Chan Teas — Discover Fine Tea

Early Sessions in May 2012

Early yixing sessions with first rays of sunshine welcome the birth of the day Rock tea awakens the body Silent meditation centers the mind. ...read more

I didn't have the pleasure of being alive in the 70s, but from what I can deduce, it was a pretty wild era. So when I had the chance to try a tea from said time, I jumped at the opportunity. My friend Matt recently made a trip up to SF and visited the all too authentic Red Blossom Tea Co. in Chinatown where he picked up some Baozhong from 1973. As Marshal N once wrote: "Aged teas have a certain mystique. In addition to the complexity and depth that only time lends such teas, there is a sense that ...read more

Iced Phoenix in May 2012

It's getting nice out, really nice out. The smells of spring are in the air, the mornings are perfectly sunny, and the nights are warm and prime for strolling. And while the early morning remains pleasantly cool, by midday a hot cup of tea doesn't always sound like most refreshing option. So the other day, during my morning session, I decided to make iced tea a new way… I started off in the morning after breakfast and some light reading, and found an old bag of Huang Zhi Xiang Phoenix Oolong to brew as the sun's rays began to creep ...read more

Sequoia in May 2012

Camping is the perfect time to brew tea. Being out in nature, in the cool mountain air of Sequoia everything just felt right. It was ideal for improvised guerilla pouring sessions among rocks smoothed by the nearby running water, or back at camp in the early morning or just before the sun set. We brought cups, a gaiwan, pouring vessel and a jet boil to brew some cooked puer. The earthiness of the dark, aged tea complemented the natural environment and clear mountain air. We skirted off of the trail and down some boulders to a flat rock near a ...read more

On the Rocks in May 2012

Not all iced tea is created equal. There are a few different ways of making iced tea, but one of the quickest is over ice. Sure, you could brew sun tea and then cool it down in the fridge, but sometimes you want your tea cold and fast. In order to satisfy this need, brew your tea up however you normally would. Lately I've been brewing working man's style, and sometimes I'll have a good brew going when the day takes a turn from cloudy and cool to bright and warm. That's when I pour some out into a ...read more

Morning qi Focus in April 2012

Things have been getting busier lately, and so when I get a chance to have a mindful, focused teasesh alone it makes it all the more special. This is especially true when it comes to those early morning sessions when everything falls into place and I have a glorious hour or so to myself to brew some strong puer. There's something beautiful about the morning; the birth of the day, filled with endless potential and possibility. I brew strong tea and do nothing else. No computer, no book, and ideally no one else to distract me. Ideas flow in and ...read more

The Working Man's Guide to Tea in April 2012

Brewing tea on the go has been a passion of ours for almost as long as we've been brewing tea. Knowing the right way to brew loose leaf tea on the go is our first line of defense against ending up with a bad cup of tea. Below is step-by-step documentation of how I've been brewing on the go lately. I like Rou Gui because it's a tea that gets strong without turning into a bitter mess. I use 5 to 6 grams of tea in my 34 ounce thermos. Even after a few hours of brewing, the tea retains its strong, ...read more

Mild Magic in April 2012

My first love - that is to say the first tea I fell in love with - was a lightly oxidized Tie Guan Yin. It was light and fresh without being too weak, vegetal without being too grassy, and buttery in all the right ways. Since then, I've expanded my Tie Guan Yin range and settled on a great everyday oolong: Tie Guan Yin mild oxidation. I always like to throw in a sample of this affordable gem in with the orders of first-time customers. I think it serves as a great introductory oolong without carrying a hefty price tag. ...read more

Sun Tea in April 2012

A while ago (almost ten years now) long before my tea obsession, I was on a trip in Israel with my extended family. My grandma a happy and resourceful woman who's age would surprise you on account of her spryness, was feeling a little parched one particularly hot afternoon as we rode across the desert to a beautiful mountaintop that overlooked the dry, arid landscape. Upon stopping, my grandma proceeded to take out a couple of tea bags from her purse and put them in her water bottle. She put the soon-to-be tea on the roof of the truck, and ...read more

Around The House in April 2012

We have a lot of tea stuff around the house. Here's a look... Perfect for solo sessions A gently roasted gem from Hong Kong Slow brew Rou Gui in the works Afternoon pour ...read more

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