Because there is a natural storytelling urge and ability in all human beings, even just a little nurturing of this impulse can bring about astonishing and delightful results.   -Nancy Mellon, The Art of Storytelling
Another art in the world of tea is the art of telling a story. From the 5000 years of history to the unique inspiration of every tea business owner, our stories are powerful tools of the… read more...

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It might be said that the art of tea is the craftsmanship which transports the leaf from the field to the cup. And the spirit of tea is the poetry that we experience and are able to share it with a world vastly beyond ourselves.

Frank Hadley Murphy has written a book, The Spirit of Tea. When I spoke with him he… read more...

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As I write this, a cup of silver needle inspiring my morning, I imagine that many of us are feeling anxious about current events - seeking simple solace with a fine tea. I intentionally allowed some of the leaves to escape the gaiwan lid hoping for them to leave a message in the bottom of my cup. This morning I also reached for a ceramic cup that… read more...

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What was your first experience with tea?

For many of us it was learning the song and rhyme, “I’m A Little Teapot”.

But there are many other literary experiences that help children develop preconceptions about tea even before they taste their first cup.

Pooh’s Little Instruction Book . . . by A.A. Milne

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When I learned to make teapots, it seemed necessary to know about drinking tea. I wanted to understand what was important to brewing and serving the drink. This lured me to the tea passion. So, I thought it would be fun - in the spirit of this blog - to turn the tables and offer tea drinkers a brief overview of what is involved in crafting the icon of… read more...

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Tea is finding a voice in a very contemporary art form.

This post is a slight deviation from my original question: What is it about tea that has inspired artists for thousands of years?  I’ve spent hours viewing some extremely contemporary tea inspired art and the motivation is totally transparent.

“Calm-A-Sutra” is a video competition… read more...

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My underlying question for these blog postings - “What is it about tea that inspires art?” - is also played out in theatrical offerings. We have dramatic writers creating humorous melodramas for tearoom entertainment as well as some very serious dramatic plays incorporating tea themes. In each of these venues it is the experience of tea that takes center stage. While the leaf, our beloved Camellia sinensis has yet… read more...

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When I mention that artists incorporate tea themes into their work, the painter, Mary Cassatt is one of the first that come to mind. Her work is well-known and beloved. One of the authors writing about her work, Frank Getlein, in his book

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There is a connecting link between tea lovers and art lovers around the world.It is The Teapot.

In 2001, Garth Clark wrote the book, “The Artful Teapot: 20th Centry Expressions From The Kamm Collection” to accompany the traveling show featuring more than 200 contemporary pieces featuring… read more...

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“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.”
- Pablo Picasso

As a vendor at the World Tea Expo, I had the pleasure of watching the transformation of the exhibition hall from dusty cavern to what must have been the largest tearoom in the world. On Thursday morning, our booth set-up day, the temporary shells were assembled but unadorned, the floors bare concrete, the forklifts… read more...

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