Dispatches from the studio
The
Journal.
Steeped.
Field notes, brewing guides, destination portraits, and the occasional recipe for something that should not technically work but does.
Recent dispatches
The 7 Teas We'd Pack for a Round-the-World Trip
If you could pack one tea for each leg of a round-the-world trip, which seven would make the cut? Our answer — and why each one belongs on the itinerary.
Jasmine Green Tea 101: Temperature, Steep Time, and Why It Goes Bitter
Jasmine green tea goes bitter when steeped too hot or too long. Here's the exact temperature and time that keeps it floral — plus why your method matters.
Rooibos vs. Yerba Mate: What's the Difference?
Rooibos and yerba mate: both celebrated alternatives to traditional tea, nothing alike. Here's what sets them apart — and which belongs in your cup.
Hazelnut Tea: Why Most Are Disappointing (and One That Isn't)
You've tried one. Maybe two. A hazelnut tea from a grocery store, or a café, or a holiday gift set that seemed like a good idea at the time. You brewed it, h...
Loose Leaf Tea Gift Guide: 7 Teas for 7 Kinds of Tea Lovers
Here's the problem with most tea gifts: they're generic. A holiday tin of tea bags chosen for the packaging. A sampler box of flavors assembled by an algorit...
What Is Lapsang Souchong? The Smoky Tea Behind Prague Twilight
The first time I smelled lapsang souchong, I thought someone had left a campfire burning in the next room. I was in a tea shop in a narrow alley in Vienna, a...
How to Cold Brew Loose Leaf Tea (4 Chavena Blends Worth Icing)
Cold brew changes tea the way candlelight changes a room — same ingredients, completely different character. When you steep loose leaf tea in cold water inst...
The dispatch, once a month.
A short note when new blends drop, origin field reports, and the occasional recipe that only works cold.