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.

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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

Square image in four quadrants with different styles of tea leaves. Jujube Shou Mei cake, Spring Rain Bai Mu Dan, Fuding Silver Needles, Winter White cake
Forget What You Know About White Tea

White tea is far more diverse than many people realize. Learn how it's made, why it ages so well, and why there isn't just one "correct" way to steep or... Read More

A Hand holding tea leaves and jasmine blossoms
What is Jasmine Tea?

Discover how jasmine tea gets its signature aroma, why multiple scenting rounds matter, and what separates exceptional jasmine tea from the ordinary. 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

The Story of Huang Shan Mao Feng
The Story of Huang Shan Mao Feng

Learn how Huang Shan Mao Feng got its name, how its distinctive leaf style developed, and why the tea's history is connected to the evolution of Chinese tea-making. Read More

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