The very first known black tea’s real name is zheng shan xiao zhong dates back to the Ming dynasty and gets its smoky flavor from being smoked over pinewood.

Drink Gabaron Matcha two or more hours before bed, or take a regular early in the day cup to improve sleep. Nervous system-regulator GABA lowers blood pressure, reduces stress, counters depression, improves weight regulation and, yes, has a sedative effect.

Simplicity is a core principal of tea as practice. At it’s simplest, it is just teapot, tea and water.

Blend 95 is Rev angel’s daily go-to. Rikyu is for when she wants to hit-the-pause button. Hikari is for riding that great emerald green cloud in the sky into the sublime state of relaxed awareness.

Rev angel remain loyal to Breakaway matcha. Their Original cold brew has a lively peppery kick that dazzles rather than dulls so getting her clinical 4-5 grams per day is easy. She is eyeing their new Reserve blend now too.

In Japan, the match is shincha — the earliest and most coveted sencha of the season. From fall to spring, the plant stores energy in the small buds and early leaves that are picked, steamed, rolled and sorted.

Harvested in the perfect conditions created around the West Lake in Hangzhou province, this one comes from the the Meijiawu which is one of the finest.

Rev angel made her way through tea samples she has collected over the years. She surfaced a lichee-infused red tea that is likely 7 years old. We westerners call them black, but one look at the liquor will tell you why that’s not right.

like so many people, Rev angel’s introduction to black tea was Lipton. it was good enough to build a youthful tea habit (with evaporated milk, west indian-style,)

From big white leaves to bagged blacks, from fragrant tisanes to funky puerhs, we want to know when, where, and how you drink it.