Tea Blog

Keep up with the latest news and travels.

By Melissa Salazar 24 Oct, 2023
Matcha Mindfulness workshop Dec 9nth 2-4 pm Gold Canyon Az
By Melissa Salazar 22 Sep, 2023
IT'S OFFICIALLY PUMPKIN LATTE SEASON! If your like me you've already redecorated your house with pumpkins and fall decor.
By Melissa Salazar 01 Sep, 2023
Join us at Sunshine and Sunflower studio in Phoenix Az for a paint and sip
By Melissa Salazar 23 Aug, 2023
Join us Aug 27nth for An Afternoon Tea this Sunday 1-4pm $35 Benefiting Cancer patience. Hosted by Village 360 Featuring Red's Zen Tea company

By Melissa Salazar 22 Jun, 2023
Keep in Touch and on top of our Local events and workshops
By Melissa Salazar 19 May, 2023
This past January I was escorted to Japan by Kakegawa city officials and city Mayor. I had the opportunity to see the Tea gardens of Shizuoka, both Organic and non organic farms!
By Melissa Salazar 05 Jun, 2019
Taiwan the Country of Oolong tea! What an amazing trip. The most famous places to travel in Taiwan for Tea is Nantou County. Not only is it amazingly beautiful, it is filled with high quality Oolong tea. Taiwan has been known for centuries for their delicious variety of Oolong teas. Oolong is a cross between green and black tea with oxidation levels anywhere from 15-70% oxidized. The more oxidized the leaf the browner it gets, and the biochemical composition of the leaves change giving it a distinct flavor and aroma. Oolong teas are typically rolled and roasted or pan fired so they last quite a bit longer than green teas. The freshness is kept by rolling the leaves very tight as to preserve the aroma and taste. I was lucky enough to travel to Nantou during peak harvest season around April. I even had a chance to chat and have lunch with a local tea farmer and his wife and was lucky enough to try his prized Oolong, nothing short of amazing! So many amazing things to do here. Between gondolas across the tea farms , lakes, Tea gardens and amazing cuisine. What To look for when selecting a High quality Oolong tea? First you want to make sure that the color is uniform throughout all of the rolled pieces of tea, the darker richer colored pieces are what we are looking for the lighter pieces are more likely to be discarded,the dark green color is which has the flavor and aroma. If it is a green along the dark green color is what you’re looking for and the uniformity across all the rolled leaves.
By Melissa Salazar 03 Jun, 2019
Our trip to Malaysia was quite amazing! Visiting Sabah tea farm and many of the surrounding attractions including the amazing crystal clear beautiful waters and Jungle park areas. What I thought Was most interesting about Sabah’s tea farm, was the fact that they grow both varieties of Camellia sinensis and camellia Assamica right next to each other. Usually plantation farms have one or the other Camellia Sinensis is the tea varietal that is much smaller than the Assamica varietal. The Camellia sinensis varietal comes from China, and the Camellia Assamica varietal comes from India Assam. As you can see in my picture the difference in size of the two varieties of plants, is astonishing. Sabah Tea happens to specialize in black tea varietals and blends the two varieties together to make a more balanced black tea! As I sat in the farm at their delicious and beautiful outdoor restaurant overlooking the garden, I was able to try their many varieties of tea infused cuisine quite delicious and a very fun excursion. I would highly recommend this winding path way up to the garden a scenic drive and an amazing experience.
By Melissa Salazar 26 May, 2019
Nestled just outside of the Himalayas, The Nepal Trip was an exception in so many ways. The highlight of this trip was that I was able to pluck and fully produce my own tea, and stay on the farm for the duration of my stay and attend a traditional Nepalese wedding. The cuisine was delicious light and full of flavor and energy, the Nepalese use less oils in there cooking so these light meals are fueled with energy. As we passed the amazing Indian border of tea farms, I couldn’t help but notice the amazing aroma in the air. We finally reached our destination on the Nepal tea company farm and factory 6,000 feet elevation. This amazing farm owned by one of my students families, hosts foreigners to visit the region and explore the plantation. The farms are amazing and the owners supply housing and education for the tea farmers as well. The owners also run the transcendental meditation clinic downtown, a really exciting experience for anyone interested in meditation and the amazing benefits it can produce. Nepalese teas are very reminiscent of traditional Indian Teas, but with slight more floral notes. This is definitely some of the best teas I have ever tasted. One of my favorite teas from this region was there Full Moon tea this tea is said to have special properties. Like India , Nepal tea specializes in a variety Of tea types. They make amazing white, green, and black teas. Nepal Tea is up and coming and for sure deserves a pass through and delicious taste of there amazing teas. 
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