Direct Trade Tea & Botanicals
At Rishi Tea & Botanicals we set our own progressive standards for ethical trade and direct sourcing. Like wine, many teas come from heritage gardens with a storied legacy. This is not like purchasing a bulk commodity on the international market.
What Is Matcha?
Matcha is a traditional Japanese green tea powder produced by stone-milling a shade-grown green tea called tencha into a fine powder.
How to Brew Tea with a Kyusu
The kyusu is a traditional teapot ideal for brewing pure Japanese green teas.
What is Gongfu Cha?
Gongfu Cha (literally, “Kung Fu Tea”) is a traditional Chinese term that refers to brewing tea with discipline and skill.
How to Cold Brew Tea
The process of cold-brewing steeps tea leaves slowly, using time rather than temperature to release flavors and catechins gently.
How to Make Ceremonial Matcha
Learn how to prepare ceremonial matcha in the traditional style with Japanese tea master Ryo Iwamoto.
How to Brew Loose Leaf Tea in a Gaiwan
Brewing with a Gaiwan, the traditional Chinese tea brewing vessel, can seem intimidating, but with a little practice and following the right guidance, it is easy to master.
How To Brew Loose Leaf Tea In A Simple Brew
Regardless of the category of tea you would like to brew, many factors affect the flavor of the tea and overall tasting experience. Variables include brewing vessel, water temperature, steep time, dosage, and even quality of water!
Why Water Temperature is Important When Brewing Tea
When you use the correct water temperature it can open up a whole world of flavor that you never knew existed within tea.
What is Tea? – Origins and Categorization of Camellia Sinensis
The modern tea world recognizes six categories of tea: green, yellow, white, oolong, black, and dark (Pu'er). The main attribute by which a tea is put into one ...
Cha Qi & Tea Drunk
Qi in the Chinese language represents the lifeforce energy or the breath of life. Cha Qi is an elusive term with a slightly intangible definition. The literal translation is “tea energy”.
Japanese Green Tea
Japan is renowned for green teas with a natural and vivid green color, fresh bitter sweetness, and famed umami flavor. This unique character is typically imparted when the tea is steam fired.
How to Choose Teaware for Gongfu Cha
Gongfu Cha (literally, “Kung Fu Tea”) is a traditional Chinese term that refers to brewing tea with discipline and skill.
What is Herbal Tea?
Herbal Teas refer to naturally caffeine-free products that are not actually “tea” in the botanical sense. New tea drinkers are surprised to learn that all true tea is made from the leaves of a single plant species: Camellia Sinensis.
Tokoname Clay
Tokoname was the location of one of the Six Ancient Kilns of Japan and is also famed for Buddhist and Shinto shrine statue artisans. Tokoname is often considered to be the sister city of Yixing.
