The tea gardens of the world span the globe, traversing nations with varying cultures, geographies and climates. There is no one condition that determines tea’s excellence. Temperature, rainfall, soil conditions, altitude, and processing expertise are but a few of the elements that play their part in providing us with this most pleasurable and satisfying drink. However, in search of true excellence in tea, the tea-lover should not stray too far from the equator. The natural limits of the tea plant lie between the latitudes of 43° north and 30° south. And it is there – in the ‘hot-house’ atmosphere of the tropics and subtropics – that the best tea is cultivated.
Today, India is the largest single producer of the worlds tea crop (about one third, or 870 million kg) followed by China, Kenya and Ceylon. Apart from these four, there are many more tea producing regions in Argentina, Brazil, Iran, Turkey, Vietnam, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, and New Guinea. Who would have thought that tea grows in Corsica, the Azores, Mexico, the US, and – albeit in miniscule quantities – in Tuscany? Many of these regions produce tea that is currently too inferior or in insufficient quantity to be of real interest to Tea Gschwendner or us here at TeaHaus.
The intensity and nuances of the color of the tea in the cup give insight into its place of origin, the time of plucking and its intrinsic character. There is a huge spectrum of colors: deep browns, warm oranges, to offer only the highest quality teas. Our tea is subject fruity reds, mellow yellows, vivid fresh greens, and all the permutations in between.
TeaHaus works closely with our European tea supplier, TeeGschwendner. Tea Gschwendner is known throughout Europe and most of the world as being the premiere tea producer, tester, and blender of fine teas. Our tea is subject to the highest scrutiny both in the garden as well as in TeeGschwendner’s own testing and production laboratories located in Germany. TeaHaus is proud to bring this high quality tea to you in Michigan.
With a selection of over 160 loose-leaf teas from all over the world, only at TeaHaus will you find tea ware from European design houses like Mono, Tonfisk and Ritzenhoff. We also carry top brands for all tea ware and tea accessories to fit anyone’s taste and budget. We sell all our teas loose so you can see and smell each tea before purchasing it. Our selection includes classic favorites to funky seasonal flavors. Teas can be purchased loose in 50g, 100g, and 250g bags; you choose it, we weigh it.
We’ve also found some information regarding the health benefits of tea that we have a link to. Check it out!
Helpful Hints…
The Best Cup of Tea — Have you scratched your head and wondered why your tea might taste differently at home than a Tea2Go/Stay at TeaHaus? Here are a few things we use to ensure that each of our teas are consistent, and consistently good: Reverse-Osmosis Water, Thermometers (for green and white teas), Timers, and yes, Gram Scales (especially for white teas).
Iced Tea — We’re often asked at TeaHaus, ‘How do I make iced tea at home?’ Regardless of the different ways people do it, here is how we do it at the store (when you’re buying one of our iced teas ‘To Go’); we can always recommend certain teas that stand out in our opinion when you come visit us as well: (please apply this to the instructions on any tea you purchase at TeaHaus) Using the same amount of tea (usually 1 heaping teaspoon per 8oz-12 cup; try adding more tea to strengthen the flavor), brew this amount of tea in 1/2 the amount of temperatured water. Fill your cup up with ice, and when your tea has infused, strain it on top of the ice; much of it will melt and fill the rest of the cup with water.
Behind the Counter
Aside from the product itself, each member of the TeaHaus family is an active consumer of tea and takes an interest in sharing what we know with you. Please look to these resources we’ve set up to make tea as personal and as fun as we are! A great resource if you just can’t make it into the store, and great for comments and ideas.
