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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White tea… FOOD FIGHT—FOOD FIGHT!

Who would think tea professionals would ever get into disagreements that escalate into shouting matches? Certainly not I. But I’ve seen that when tea industry folks talk about white tea.... Read More

Back in the Office, Cupping Darjeelings

After nearly six weeks of travel, I am back in Minnesota.  In addition to the piles of mail on my desk, there are many packages of tea from all over... Read More

Puer, China… Ethnic Minorities, Puer & Singing

China has 55 recognized “ethnic minorities.”  25 of them are found in Yunnan province.  So this Puer Festival was also a festival of the various ethnic minorities of Yunnan, many... Read More

Report from Puer, China… I almost caused an international incident.

[caption id="attachment_142" align="alignleft" width="300"] Me in the meeting place (very fancy)[/caption] About 2 hours after arriving in the city of Puer the leader of the U.S. trade delegation asked if... Read More

World Tea Expo, Day 3 recap

And with that, the 2013 World Tea Expo has come to a close. Bill, Michael, and I are all back in Minnesota, the booth has been torn down and packed... Read More

World Tea Expo, Day 2 recap

At the end of Day Two of the World Tea Expo I didn't feel quite as exhausted as I did after the first day. We started settling in a bit,... Read More

World Tea Expo, Day 1 recap

Yesterday was the first day of the World Tea Expo here in Las Vegas. As pureblooded Minnesotans, going from 65 degree weather in Minneapolis to 100 degree weather here was... Read More

Bill Waddington Standing next to a dozen or so other people being greeted at the airport in Yunnan, China. A red banner says "The North American Tea Deligation"
Visiting Puer China

Hi, I've just recently arrived in Puer, Yunnan province, China as a member of U.S. trade mission and industry group. While here I will be attending the International China Tea... Read More

Taiwan Ambassador Visit

We were very grateful for the opportunity on May 6th to have Taiwanese Tea Ambassador, Thomas Shu, visit the Twin Cities for an evening course on Taiwanese oolongs.  As anyone... Read More

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