At Eighty Degrees, we promote long-read stories printed on paper because, to deep dive into a topic, one needs to disconnect. Here you can find additional content about the world of tea for when you are short on time, or when you are looking for more practical information about tea, tea tips, tea stories, and even a look behind the scenes.
Welcome to the ultimate guide on caffeine in tea! Whether you're a seasoned tea enthusiast or just beginning to explore this fascinating world, understanding the role of caffeine in your favorite cup is key to enhancing both your enjoyment and your health.
Herbal ‘teas’, correctly referred to as tisanes, are a delightful and diverse group of beverages made from the infusion of herbs, spices, fruits, or other plant materials in hot water. Unlike traditional teas derived from the Camellia sinensis plant, herbal teas do not contain caffeine, making them an ideal choice for those seeking relaxation without stimulation. Here’s a closer look at the enchanting world of herbal teas:
Decaffeinated tea is portrayed as an alternative for those looking to enjoy the taste and benefits of tea without the caffeine. Whether you're sensitive to caffeine, looking to reduce your intake, or simply want a calming cup before bed, understanding decaffeinated tea is key. Here's what you should know.
kebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, transcends mere decoration to become a philosophical journey that blends nature and humanity into living sculptures. This disciplined art form, rooted in ancient Japanese rituals, stresses simplicity, balance, and harmony. It invites both arranger and observer into a moment of introspection and peace.
Cold brewing has become a popular method for tea enthusiasts looking to enjoy their favorite leaves in a new and refreshing way. Unlike traditional hot brewing, cold brewing involves steeping tea leaves in cold water for an extended period.
Craig Mod is a walker, writer, photographer, and a book maker. Originally from the US, he immigrated to Japan, where he explores Japanese society through walking and by engaging with locals in remote places. He tells us about how to stay focused, how to be aware, and why it is important to find a meditative way to help us maintain control of our attention.
If you’re familiar with matcha, you probably at least know it is made of powdered green tea leaves. But the matcha production process is complex, so sometimes even the most enthusiastic consumers aren’t aware of all the details. If you’re curious about what it takes to create the matcha that eventually makes its way to your cup, read on to find out.
Tea isn’t perishable in quite the same way as produce and other grocery items, but it still will go bad over time. To make sure your tea tastes fresh and maintains its maximum health benefits, proper storage is key. The three most important variables to control are light, temperature, and moisture.
If you’ve traveled within countries that don’t have much of a tea culture, you’ve probably encountered a disappointing situation like this: You’ve had a long day exploring a new place, you arrive back at your hotel, and all you want is to relax with a comforting cup of tea — but the hotel provides only a tea bag and a coffee maker. You resign yourself to a stale-tasting brew of questionable quality.
For various reasons, tea lovers might need to significantly cut back on caffeine or eliminate it completely. If you’re in this situation and need an alternative to the caffeinated teas you used to drink, there are numerous options available. Here are a few of our infusion picks.
With so many teas available, it can be overwhelming to know where to start, especially if you’re new to the tea world. The four big categories of tea from the Camellia sinensis plant are black, oolong, green, and white. Teas are sorted into these categories based on the extent to which the leaves are oxidized during processing. We’ll focus on these big categories to help you get started, but be aware there are additional varieties, as well as countless herbal infusions made from other plants.
As I sip sencha and feel its steam on my face, its grassy fragrance awakening my senses and energizing me for the day ahead, I take my place at the kitchen window and watch the sun rising over the treeline.
We are so thrilled to introduce today Martin, owner of “Eighty Degrees”, a beautifully crafted, independent magazine all about tea culture! We, at Arigato Travel, are really passionate about tea, being a huge part of Japanese Culture. And because we know a lot of our readers love it too, we want to introduce to you their amazing work! Let’s find out more.
With so many teas available on the global market, it can be challenging to make sure the tea you’re purchasing was ethically sourced. Various certifications stamped on tea packaging seem to indicate something about fair labor practices or environmental sustainability, but what exactly do those certifications promise?
A gaiwan is one of many traditional vessels used to brew tea. The gaiwan is an unassuming small bowl, but its distinctive feature is its lid, which is held ajar to strain the tea as it is poured. This Chinese teaware dates back to the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), and can be made of porcelain, clay, or glass.
All green tea is made from Camellia sinensis leaves that have not gone through the oxidation process that produces oolong and black teas. But there are countless varieties of green tea on the market, and a lot of variation in the experience of consuming them.
All true tea comes from the same species of plant, Camellia sinensis, but the differences in processing methods are what distinguish teas as white, green, oolong, or black. To produce black tea, dried leaves are allowed to oxidize longer than the other types of tea. The result is a dark, and tannin-rich brew.
If you’re a tea drinker, perhaps you’ve wondered how much caffeine you’re consuming each time you finish off a cup. The answer is: It’s complicated. Caffeine content depends on many factors, some of which are within your control as the consumer, and some of which are not. Instead of aiming to calculate the exact amount of caffeine in your tea, it’s more plausible to identify an estimated range of caffeine levels, as well as the relative differences between different types of tea.
Hojicha is green tea from Japan that has been steamed, dried, and then roasted. The taste of hojicha can be described as reminiscent of caramel, cocoa, or nuts, but every hojicha product has its own unique flavor profile, the same as any other tea. Much of the tea’s caffeine degrades during the roasted process, so hojicha is a good option for tea drinkers who are sensitive to caffeine, or those who want to drink tea close to bedtime.
The health benefits of green tea have been touted for centuries. Modern studies have verified that ancient wisdom, and some have indicated green tea even has more health benefits than other types of tea. But there is no such thing as a miraculous, cure-all botanical, despite abundant marketing claims that the tea plant (Camellia sinensis) is one.
Dear Reader,
I’ve been getting a lot of questions about the next issue (09), and there has been an influx of new subscribers recently, so I thought it appropriate to send you an update.
This is Badass Bidjo - a legendary tea farmer and a renegade at heart. Stories of his excellent tea-making travel around, but he follows his own rules and doesn’t care about fame. He is passionate about nature and his plantations. He works hard each day to make the best tea for his customers and to give back to the community around him.
Suddenly, all of the passengers — young salarymen, mothers on day trips with their children, and a few foreigners like me — turn their eyes to the windows on my side of the train.
Matcha has been consumed in Asia for centuries, but in the last decade or so, matcha has become hugely popular in the West. But with so many matcha products available and no official standards for evaluation, it can be difficult for Western consumers to determine the differences in quality among these products.
People who are new to specialty tea often worry that they might ruin their loose leaf teas by brewing them wrong. It’s a valid concern, because tea can taste and feel dramatically different depending on how it is brewed. If you’re a new tea drinker, you should keep in mind the three brewing parameters and be aware of how they will affect your tea: leaf/water ratio, temperature, and time.
You might have heard the common health claim that drinking tea is good for your skin. Although it’s likely there is some truth to that claim — maybe even a lot of truth — it’s a little misleading because it’s so oversimplified. To really understand how tea might support skin health, we need to take a more detailed look at the scientific research that has been done so far.
Most of the northern hemisphere is still in the peak heat of summer. In some places — like subtropical Florida, where I live — we still have at least a few more months of sticky, sweltering weather before the air starts to cool off. Cold brew tea gets me through times like these.
Should you drink tea packaged in tea bags, or loose leaf tea? The answer is multi-faceted and it depends on your personal preferences and priorities. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, but you need to ask yourself what you expect out of your brew: quality or convenience, and at what price.
The world of tea can be a maze of terminology and confusion for many. In our search for classification and order, we run the risk of putting off would-be devotees who are afraid of perpetrating some sort of etiquette error. I worry that, as fine and rare tea spills into the mainstream, an emperor’s new clothes mystique is developing around the product that could ultimately act to dissuade the young enthusiasts the industry needs. So, here follows a terminology-free introduction to the world of tea — may it educate and inspire a search for great tea.
Brewing tea is an art form, a ritual that varies from culture to culture and from one tea variety to another. The temperature at which tea is brewed can significantly affect its flavor, aroma, and overall drinking experience. This comprehensive guide will explore the nuances of brewing temperatures across Western style, gong fu style, and Japanese style tea brewing, ensuring that your next cup is as perfect as it can be.