“Alice Cravens has a depth of knowledge and passion for tea that is rare in this world. She is equally as devoted to the quiet, slow pleasures of tea time as she is to the tea growers who are taking care of the land.”
Alice Waters,
founder, Chez Panisse
Perspectives On Tea
Our thoughts on tea run down the same lane as our thoughts on opening up our restaurant: we want tea here to be accessible and enjoyable. Yes, tea has many attributes, from bold to soothing, from seductively playful to mysterious. But it begins with seeing, tasting, enjoying. Let your eyes and your palate be your guide.
What is and is not tea
Tea comes from one class of plant: Camellia Sinensis, a relative to our flowering Camellias, but with a thinner almost rose-like leaf style and very simple flowers. Tea as we know it has a history dating back over 4 thousand years. There are close to 400 varietals of Camellia Sinensis(and growing) thriving in areas near sea level to altitudes of 7000 feet. All seem to love humidity and shady heat in a variety of temperatures, and like many harvested plants(like wine or tomatoes), a bit of stress due to a rocky cliff-like environment or fighting through the mist to catch the sun, brings a more flavorful result.
The labor intensive art of taking the plucked tea leaf and withering, drying, rolling, twisting or tying is the heart of the art of tea. Somewhere in the world, someone is hand picking and processing the majority of the teas and herbals that we offer at Modern Tea.
Tea vs. Herbals
To help categorize a bit, we usually use the term ‘tea’ when we are referring to the Camellia Sinensis plant and use the terms “herbal” or “tisane” for other plant beverages.
In many parts of the world, herbals also have a long history that weaves in and out of medicinal or celebrated uses. From Ancient Greece and Armenia to Asia to the Americas , we have sought out herbs to make our beverages. Here at Modern Tea, we respect the medicinal properties of herbals and focus on taste without reinventing a trusted blend.
Exceptions to the rule
Yerba Matte is tougher to categorize — it is an herbal that does not contain “tea” yet it does have caffeine, more specifically called “matteine.” Our opinion? We think of it as a long trusted endurance drink that comes in handy when you are planning to run a marathon or scale a mountain. Matte lovers are loyal to the drink for these properties.
More to follow on caffeine, theine, matteine and the guilt free properties of tea.
Look for more information on tea and how to make tea in the future…
