{"title":"What's In A (Tea) Name?","description":"\u003cinline\u003e\u003cinline\u003e\u003cinline style=\"font-size: 30px;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.capitalteas.com\/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=2079\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.capitalteas.com\/v\/vspfiles\/assets\/images\/2079-2T.jpg\" style=\"float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003eWhat’s In A (Tea) Name? \u003c\/inline\u003e\u003c\/inline\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cinline style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eAll varietals and flavors of tea come from diverse cultures with specific traditions, languages, and lenses. Tea names, and the stories behind them, are similarly varied and fascinating. While some names are literal, others may be based on elaborate legendary tales. But, what’s in a name? In Ursula Le Guin’s \u003cu\u003eEarthsea Trilogy\u003c\/u\u003e, the true name holds power over the individual or object, and all individuals have “use-names,” or nicknames, to protect themselves from magic. What magic can we uncover when we reveal the mystery behind the names of our favorite steeps? Let’s find out! \u003c\/inline\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cinline\u003e\u003cinline style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eThe Eye Of The Beholder \u003c\/inline\u003e\u003c\/inline\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cinline style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eLike a Rorschach inkblot, many teas were named based on the interpretation of similarity in appearance between the leaves and other relevant objects. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.capitalteas.com\/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=6306\"\u003e Silver Needle White Tea\u003c\/a\u003e leaf is an obvious example of this! It looks like a lightly colored, silver-haired miniature sword... (or an itsy bitsy pale banana.) Perhaps not quite as obvious, we have \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.capitalteas.com\/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=23495\"\u003eGolden Monkey Black Tea\u003c\/a\u003e leaves, which were said to resemble a monkey claw. Hand-rolled \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.capitalteas.com\/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=496\"\u003eGunpowder Green Tea\u003c\/a\u003e was originally named after its resemblance to gunpowder. Names like these allow the drinker to escape for a little tea journey in the realms of fiction and imagination. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/inline\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cinline style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eLit-tea-rally\u003c\/inline\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cinline style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eJapanese teas are named much more pragmatically. Most Japanese teas end with “cha,” which translates to “tea.” The everyday household green tea called sencha means “decocted tea.” A decoction is an extract of leaves and roots through the process of boiling. It can’t get much more literal than that! All of the varieties are named similarly. “Kukicha” is “twig tea,” and “\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.capitalteas.com\/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=1275\"\u003eGenmaicha\u003c\/a\u003e” is “brown rice tea.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.capitalteas.com\/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=135\"\u003eGyokuro\u003c\/a\u003e is a bit different -- (no “cha!”) -- this name translates to “jade dew.” Its name is a perfect description of the tea, highlighting the deep vegetal flavor and the full, “dewey” body. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen people refer to matcha as “matcha powder,” it’s actually a bit redundant. The translation for \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.capitalteas.com\/Japanese-Organic-Matcha-Green-Tea-p\/4220.htm\"\u003eMatcha\u003c\/a\u003e is “fine powder tea.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChina is the largest tea producer in the world. Taking this into consideration, it’s only natural the selection of Chinese teas is quite expansive. Their tea-naming is equally diverse. A popular super-smoky black tea from China called \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.capitalteas.com\/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=2345\"\u003eLapsang Souchong\u003c\/a\u003e is named “\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/libaga.wordpress.com\/2013\/10\/16\/do-you-know-the-actual-meaning-of-lapsang-souchong-%C3%A6%C2%AD%C2%A3%C3%A5%C2%B1%C2%B1%C3%A5%C2%B0%C2%8F%C3%A7%C2%A8%C2%AE%C3%A7%C2%B4%E2%80%A6%C3%A8%C5%92%C2%B6\/\"\u003ethe small leaf cultivar smoked by pine wood.\u003c\/a\u003e” The smoky taste is reminiscent of a summer campfire.\u003c\/inline\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cinline style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eOne tea that became an extraordinarily popular misnomer is “chai tea” from India. Chai (sounds similar to “cha”) means “tea” in India. So, calling it “chai tea” is essentially saying “tea tea.” The true name should be “\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.capitalteas.com\/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=128\"\u003eChai Masala\u003c\/a\u003e,” which means “tea spice” and illustrates what this blend consists of. Chai, as we call it, is typically a black tea with a blend of cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and other sweet spices.\u003c\/inline\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/inline\u003e\u003cinline style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eRegional Specialties\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/inline\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cinline style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eSome teas are grown in specific regions with particular cultivars and can not be reproduced in any other geographical location. These teas are generally prized for their exceptional quality and named for the region from which they hail. There are two specific tea growing regions in India that are famed for their varieties. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe state of Assam in India is the single largest global tea growing region. Teas from \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.capitalteas.com\/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=16204\"\u003eAssam\u003c\/a\u003e are simply called “Assam,” and have a specific composition due to the climate and weather conditions. A lot of teas are grown in high elevation and cool temperature, but the Assam region has a tropical monsoon rainforest climate and a low elevation (almost sea level.) The cultivar \u003ci\u003eCamellia sinensis var. assamica\u003c\/i\u003e is an offspring of this climate. Its leaves have adapted to be large and smooth due to heavy rainfall and temperate conditions. The tea is renowned for having a robust body and a malty sweetness.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.capitalteas.com\/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=4180\"\u003eDarjeeling\u003c\/a\u003e is another popular tea growing region in India with a very different climate and elevation than the state of Assam. As part of the lesser Himalayas, Darjeeling offers views of the highest peak on the globe, Mt. Everest. The tea varietal is different as well, \u003ci\u003eCamellia sinensis var. sinensis\u003c\/i\u003e. This is a smaller, more tender leaf than its tropical counterpart. The resulting brew has an incredible tonality that is famed worldwide for its buttery, rich, and floral notes.\u003c\/inline\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cinline style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eThe (Tea) Time Of The Season!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/inline\u003e\u003cinline style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eIn tea lingo, a “flush” is the season in which the leaves are harvested. Assams and Darjeelings are usually labeled with the flush in order to identify what flavors will be prominent in the leaf. The weather has a huge impact on the way the final steep will taste! The first flush is picked in March, during the Spring rains. The flavor is usually very light and floral. These teas are coveted for their delicate nature. The second flush is picked in June and offers a fuller body and a fruity sweetness. There are also monsoon and Autumnal flushes which are not typically exported. \u003c\/inline\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cinline style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eMythology\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/inline\u003e\u003cinline style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eOolong tea is a partially oxidized leaf that is categorized somewhere between green tea and black tea. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.capitalteas.com\/Oolong-Tea-s\/56.htm\"\u003eOolong\u003c\/a\u003e tea is growing in popularity in the States but has been a tea of choice in China, Taiwan, and Thailand since ancient times. The most well-known variety of Oolong is called Ti Kuan Yin, or \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.capitalteas.com\/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=196\"\u003eTieguanyin\u003c\/a\u003e. Guanyin is a Bodhisattva, which is a Buddhist with so much compassion that she decides to stay on Earth to help others instead of going to Nirvana. Her name means “Goddess of Mercy,” and she is “the one who hears the cries of the world.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.capitalteas.com\/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=2079\"\u003eLung Ching\u003c\/a\u003e, which translates to “Dragon Well,” has a name rooted in a legend. During a drought, a monk summoned a dragon to fill the well so they could nourish their crops. He provided, and the tea flourished! This tea is a delicious, flat-leaf, pan-fired green tea with a chestnut flavor and a super buttery body. Thanks, Dragon!\u003c\/inline\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cinline style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eThe Name Game\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/inline\u003e\u003cinline style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eWith a seemingly endless catalog of fascinating teas to choose from, we could discuss the etymology of their names for ages. Whether your favorite tea was named because of flavor, legend, or appearance, it’s fun to know the cultural background behind the leaf. Who doesn’t want to drink a monkey claw, a cup full of needles, or a tea watered by dragon magic? :)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/inline\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","products":[],"url":"https:\/\/1t7aeh-fx.myshopify.com\/collections\/whats-in-a-tea-name.oembed","provider":"Capital Teas","version":"1.0","type":"link"}