Tea Journeys Blog

Fresh garden herbs including chamomile, mint, and lavender arranged around a ceramic cup of golden herbal tea
Crafting Your Own Herbal Tea Journey: From Garden to Cup
Learn how to grow, harvest, and brew your own herbal teas at home. This step-by-step guide covers cultivating popular herbs like chamomile, mint, and lavender; drying and storing techniques; brewing... Read more...
Fresh Camellia Sinensis tea leaves and white blossoms on a branch with soft natural light
How to Grow and Process Camellia Sinensis: From Plant to Cup
Learn how to grow Camellia Sinensis — the plant behind all traditional teas — and process your harvest into green, black, oolong, or white tea at home. A step-by-step guide... Read more...
A split flat-lay showing fresh botanicals like lemon and vanilla on one side and glass vials with golden extract on the other, representing natural vs. artificial tea flavoring
Natural vs. Artificial Flavors in Tea: What's Really in Your Cup?
Ever wondered what "natural" and "artificial" flavor really mean on your tea's ingredient list? The distinction is more surprising than you'd think — and the "natural" label may not mean... Read more...
Flat lay of loose-leaf flavored tea blend with botanical inclusions including dried fruit, flower petals, and sugar crystals
Unusual Ingredients in Your Food & Tea
Ever spotted a mysterious ingredient on your tea label and wondered what it actually is? From gum arabic to carnauba wax, this post breaks down the most common unusual food-grade... Read more...
Assorted loose-leaf teas in ceramic bowls on a dark slate surface with jasmine blossoms and cinnamon accents
Flavored, Scented & Blended Teas: What's the Difference?
Not all teas are created equal. Discover the key differences between flavored, scented, and blended teas — how they're made, what to look for on the label, and how to... Read more...
illustration of a woman dressed in a blue sari making chai tea
Masala Chai: Six Facts Every Tea Lover Should Know
Masala Chai is one of the world's most beloved spiced teas — rich in history, warming spices, and cultural tradition. Discover six essential facts that will make you a true... Read more...
Green rolling hills of a Yunnan tea garden with misty clouds
Puerh Tea: A Complete Guide to China's Fermented Tea
Puerh is one of the most fascinating and misunderstood teas in the world. Originating from Yunnan Province, China, this uniquely fermented tea comes in two main styles — Sheng (raw)... Read more...
Snow-capped Mount Fuji rising behind lush green Japanese tea fields
From Uji to Kagoshima: Exploring Japanese Tea Terroir
Discover how Japan's distinct tea-growing regions — from the misty hills of Uji to the volcanic soils of Kagoshima — shape the flavor, aroma, and character of your favorite green... Read more...
A glass pitcher of golden-amber cold brew tea with loose-leaf tea, fresh mint, and lemon slices on soft white linen
Cold Brew Tea: The Complete Guide to Smooth, Refreshing Flavor
Discover the art of cold brew tea — a slow-steeped method that delivers a smoother, naturally sweeter cup with less bitterness. Learn how to make it, the best teas to... Read more...
A steaming cup of tea image set on a Himalyan tea field.
From Darjeeling to Nilgiri: Exploring the Terroir of Indian Teas
India is home to some of the world's most celebrated tea-growing regions — each shaped by altitude, climate, soil, and season. Journey through Darjeeling's misty Himalayan foothills, Assam's lush tropical... Read more...
Misty mountain tea terraces in China at dawn, representing Chinese tea terroir
The Terroir Difference: Famous Chinese Teas
China is the birthplace of tea — and its vast, diverse landscapes produce some of the world's most celebrated varieties. Explore how terroir shapes the flavors of famous teas from... Read more...
Image of a gas tank and tea cup with indicator on low
Caffeine in Tea: Which Teas Have the Most (and Least) Caffeine
Not all teas are created equal when it comes to caffeine. Discover the surprising factors that determine caffeine levels in your cup — from leaf age and variety to brew... Read more...
Tea terraces on mountain slopes
Terroir – The Taste of the Place
Terroir — the combination of soil, climate, elevation, and processing — is just as essential to tea as it is to wine. Explore how the taste of a place shapes... Read more...
Tea storage canisters & bag on a blue background
The Life of Tea: How to Keep Your Leaves at Their Best By Proper Storage
Even the finest loose-leaf tea won't stay at its best forever. Learn what threatens tea's freshness, how long different types last, and the best ways to store it at home. Read more...
Loose-leaf black tea leaves arranged to spell the word TEA on a white surface, with a vintage silver spoon
What Is Loose-leaf Tea? A Beginner’s Guide.
Tea Journeys Colorado is committed to providing you with delicious loose-leaf teas from around the world. However, the majority of tea drinkers in the US, the UK and elsewhere still... Read more...
Loose leaf herbal tea in a floral cup with chamomile blossoms
Herbal & Fruit Teas - The Non-Tea Teas
Herbal and fruit teas — also called tisanes or infusions — aren't made from the Camellia sinensis plant, so they're not technically "true" tea. Most are naturally caffeine-free, though a... Read more...
Four glasses of colorful loose-leaf iced teas from Tea Journeys
How to Make Iced Tea: Best Teas & Brewing Methods
Summer calls for iced tea. Learn which loose-leaf teas shine over ice and how to brew them perfectly — from bold Assams to caffeine-free fruit blends. Read more...
Tea pickers harvesting young leaves in a Fujian tea field
White Tea: Eight Facts About This Elegant & Refined Tea
White tea is one of the most elegant and least processed teas in the world. Here are eight facts that will deepen your appreciation for this refined, delicate brew. Read more...
A dragon illustration representing the Black Dragon origin story of oolong tea
Oolong Tea - The In-Between Tea
Oolong tea is one of the most diverse and fascinating tea categories — partially oxidized, sitting beautifully between green and black tea. Discover the legends, flavor profiles, and varieties that... Read more...
Loose-leaf green tea leaves with a tea field in the background
Green Tea - The Original Tea
Green tea is made from the same Camellia sinensis plant as black tea, but its defining characteristic is that it undergoes no oxidation. From China's pan-fired Dragonwell to Japan's steamed,... Read more...
Loose leaf black tea leaves spread on a light surface, showing the texture and color of oxidized tea
What Makes Black Tea Black? A Deep Dive into Flavor, Process, and Origin
Black tea is the world's most popular tea, yet few people understand what actually makes it "black" — or why teas from China, India, and Sri Lanka taste so dramatically... Read more...
Fresh Camellia sinensis tea leaves growing in a tea garden
Tea Types Explained: Black, Green, Oolong, White & More
Learn how black, green, white, oolong, and pu-erh teas are all made from one plant — Camellia sinensis. Explore varieties, terroir, processing methods, and flavoring techniques. Read more...