Diana Rosen

Although black teas are hugely popular in the United States, in our iced teas, and in our favorite breakfast blends, fully processed black teas took a long time to take hold in China where the more delicate whites and greens have always been the…

It is estimated that yellow tea was first processed during the earliest part of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) from tea grown along the mountainsides in three different Chinese provinces: Hunan, Sichuan, and Zhejiang and, to a lesser degree, Anhui. Up…

True white tea (bai cha) was developed by the Chinese in Fuding, a heralded tea center in Fujian Province, and later, in Yunnan Province, and both areas produce white teas to this day. To receive the authentic classification as a white tea in China,…

Spring buds open to greet the sun, bitter cold of winter fades. The tender expectancy of spring is never more evident than in this season’s harvests of Japanese green teas. Their perfection is reflected in the cup: clear golden yellow to pale green…

One Chinese legend defines puerh as “trouser bottoms” because the tea pickers would put the best leaves in their pants pockets to take home. They well understood what “The Classic of Tea” author Lu Yü declared, “Its goodness is a decision for the…

It’s April, before the rains come, which means only one thing in China’s Zhejiang Province: the nectar of the gods is about to arrive, pale jade leaves of the legendary Long Jing (Dragonwell) tea. The leaves are actually hand-plucked buds, harvested…

No matter which teas or tea-brewing utensils you love, or how little storage space you have, there’s always room for one more tea accessory: The Scenting Cup. Relatively new in the history of tea accessories, the scenting cup was developed as part of…

In Chinese culture, offering respect to one another, particularly those who are senior to us or are of a higher station, is a natural part of successful relationships among families, communities, or business associates. Originally, to kowtow was…

When visiting the Pacific Rim countries of China, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, you’ll discover both the timeless elegance and sophisticated practicality of classic Asian tea ware. Whether made of fine glazed porcelain or the purple clay of Yixing,…

For the Chinese, tea drinking is akin to breathing, something done daily, naturally, and generally with family or friends. Tea drinking with others is based on a lively and joyful hospitality that fosters family relationships and both business and…

A full-mouth feel of velvety, complex flavor, Tongmu Jin Jun Mei meets all the criteria for connoisseur-level flavor, intoxicating fragrance, and pure tea-drinking pleasure. One of China’s spectacular black teas, it has many imitators, however, the…

Quite often, the oldest and simplest tools are the most practical, and the gaiwan is one of the most ideal ways to brew tea. You can use it as a combination of tea brewer and drinking cup, or as a small brewing vessel with thimble cups for…

Spring may mean blossoms and bees, warming temperatures and grass instead of frost, but to me, springtime is always filled with the anticipation of the season’s first flush green teas: Japanese Senchas, Chinese Lung Chings, and other emeralds in the…

While it's true that information on the 2.8 million items in the Central Library is on computer servers that take up a tiny space compared to the hundreds of drawers of catalog cards once used, one can still view some of our collections the…

The Children’s Literature Department of Los Angeles Central Library is so vast and awe-inspiring, one of its most fascinating offerings could be easily overlooked. Displayed each year for a limited time are professionally hand-made puppets depicting…