Tea ware

Tea ware is all of things used in tea time. 

Many of people collects tea pot, tea cup, teacosy, tea coaster and others.  

I want to show you best tea ware that many people collected and want to collect.

1. Tea Cup.

Basically, tea cup is necessary item in tea time. Generally it is organized pottery so it's very expensive than other tea ware.

Wedgwood - Psyche series

I don't know why British people like mint green;) Wedgwood and Fortnum and mason use mint green in their product and brand color. Wedgwood is high quality brand handling black tea, tea ware and jam. Psyche series is handicraft pottery with beautiful mint green pattern. Cup shape is classic type which broad and round for getting wind of black tea's aroma. It's number one tea cup for people who like black tea.  

Noridake - Cuty Rose

It's very cute design for girls. Most of tea cup has white bottom to look water color. However it's bottom embossed floral design. 

2. Tea for two and Tea for one.

It's also necessary item for tea time. Tea for one and Tea for two is functionality product. One or two tea cup and tea pot unites into one. 

Sinzi Katoh - Tea for two , Sharon - Tea for one

Sinzi Katoh is very popular illustrator in Japan. His illust is used in writing supplies and tea ware. 

3. Tea Coaster

Karel Capek - Tea Coaster

Tea coaster is alternation of a saucer. If you make daily use mug, you need tea coaster. It prevents glide and flowing water.

Tea ware is just addition. In the tea time, subject matter is just a tea. Some tea people sticks to rule and dignity. Some people said that you have to get fine tea pot, tea cup, infuser, tea bag squeezer and tea caddy spoon. I do not agree these tea culture. Tea culture concludes not only England also India and other subculture. We don't need to follow classic. I think it's better that just enjoy tea time. Don't care about formality. Enjoy your tea.

Pine Mushroom Tea

Did you hear about the pine mushroom tea? I found very interesting Korean tea.

Kangwondo Yang-yang is special production localities of pine mushroom. There has pine mushroom festival in every summer. 

Here is the link of Yang-yang pine mushroom festival homepage.

Pine Mushroom is famous for a racy flavor. (I think, Especially it has a smell something like a grilled mushroom with a steak.) Because taste and incense are excellent, it's considered high-quality mushroom in Japan and Korea. It is also known as medicinally by anticancer mushroom. But, as artificial cultivation is impossible, output is few.

It's Pine Mushroom Tea. I get it to my friend who lives in Kangwondo. Cause of pine mushroom's output, pine mushroom tea runs out of stock before the end of summer. It costs almost 1000 won per one tea sack.

Tea has granular shape for maintaining incense. It dissolves easily in water.

I make a tea with water of a mug. I have never eaten Pine mushroom. Therefore I don't know it seems like original. I just feel the mushroom when we meet in BBQ restaurant. Mushroom taste, Mushroom smell. Actually I like mushroom very much, but I couldn't eat at all. It's so weird for my taste.

There are many of teas in region and countries. It's good to develop countries. In Korea, local culture business is not working well. People do not know these of festival and local products. It's sad;( If you have vacation, go to local festival and get a good products:)

Variation of tea and Personal Blending

Many of people drink straight tea with a sugar or a milk. It's also tasty but not interesting anymore. Here is some variation of make a cup of tea.

1. Lemon

Black tea has a bitter taste. Lemon neutralizes it with sour taste, Also gives fresh feeling. You can select three way.

1. Slice and put in a mug.

2. Add only juice of lemon.

3. rub lemon to cup.

2. Salt

Do you know some salty taste intensify sweetness and make a full body.

You have to add just a little bit. 

3. Cinnamon muddler

Cinnamon is most common spice to tea and drinks. You can also use cinnamon powder, however it's too rough for tea. Cinnamon muddler can be used basic muddler. You has only to stir with it. 

Classic is good. However the new ways are also great for your tea time. You can find some way for your taste. Add some fruits dice, some nut, a masala and other tea, if you want. Some of people blends tea personally. The Salvia tearoom and Davids tea also started personal blending. The good thing of these small companies are to find very unique blend that can find in mega-corporation. In Salvia tearoom, the owner uses special materials from Taiwan, Thailand and China. and Davids tea uses many kind of tea. He handles black tea, green tea, white tea, oolong tea, rooibos, pur'eh tea and even mate tea blending! These bold blends cannot find in mega-corporations. so If you do not want older bestseller, you can make your own blending or go to personal blending company.

Existing and new instant tea in Korea

NEW T2U is organic Darjeeling black tea setting in public taste. It has amount of sugar as 30g in 400ml. It is fewer quantity compared to coke, but still many. It seems Lotte Ceylon tea.

It's too expensive almost 2000won. However Lotte Ceylon tea is better by value and taste. well, and it's Darjeeling, yes, however I can't feel just very little of Darjeeling flavor. I heard that same version of green tea is in big market. and I'll try it if I have a chance.

NEWEST Espresso Milk Tea of Golden drop series(very long name...) is newest instant milk tea. It takes making process by espresso abstraction method. Because milk and black tea are included very little, it has light taste. 

Before this product, Seven eleven produced the Afternoon black tea and Hollis produced Milk tea. However all have been discontinued. well, actually in Korea, just few of people like milk tea. many people are not used to milk tea.

Dejava is the oldest instant milk tea existing in Korea. Dried full cream milk and black tea extract are included much. 

Well many people do not like Dejava and other instant milk tea. It's totally different taste compared with other sport drink. Only few product can survive and so only few people can contact milk tea. it's kind of vicious circle.