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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TeaSource: The First Store

The first TeaSource shirt. Front and back of the shirt. This shirt was given to me by colleagues when I quit the corporate world.  Most of my colleagues knew of... Read More

The Birthplace of TeaSource

You could say TeaSource was born in Usk, Monmouthshire, Wales (United Kingdom) on November 15, 1840, when Augustus Waddington was born. He was the first Waddington to go into the... Read More

TeaSource: Bringing globally-sourced tea to Minnesota | Eden Prairie Sun Current

By Sean Miner | Eden Prairie Sun Current Read More

Tea in America: One Family's Story

We're excited to announce the latest installment of the Tea Masters Series! Mike Spillane is the owner of the oldest continuous operating family-owned tea business in America, The G.S. Haly... Read More

Gingersnap Cookie Recipe

July 1st is National Gingersnap Day! We love any excuse to pair delicious baked goods with a cup of tea. Check out the recipe for these iced ginger snap cookies and... Read More

Pistachio Matcha Cupcake Recipe

In honor of Cupcake Lover's Day, we wanted to share this delicious cupcake recipe using our Matcha! We can't think of a better way to spend the day than with... Read More

Visiting Fujian: Sourcing Product and Meeting People

I just spent five days at the Xiamen Spring Tea Fair and then a week up in Anxi County, some of the best oolong country in the world. The Xiamen... Read More

The Generational Family of Chinese Tea: Explained

After a recent trip to Fujian Province, China, Maggy Waddington (daughter of owner Bill Waddington) provides some insight into the world of Chinese tea. The world of Chinese tea is... Read More

Cupping Tea in Anxi County with Daniel Hong

On Monday we left the convention center in Xiamen and departed for tea country with our friend and Fujian tea supplier Daniel Hong. He brought us to Anxi County –... Read More

A Kaleidoscope of Tea: The Xiamen Tea Fair

Third generation tea farm in the mountains of Anxi Province, China The tea market in America can feel like a small, niche industry. Not so in China. The Xiamen Tea... Read More

Tea Masters with Nigel Melican: Will There Be Tea in 2050?

Winner of the 2018 John Harney Lifetime Achievement Award Join us for an insighful talk with internationally renowned tea scientist Nigel Melican, founder of Teacraft, the preeminent tea consultancy based... Read More

British Tea

The Royal Wedding is coming up on May 19. Tea time with the queen. Stick your little pinky out. How did the tradition of British tea develop? It began with... Read More

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