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.


Smugglers and Other Disreputable Tea Characters

The history of tea blending also has its shady side. In the late 1700’s when England levied huge taxes on tea, some tea drinkers responded by refusing to pay the... Read More

Yin & Yang – New Teas from Fujian, China

              Silver Needles (aka Yin Zhen)                    Big Red Robe (aka Da Hong Pao) Yin &... Read More

TeaSource & Public Television

A fabulous documentary about Chinese tea called Leaves of Change has been produced by Indianapolis Public Television. TeaSource founder Bill Waddington was involved and ended up being featured throughout this... Read More

History of Tea Blending

Tea blends came about for two reasons; first to introduce new and unique tastes, aromas, and textures to a cup of tea. This is the fun, creative, and/or medicinal aspect... Read More

Matcha Made in Heaven

Discover two delicious ways the TeaSource staff enjoys matcha green tea: a creamy Matcha Latte and a refreshing Matcha Raspberry Smoothie. These simple recipes make it easy to enjoy matcha... Read More

Shake It Up!

Our summer has gotten easier and more refreshing thanks to our new Shake & Go tumbler! It is a convenient tool for making matcha – hot or iced. When the... 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

Celebrating Matcha

TeaSource will be educating, sampling, promoting, and introducing new varieties of the most famous of all Japanese green teas, Matcha, this summer and into the fall. We’ll also be putting... Read More

World Tea Expo

The World Tea Expo (or WTE) is the world’s largest international tea exhibition (there are larger tea expos in China that are strictly Chinese not international), was held in Las... Read More

Afternoon Tea: More Recipes!

It's the perfect time of year to host an afternoon tea party.  Whether it's for Mother's Day or just a gathering of good friends, cook up these delicious recipes, steep... Read More

People of Darjeeling

When I travel to tea country I am searching for teas; but the most memorable thing is always the people. Sometimes it’s the beginning of lifelong friendships, sometimes it’s a... Read More

Giddapahar Tea Estate Photo Tour

Giddapahar was founded in 1881, and has been in the same family ever since. Surendra Nath Singh and his brother are the fourth generation to be running the estate. And... Read More

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