Categories
Blog

Jade Rouge Tea and Me

I’m sure the story between Jade Rouge tea and me.

Traci AKA Tea Infusiast--a white woman with long silver hair and wearing glasses while holding a teacup and a fairness pitcher full of Jade Rouge tea

Every year for the past five years, I’ve run an online tea event called “Story of a Teacup.” I invite other tea lovers to join me online. We steep and sip our tea together. We read a few poems. And, some participants share the story behind a beloved piece of teaware. I usually also run it as a fundraiser for a nonprofit charity organization.

This year, in honor of the fifth anniversary of Story of a Teacup, I opened it up to include stories about a beloved tea. My share was about Jade Rouge tea.

Continue reading “Jade Rouge Tea and Me”
Categories
Blog Events

Story of a Teacup 2026

Story of a Teacup 2026 is coming in on November 7, 2026. Usually, it is my annual chariTEA fundraiser! This year, however, this online event is going to be different in a couple of exciting ways!

Continue reading “Story of a Teacup 2026”
Categories
Blog

Tea and Iron Absorption

What is the relationship between tea and iron absorption? What does the research suggest?

black iron tea kettle on a stand in a garden

Most of us have heard about the potential health effects of drinking tea. While there are potential benefits, many popular sources, unfortunately, exaggerate them. An article in Harvard Medical Publishing sums up the research on tea and health this way: “Hundreds of studies have been published on the health effects of tea, but they don’t offer conclusive evidence….’But the overall direction of research indicates a potential benefit,’ Dr. Hu says” (Godman, 2025).

Continue reading “Tea and Iron Absorption”
Categories
Blog

Tea in NYC

Looking for good tea in NYC? Me, too! This post gathers the reviews I’ve written of teahouses and such that serve good (or great!) tea in New York City. I’m most often visiting tea places in Manhattan, but Brooklyn is represented, too.

Two things keep me from having more reviews.

One: I really, really try to visit a place multiple times before I review it. So, I’ve visited a lot of places once but haven’t written a review.

Traci Levy preparing tea at Jin Yun Fu tea shop in NYC
Continue reading “Tea in NYC”
Categories
Blog Tasting Notes

Herbal Tea Reviews

Plum Blossom herbal tea heaped in a blue dish sitting on a wooden coaster. image from herbal tea review

I’ve gathered together my herbal tea reviews.

I never knew I could love herbal teas until I discovered options beyond mint and chamomile.

I hope these herbal tea reviews help you discover new herbal choices or new ways to enjoy them!

Continue reading “Herbal Tea Reviews”
Categories
Blog Tasting Notes

Difference Between Rooibos and Green Rooibos

What’s the difference between rooibos and green rooibos teas? This post compares their origin, processing, appearance, and flavor profiles.

Rooibos, or red bush tea, is generally more well known then green rooibos. Both herbal teas come from Aspalathus linearis. This plant is “a South African shrub from whose leaves a tea (infusion) is made that is high in antioxidants, and has low tannin content and no caffeine” (American Botanical Council).

Continue reading “Difference Between Rooibos and Green Rooibos”
Categories
Blog

Review of Witches Brew in West Hempstead

This Review of Witches Brew in West Hempstead, NY, highlights this eclectic cafe with its substantial tea menu, tasty vegan and vegetarian food, and fun goth and Victorian décor.

I’m finally sharing a blog review of Witches Brew on Long Island after over two decades of enjoying their tea, food, and vibes.

Witches Brew in Hempstead, New York a coffee house that serves tasty vegetarian and vegan food, desserts, coffee, and tea. For this tea blog, I’ll focus on their tea, the space, and food. I’ll also share some tips and insight on parking.

The exterior of Witches Brew on Long Island--the building has gray wooden planks
Continue reading “Review of Witches Brew in West Hempstead”
Categories
Blog

Review of Safwa Coffee & Teahouse

I’m sharing my review of Safwa Coffee & Teahouse.

As I write this, Safwa has two locations–one in Somerset, New Jersey; the other in Westbury, New York (on Long Island). I’m reviewing the Long Island location.

Safwa carries a wide range of coffees–espresso, cortado, flat white, etc. Since this is a tea blog, however, I’ll focus on their tea, the space, and the food.

Continue reading “Review of Safwa Coffee & Teahouse”
Categories
Blog Tasting Notes

Tea Ice Cream at Van Leeuwen

As I write, there are two flavors of tea ice cream at Van Leeuwen that I love.

Van Leeuwen is an ice cream chain that started in New York City. Now, you can find scoop shops across a large swatch of the United States and in Korea. According to their website, in the U.S. their name is pronounced “Van (like the car) Lou (like the name) Inn (like the hotel).”

Medium brown, Early Grey tea ice cream at Van Leeuwen sitting in a cup that says "Van Leeuwen" on their yellow countertop
Scoop of dark brown Hojicha tea ice cream at Van Leeuwen in a pink cup with a spoon sticking out of the scoop.
Continue reading “Tea Ice Cream at Van Leeuwen”
Categories
Blog

A Cup Full of Compassion

This post shares a story about tea served as a cup full of compassion.

In July, a beloved member of our family was hospitalized, then moved to hospice care. It was an emotionally and physically tense time all around.

The day she moved from the hospital to the hospice was especially stressful. For several days, we didn’t know when the hospital would transfer her or where she would be placed. Then, it was suddenly happening.

pink blooming water lilies with lily pads
Continue reading “A Cup Full of Compassion”