in the Tang dynasty (618-907), wh... Read More...
Tea Production: Making HuangShan MaoFeng Green Tea (06/01/2018)
The
process of Huangshan Maofeng production includes three major step: wilting, fixation,
shaping and drying.
Wilting: after
picking, the fresh tea leaves are spread wilting beds. This allows th... Read More...
Jasmine Pearls AA Grade Tea Review (10/10/2017)
The Wan Ling Tea House team is really to pleased to be able to re-publish this review by Chelsea at Taste The Tea blog, a growing online tea review site and tea resource.
Below is Chelsea's review ... Read More...
Tea and Caffeine (09/05/2017)
There is no simple way of saying one tea type has more or less caffeine than another.
It is a falsehood to state that white tea is low in caffeine, whereas black tea is high in caffeine. In fact a ... Read More...
Exploring Puer Villages and Regions - Bulang (26/02/2017)
A Puerh Mountain - Bulang Mountain.
The Puerh tea region of Bulang Mountain
is an ancient terroir covering an area of around 1,000 km2. To put that into perspective, what is often
sold as... Read More...
What is Puerh Tea? (26/02/2017)
Before a
fuller examination is presented below, the short answer is that Puerh is a term used to describe a range of
teas made using large leaf (Camelia sinensis var. assamica) harvested
from bus... Read More...
Contemporary White tea, Modern Cultivars (13/01/2017)
Whereas previously white teas were produced
almost solely for export, it is now an increasingly important part of the
domestic tea market. Production is
centered around two main areas, both located... Read More...
Shanghai History (26/10/2016)
Following on from our recent series about Shanghai's tea and tea house history, we thought we'd take a look a broader look at 19th Century Shanghai. A recent BBC news article looks at some of the... Read More...
Your Tea Wares - Shi Piao Zhu Ni Yixing Teapot (27/09/2016)
It brings a warm glow to us when we talk to old customer's who are loving and using tea wares bought from Wan Ling Tea House. In this article we wanted to look at one customer's connection to a Z... Read More...
Tea Travel: Yunnan Exposed (25/04/2016)
Tea reaches beyond the cup. Tea is not just a drink for us and many of those we know. A vital part of who we are and what Wan Ling Tea House aims to share is the realisation that we are all closely ... Read More...
Tea Diary: Wuyi Rock Tea - Qilan (24/04/2016)
First in Wan Ling's periodic tea diary notes. First published in China on WeChat, we have now translated these to share with you. We hope you enjoy Wan Ling's diary entries and they give you a diffe... Read More...
1930s Afternoon Tea and Cosmopolitan Shanghai (10/03/2016)
The meeting of intellectuals in tea houses under the protective cloak of International Settlements was an example of the private and exclusive nature of Shanghai's tea houses. While tea hou... Read More...
Early 20th Century tea houses in Shanghai. (02/03/2016)
Shanghai directly benefited from the fading
power of Manchurian Qing Imperial Dynasty. Political vacuums emerged across the
Chinese empire, but none quite so portentously as in Shanghai, which
b... Read More...
Speaking Tea - The social function of the Shanghai tea house (10/02/2016)
The Shanghai tea house in the late 19th and early 20th century developed into an arena for settling personal
disputes. "Speaking tea" was a means by which personal disputes
were arbitrated, and n... Read More...
Rubber and Tea. A changing landscape. (10/01/2016)
Agriculture has shaped our landscapes for thousands of years, though since the agricultural revolution, the speed of change has quickened.
Nearly ten years ago, travelling around the pref... Read More...
Shanghai & Tea: The emergence of the tea house in Shanghai (31/12/2015)
Shanghai's First Tea House
The opening of the port harbour was a turning
point in Shanghai's history, giving rise to influx of people and money, both
domestic and foreign. The city grew
rapidl... Read More...
Shanghai and Tea: Shanghai Emerges from the Opium Wars (20/12/2015)
The Emergence of 'Semi-colonial' Shanghai
In order to understand the emergence of the tea
house in Shanghai and some its unique features, it is important to briefly
touch on how seismic change... Read More...
Shanghai and Tea: An introduction (04/12/2015)
Despite the brevity of Shanghai's almost
'pocket-sized' history, tea has played an intriguing role its emergence,
contributing both directly and indirectly to its transformation into one of the
w... Read More...
Shanghai and Tea: A timeline (04/12/2015)
Key events and dates:
1842 Shanghai
included as one of the five treaty ports stipulated in the Treaty of Nanjing
opening Shanghai's port harbour to British trade.
1851First Tea ho... Read More...
The Mysteries of Dark Oolong (13/08/2015)
The Wuyi Mountains of China's Fujian Province are a natural treasure chest. The area is full of treasured flora and fauna. The mountain formations and their remote location also mean the area remai... Read More...
Ancient Tea Tree Puerh Tea - An introduction (22/06/2015)
The first in a series of articles where we set out a few basic guidelines for assessing and drinking Ancient Tea Tree Puerhs.
By focusing on characteristics uniquely present in Ancient Tea Tree ... Read More...
Tea, Diet, and Way of Life (15/03/2015)
For many of us, the word "Diet" evokes clear, often strong associations. It reminds us of an expanding waistline and things we can't or shouldn't eat. It has not always been so.
"Diet" originally... Read More...
Tasting Notes: Tie Guan Yin, Jasmine & Darjeeling (08/01/2015)
Via the power of the internet we met Janey Ditter. Janey had just finishing studying tea in India. We invited Janey to sample some of our teas. Here are Janey's tasting notes. Enjoy!
Tea Ta... Read More...
Leaving Feedback - A short guide (26/11/2014)
Wherever you shop online it is always reassuring to read the feedback of other customers. From gaining specific product information to a better understanding of the general shopping experience, feed... Read More...
Fujian Tea Cultivars (27/08/2014)
Fujian Province is home to a rich diversity of tea cultivars. In fact, it is impossible to find an area that has developed a more astounding array of white, wulong, and black teas.
What is a cu... Read More...
Refreshing Aromas of Fine Jasmine Teas (17/07/2014)
"Nothing more refreshing."
Quote by Glynn Christian, on our Grade A Jasmine Tea Pearls
The balmy evening breezes of summer carry the sweet smell of jasmine flower. On the balcony table, a ... Read More...
Exploring Black Teas (20/06/2014)
"A human life, I think, should be well rooted in some spot of native land, where it may get the love of tender kinship for the face of the earth..."
Quote byGeorge Eliot
A place can leave a strong... Read More...
Expressing Darjeeling Taste Profiles (12/05/2014)
"De gustibus non est disputandum" - There Is No Accounting For Taste
It may be that there is no accounting for taste, but the way we talk about the taste of tea can be very helpful. In the worl... Read More...
How to Choose a TieGuanYin: Part 2 (14/03/2014)
Part of a series on How To Choose a TieGuanYin. Read Part 1.
In the previous article on choosing a TieGuanYin, the topics of season, oxidation & roasting, ageing, and grades of TieG... Read More...
Introduction To Tea Varietals (11/02/2014)
It can be easy to forget the many ways that our environment affects us. Our pupils adjust to let in the right amount of light to our eyes. Our blood vessels change shape to keep us warmer or cooler. A... Read More...
Tea travels: A trip to XiangHua village, AnXi. (25/01/2014)
Tea Travels - AnXi, Eastern China.
Although Shanghai is not a tea producing location it is an excellent hub for travel. China is huge but fortunately the ... Read More...
Start A Healthy Tea Habit (31/12/2013)
The ancient Roman god Janus, namesake of January, had two faces. One face looked to the past, the other to the future. At this time of year, many of us also look back upon the previous year and look f... Read More...
The changing face of the Chinese tea trade (17/11/2013)
A look at the evolving Chinese tea market and the effects of rising Chinese prosperity. Inspired by an article on tea blog www.tching.com by Derek Chew, titled, "Why the rising price of tea in Chi... Read More...
Refreshing Aromas of Fine Jasmine Teas (21/10/2013)
"Nothing more refreshing.”
Quote by Glynn Christian, on our Grade A Jasmine Tea Pearls
The balmy evening breezes of summer carry the sweet smell of jasmine
flower. On the balcony table, a cup of... Read More...
Why Our Great Taste Award Winners Taste Great (08/10/2013)
With nearly 10,000 products entered and over 400 judges, it would seem that Great Taste Award winners have something going for them.
But what exactly? For teas, what are those remarkable qual... Read More...
Aged Teas (06/09/2013)
Most of us hope that we improve with age, and we look for the same to happen with the things we prize. Denim jeans get more comfortable after years of wear. Whiskeys improve with barrel ageing.
... Read More...
Tea At Work And School (12/08/2013)
For many, the approach of Autumn heralds a return to school and a reminder that another Summer holiday season has come and gone.
But you could still use tea at school or work to create a daily ... Read More...
Cold Brew Your Tea For Summer (18/07/2013)
As the Summer heats up, cold-brew tea offers cool refreshment, a fresh set of taste experiences, and easy preparation.
If you've only ever steeped your teas with hot wa... Read More...
How to Choose a TieGuanYin Part 1 (27/06/2013)
New Season Tie Guan Yin Has Arrived. Click Here to explore our new teas.
... Read More...
Gaiwan (31/12/2012)
For many once you are bitten by the Chinese tea habit the gaiwan becomes a new tool to be mastered and ultimately relied on. It can certainly be challenge to start with but very quickly becomes an ind... Read More...
Beyond the teabag: why whole leaf tea is better (18/09/2012)
There are many great tea related websites on the internet, the team at Wan Ling Tea House enjoy reading and often engaging in the chats and discussions. Recently we came across the article Beyond th... Read More...
TaiPing townTea travels: AnHui - TaiPing (2012) (05/05/2012)
Gary: New to Tea (pt2) - The beginning of my education (11/03/2012)
Continued from part 1 - Gary: New to Tea - An Aussie's introduction to tea
The beginning of my education
A week passed quickly in Hong Kong, my wife and dau... Read More...
Gary: New to Tea - An Aussie's introduction to tea (16/02/2012)
Continuing our new tea to tea series, one of our customers from near Sydney in Australia agreed to write about his tea journey. Here's Gary's story:
My Tea Sto... Read More...
Loose Leaf Tea: Refreshing, invigorating and convenient (04/02/2012)
Great loose leaf tea can be enjoyed daily without inconvenience and hassle.
Enjoy, a refreshing and uplifting drink at work or at home. For those
who are looking for something a ... Read More...
Clare: New to Tea - My tea journey (04/02/2012)
Six months ago my normal response to being asked if I would like a
cup of tea would have been "milk and no sugar, thank you". All that
changed when a friend of mine asked if I would like to... Read More...
Tea travels: WuYi mountains tea trip (2011) (04/02/2012)
James and Wan Ling recently travelled to Fujian to source some new season teas and to attend the WuYi tea festival.
The annual tea festival brings together many of the regions tea
produ... Read More...
Introducing Tea Articles (04/02/2012)
With our 2012 website upgrade we are pleased to introduce our new
Tea Articles. A blog like collection of tea related articles that explores different aspects of tea, tea culture and the experienc... Read More...
