Beyond the Leaf

Welcome to Beyond the Leaf, the TeaSource blog.

Tea is more than a beverage—it's a story of people, places, tradition, and craftsmanship. Here you'll find tea education, thoughtful discussion, steeping guides, recipes, tasting notes, tea travel, sourcing stories, industry insights, and updates from the TeaSource team.

Whether you're just beginning your loose leaf tea journey or have been enjoying specialty tea for years, Beyond the Leaf is a place to deepen your knowledge, discover new teas, and explore the world behind every cup. Drawing on decades of experience sourcing and tasting exceptional teas, we share practical advice, firsthand experiences, and a passion for tea that we hope inspires your next cup.

All 🌱 Tea Basics 🧪 Tea Geek 🍵 Tea Reviews 🥣 Recipes 🌏 Travel 🏭 Behind the Scenes 📰 News & Updates
2022 Red Dawn: Behind the Scenes
2022 Red Dawn: Behind the Scenes

Every harvest tells a different story. Go behind the scenes of the 2022 Red Dawn project to see how weather, timing, and tea-making decisions shaped this year's exclusive black tea. Read More

Tieguanyin Sign in field with yellow flowers
The Tieguanyin Project, Spring 2022

Tea making rarely goes exactly as planned. Follow the challenges, setbacks, and creative decisions behind the Spring 2022 Tieguanyin Project and discover why adaptation is part of the craft. Read More

Three white cups on the edge of a brick wall with loose leaf tea heaping out of the top of them
The Tieguanyin Project, Fall 2021

One harvest. Two tea makers. Two completely different approaches. Explore how small decisions during production created two unique expressions of the same Tieguanyin leaves. Read More

Hand holding a white dish with steeped Red Dawn tea leaves in it
What's in the name "Red Dawn"?

Learn how Red Dawn got its name, what makes this TeaSource-exclusive black tea unique, and why each year's harvest offers a distinct tasting experience. Read More

Hand reaching down into a pile of freshly picked tea leaves
2021 Red Dawn: What are Different "Lots" of Tea?

What makes one lot of tea different from another? Explore how harvest timing, leaf age, and production decisions shaped the distinct character of 2020 and 2021 Red Dawn. Read More

Tea fields in Anxi County, China
What is Huang Jin Gui?

Huang Jin Gui is one of Anxi's most famous tea cultivars. Learn what makes it distinctive, how it compares with Tieguanyin, and why it's important to Red Dawn. Read More

Immortal Diamond (Zhang Ping Shui Xian) Pressed Tea Square
Immortal Diamond

Immortal Diamond is a rare pressed oolong made from Shui Xian. Explore how it is produced, the story behind its Burning Hut tea garden, and how to steep it. Read More

The Tieguanyin Project, Spring 2021
The Tieguanyin Project, Spring 2021

Daniel Hong set out to create his own Tieguanyin in this experimental 2021 project. Follow the process, challenges, and lessons learned along the way. Read More

Tea fields in Anxi county, Fujian province, China where Red Dawn black tea is grown.
Red Dawn

Red Dawn is a unique black tea from Anxi made from the Huang Jin Gui cultivar. Explore the unusual oolong-inspired process, experiments, and story behind this TeaSource exclusive. Read More

Tea Masters: Ceylon Connections

One of the great perks of my job is working with people who know a lot more than I do. On June 19th we presented the latest in the TeaSource... Read More

Earl Grey. Hopped.

Summit Brewing Company of St Paul called us to talk about a new beer they wanted to try brewing. Brewer Nick Hempfer, Star Trek nerd, wanted to try brewing an... Read More

Being Humbled

I actually like the experience of being humbled (this probably has to do with being raised Catholic) especially when this experience results from working with someone who knows a lot... Read More

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