Tea News

What is Shincha?  Shincha or “new tea”, is one of the most prized green teas in Japan.  It’s also one of the most expensive.  The high cost is due to the effort involved in picking the leaves during a specified period of time.  During the winter months, the tea plant stores up nutrients like amino […]

What is Hairy Crab (Mao Xie)? Hairy Crab or Mao Xie, is a green ball oolong that is lightly oxidized, and grown in Anxi county of Guangdong Province.  The cup is lightly floral, citrus and green fruit notes that remind of magnolia, yuzu, and sweet melon.  The profile is a little similar to green tea, […]

The Health Benefits of Chicory Root: Chicory Root (Cicorium intybus) is a larger relative of the dandelion (both plants are in the sunflower family).  The plant has small blue flowers, and can be found in woody areas.  Growing up to 5’ in height with strong taproots, this weed thrives in light. Chicory is used as […]

Pleurisy or butterfly weed is a fleshy rooted, perennial plant, growing 1 to 1 ½ feet and bearing corymbs of deep yellow and orange flowers.  Pleurisy, being in the milkweed family, are a favorite flower of butterflies, especially the Monarch.  The plant is a variety of milkweed and is native to North and South America, […]

China White Monkey or Bai Mao Hou is a green tea that grows along the slopes of the Taimu mountains on the Qinshan plantation located in the Fujian province of China.  Like most green teas grown in Fujian, the best lots are harvested in early April during the pre-Qing Ming, the first harvest of the […]

Little Melon Seed or (Lu An Gua Pian) is one of China’s most famous teas. It has been recognized by emperors of the past for its exceptional quality. The tea is grown in the Huang Shan Mountains (Yellow Mountains) of Anhui Province and is harvested in early- mid April. The surrounding area is steeply sloped […]

Medicinal Properties of Fennel Seed: Tin Roof has added fennel seed to our ever-expanding herbal selection. Fennel has been highly prized throughout history. Old world civilizations and cultures like the Romans, Egyptians, Chinese and Indians have used this seed for either food, medicine, alcohol or various rituals. Fennel grows up to 6 ft., has bright […]