Yerba Mate was first used by the Guarani Indians, who believed it could cleanse and heal the spirit. Now millions enjoy it in South America. In Brazil, the drinking of Yerba Mate is practiced as a social ritual. Friends and family gather in a circle as the host prepares the beverage in a gourd and drinks the first infusion with a filtered straw called a bombilla (Spanish) or bomba (Portuguese). The gourd is refilled and passed to each guest in the circle. Learn how to brew yerba mate in the gourd.

Sencha is a type of steamed Japanese green tea that requires different brewing techniques and temperatures than Chinese greens. “Senchado” refers to the way of drinking and enjoying Japanese green tea. Here is a guide to doing just that.

Gongfu brewing is a ritualized form of preparing tea that works well with oolongs and puers. The Gongfu tea ceremony originated in the Song Dynasty and by the Ming Dynasty had become more widespread, used especially in Fujian and Guandong. “Gongfu” refers to something done with skill, and indeed brewing in this way can bring out the best flavor in a tea, as one controls variables like water temperature and steep time. In addition to producing a great brew, it is a beautiful ritual and certainly can heighten one’s enjoyment when drinking tea with others.

The Gaiwan is a traditional Chinese cup used for tea brewing. It […]