{"id":122792181820,"title":"How to make the perfect cup of green tea ... and more.","created_at":"2018-08-28T12:10:20+01:00","body_html":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eWe all know that green tea is good for body and mind, but here at Dragonfly there are some key questions that we are often asked. So here are your top 5 green tea questions, answered!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/Blog-Greenteateapot-1200x800px-min.jpg?v=1662373847\" alt=\"Green Tea in a glass teapot\" style=\"float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eHow do you make the perfect cup of green tea?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eThe mother of all questions. Although we have some useful tips, tea is a very personal thing and we think you should make tea the way that you enjoy it. We do recommend using fresh water (so try not to reboil water as it affects the taste delivery) and leave the water to cool for a little while before infusing. Green tea leaves are delicate and if you pour boiling hot water straight onto the leaves they can scald and the tea can turn bitter. As for brewing time, each green tea is slightly different and timings will vary according to personal preference, however in general we recommend between 1-3 minutes.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCan I add milk to my Green Tea?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe definitely recommend drinking green tea without milk! It simply doesn't need it and traditionally has never been drunk with milk. In fact adding milk to black tea has only been a practice in Britain since the late 19th century when tea blends became very dark and very astringent. Nowadays, standard 'builder's tea' is blended specifically to be strong enough to withstand milk. In comparison, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/collections\/green-teas\" title=\"green tea brewing\"\u003egreen teas\u003c\/a\u003e are so light and delicate that when brewed at a suitable temperature and not for too long (see above)  they should be refreshing and delicious with a slight lingering sweetness, and no bitterness at all.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\n\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/Blog-GreenteaLeaves-1200x800px-min.jpg?v=1662373886\" alt=\"Green Tea with pot and loose leaves\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eAlso: Good quality green teas are often wonderfully fragrant in themselves, however there is a long tradition of scenting or blending with other natural ingredients to offer something a little extra. Some of our green teas have been delicately scented with \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/products\/jasmine-pearls-green-tea\" title=\"jasmine green tea\"\u003ejasmine flowers\u003c\/a\u003e and orchid petals or blended with refreshing mint leaves and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/products\/citrus-green\" title=\"citrus green tea\"\u003ecitrus fruits\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat is the difference between green tea and black tea?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth green and black teas come from the same tea plant, \u003cem\u003eCamellia Sinensis, \u003c\/em\u003eand the colour difference comes down to the way the tea is prepared. To make black teas, the leaves are picked and bruised or rolled during which time natural oxidisation occurs and darkens the colour of the leaves. Conversely, to make green teas the leaves are picked and then quickly dried quickly using heat. This prevents any oxidation and so the leaves can retain their light green colour. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDoes green tea contain less caffeine than black tea?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/Blog-Greentea-1200x800px-min.jpg?v=1662373919\" alt=\"Green tea leaves\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost of us know that black tea does contain some caffeine, however it is less known that green teas also contain caffeine, although typically less than black tea. The exact level of caffeine varies depending on the green tea in question: which particular tea bush, when it was harvested and for how long you brewed the tea. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne thing to note is that all tea contains less caffeine than a cup of coffee and also offers a much slower release. This means that the effects of caffeine from tea should be subtler and smoother, therefore less of a caffeine 'rush' and the consequent low that you can get from coffee.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow should Green tea be stored?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGreen teas are so subtle and delicate that we recommend storing them away from strong-smelling foods and drinks. Our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/collections\/loose-leaf-tea\" title=\"tea storage caddies\"\u003etea storage caddies\u003c\/a\u003e are a great storage option to keep aromas out and keep the tea inside beautifully fresh and fragrant. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/Blog-GreenteaLoose-1200x800px-min.jpg?v=1662373943\" alt=\"Green tea caddies\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/collections\/green-teas\" title=\"shop green teas and learn how to brew\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShop our delicious range of green teas. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":3090709,"author":"Richard Hammond","user_id":42618748988,"published_at":"2019-01-02T00:00:00+00:00","updated_at":"2022-09-05T11:32:39+01:00","summary_html":"We all know that green tea is good for body and mind, but here at Dragonfly there are some key questions that we are often asked. So here are your top 5 green tea questions, answered!","template_suffix":"","handle":"how-to-make-the-perfect-cup-of-green-tea","tags":"featured, product-jade-orchid-green-tea, spotlight, tea-life, type:Tea Stories","image":{"created_at":"2020-11-30T18:05:41+00:00","alt":"A pot of green tea","width":800,"height":800,"src":"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/articles\/greenTea-800x800-min.jpg?v=1624365368"}}

{"id":125190078524,"title":"What is Earl Grey Rooibos?","created_at":"2018-09-11T14:25:32+01:00","body_html":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eWhat is so Earl Grey about our rooibos? Dragonfly Earl Grey Rooibos is one of our most loved teas.  Learn more about this gentle and caffeine free alternative that combines the best of both worlds.\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/Blog-EarlGreyTea-1200x800px-min.jpg?v=1662371759\" alt=\"Earl Grey Rooibos tea in glass mug\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe distinctive taste of traditional Earl Grey comes from bergamot, a citrus fruit grown all over the Mediterranean. To make our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/products\/earl-grey-rooibos-tea\" title=\"earl grey rooibos tea bags\"\u003eEarl Grey rooibos\u003c\/a\u003e we've simply added natural oil of bergamot to finest grade rooibos tea, combining the best of both worlds and creating a great tasting alternative!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat does Dragonfly's Earl Grey Rooibos taste like? \u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRooibos (redbush) tea is incredibly smooth with a slight natural sweetness and subtle nutty taste. Unlike \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/collections\/black-teas\" title=\"black teas\"\u003eblack teas\u003c\/a\u003e, rooibos has very low levels of tannins and therefore contains absolutely no bitterness. The addition of oil of bergamot (which sits halfway between an orange and a lemon) brings refreshing and fragrantly citrus notes that are suitable for any time of the day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDoes Earl Grey Rooibos contain caffeine? \u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbsolutely not! Rooibos tea comes from a different plant to traditional black and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/collections\/green-teas\" title=\"green teas\"\u003egreen teas\u003c\/a\u003e and has no caffeine in its make-up. Therefore unlike 'decaffeinated teas', rooibos leaves do not undergo any chemical processing to strip away caffeine. This makes rooibos an ideal choice for all ages to enjoy in the evenings before bed or throughout the day, especially if you are looking to reduce your caffeine intake. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow should you drink our Earl Grey Rooibos? \u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe recommend infusing the tea bags in boiling water and leaving to brew for around 2-4 mins or according to taste. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/collections\/rooibos-honeybush-tea\" title=\"gentle rooibos tea \"\u003erooibos\u003c\/a\u003e is so gentle this tea can be enjoyed on its own or with a drop of milk, or like with traditional Earl Grey, with a slice of lemon to bring out the citrus notes. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur Earl Grey Rooibos also makes a fabulous \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/blogs\/tea-recipes\/earl-grey-iced-tea\" title=\"earl grey iced tea \"\u003eiced tea\u003c\/a\u003e. Simply brew the tea, leave to cool and pour over ice for a refreshing and hydrating drink which will not go bitter and can be kept for days in the fridge. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/Blog-EarlGreyIceTea-1200x800px-min.jpg?v=1662371791\" alt=\"Earl Grey Ice Tea Recipe\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eExplore our full range of caffeine free or \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/collections\/caffeine-free\" title=\"decaf teas\"\u003edecaf teas\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":3090709,"author":"Becky Maynard","user_id":23825924,"published_at":"2018-11-15T14:39:00+00:00","updated_at":"2022-09-05T10:57:20+01:00","summary_html":"\u003cp\u003eOur Dragonfly Earl Grey Rooibos is one of our most loved teas. Here's a little more about this gentle and caffeine free alternative that combines the best of both worlds. \u003c\/p\u003e","template_suffix":"","handle":"discover-rooibos-earl-grey","tags":"featured, product-earl-grey-rooibos, spotlight, tea-life, type:Tea Stories","image":{"created_at":"2022-09-05T10:56:52+01:00","alt":"Organic Earl Grey Rooibos pack","width":800,"height":800,"src":"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/articles\/Blog_EarlGrey_800x800-min.jpg?v=1662371813"}}

{"id":124041625660,"title":"Discover our delicious new organic infusions!","created_at":"2018-09-04T15:33:17+01:00","body_html":"\u003ch3 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"New delicious Dragonfly herbal tea infusions\" src=\"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/1892_OFF_PACK_DESIGN_LEAVES_COMPOSITION_4_2048x2048.jpg?v=1536762601\" style=\"float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWe are delighted to introduce three wonderful new organic herbal infusions to the Dragonfly family – \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/products\/mint-garden-digestif-organic-herbal-tea\" title=\"Dragonfly Tea Organic Herb Garden Digestif Tea\"\u003eHerb Garden Digestif\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/products\/golden-balance-turmeric-organic-herbal-tea\" title=\"Dragonfly Tea Organic Golden Balance Turmeric Tea\"\u003eGolden Balance Detox\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/products\/night-sky-calm\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Dragonfly Tea Organic Night Sky Calm Tea\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eNig\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/products\/night-sky-calm\" title=\"Dragonfly Tea Organic Night Sky Calm Tea\"\u003eh\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/products\/night-sky-calm\" title=\"Dragonfly Tea Organic Night Sky Calm Tea\"\u003et Sky Calm\u003c\/a\u003e!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAt Dragonfly, our love of tea and interest in wellbeing have always gone hand in hand. Harnessing the power of the finest organic herbs and spices, we have taken time to develop three distinctively delicious blends that not only help revive, cleanse and soothe, but also celebrate the great botanical and wellness traditions.\u003cbr\u003e     \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/products\/mint-garden-digestif-organic-herbal-tea\" title=\"Dragonfly Organic Herb Garden Digestif Tea\"\u003eOrganic MInt Garden Digestif\u003c\/a\u003e is a light and reviving fusion of traditional herbs from Britain and Europe, such as fennel, peppermint, dandelion and nettle. Perfect after a meal to cleanse the palate and support digestion, it balances tangy freshness with a sweet herbal lift.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/products\/golden-balance-turmeric-organic-herbal-tea\" title=\"Dragonfly Organic Golden Balance Turmeric Tea \"\u003eOrganic Golden Balance Turmeric\u003c\/a\u003e blends aromatic herbs and spices championed by India’s Aryurvedic traditions, such as aniseed, cardamom and turmeric. Composed to help body and mind maintain harmony, it is clean, bright and warming, with earthy spice notes and a naturally sweet finish.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/products\/night-sky-calm\" title=\"Dragonfly Organic Night Sky Calm Tea \"\u003eOrganic Night Sky Calm\u003c\/a\u003e is inspired by the rich herbal and botanical traditions of the Mediterranean. Camomile, valerian, and lemon balm are rounded off with hints of lavender and sage to create a softly floral lullaby with a gentle soothing sweetness. A night-time cup to calm and unwind. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWe hope you love them as much as we do! \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShop the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/collections\/herbal-tea\"\u003efull range of herbal teas here\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","blog_id":3090709,"author":"Andrew Ward","user_id":40549548092,"published_at":"2018-09-19T09:41:00+01:00","updated_at":"2021-10-25T16:57:01+01:00","summary_html":"\u003cspan\u003eDiscover our delicious new organic infusions! A celebration of the great botanical and wellness traditions, harnessing the power of the finest herbs and spices to help revive, soothe and cleanse. \u003c\/span\u003e","template_suffix":"","handle":"new-organic-herbal-infusions","tags":"featured, spotlight, tea-life, type:dragonfly news","image":{"created_at":"2020-11-30T18:06:04+00:00","alt":"","width":800,"height":800,"src":"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/articles\/HerbalLaunch-800x800-min.jpg?v=1606759564"}}

{"id":113930567740,"title":"All About English Breakfast Tea","created_at":"2018-06-21T13:14:47+01:00","body_html":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eThe classic English Breakfast tea has been enjoyed for decades for its comforting, smooth taste. We take a look at what makes this delicious tea so special.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/Blog_English_Tea_1200x800px-min.jpg?v=1664971704\" alt=\"All About English Breakfast Tea with a British Flag Mug and Ginger Nut Biscuits\" style=\"margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 30px; float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat is English Breakfast tea?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEnglish Breakfast is a traditional blend of black tea the exact recipe for which varies from maker to maker. However, most often the tea leaves are sourced from different estates in East Africa, Ceylon and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/products\/luxury-leaf-assam-black-tea\" title=\"Buy Luxury Loose Leaf Assam Black Tea - Dragonfly Tea\"\u003eAssam\u003c\/a\u003e and then combined to produce a characteristically full bodied brew. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe richness of English Breakfast means that it can be enjoyed with milk and sometimes sweetened with sugar, although a good quality English Breakfast tea can be so smooth that it is best enjoyed on its own.   \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy is it called English Breakfast tea?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStrong and moderately caffeinated, an English Breakfast style blend is designed to give a good boost in the morning and to compliment the traditional hearty English breakfast. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts origins lie in the late 19th century, a time when tea clippers were racing across the ocean trade routes and tea-drinking was becoming ever more popular. One theory is that in 1892 a Scottish tea master called Drysdale decided that tea-drinkers needed a stronger brew and marketed his new blend as ideal for breakfast time (rather than just for the afternoon), calling it \"Breakfast tea\". \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/Blog_Queen_Victoria_1200x800px-min.jpg?v=1664972059\" alt=\"Queen Victoria Enjoying English Breakfast Tea\" style=\"margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 30px; float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough exactly when this tea became known as \"English Breakfast\" is vague, it has been said that Queen Victoria tried a Breakfast tea while visiting Balmoral in Scotland and enjoyed it so much that she took a box home with her to England.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt then became known as \"English Breakfast tea\" and is now a staple of kitchen cupboards throughout the country. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe benefits of English Breakfast Tea\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEnglish Breakfast tea has traditionally been thought of a great morning booster thanks in part to its caffeine content and a good soothing pick-me-up throughout the day. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlack tea contains on average about half the caffeine levels of coffee and also offers a slower caffeine release which can keep you alert for longer without the sharp peak and subsequent dip you might get from a strong coffee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are many on-going studies looking into the health benefits of tea; the UK Tea and Infusions Association reports various investigations looking into black tea's benefits for blood pressure and weight loss as well as osteoporosis and certain types of cancers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs research to support these claims continues, we look forward to discovering more about the exciting health properties of our favourite brew.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/Blog-EnglishBreakfastTea-1200x800px-min.jpg?v=1662370622\" alt=\"English Breakfast Pack shot\" style=\"margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 30px; float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt Dragonfly Tea we offer two delicious English Breakfast teas; our organic \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/products\/traditional-english-organic-breakfast-tea\" title=\"Buy Organic English Breakfast Tea - Dragonfly Tea\"\u003eTraditional English Breakfast \u003c\/a\u003e is made with pure organic leaves and makes a smooth and rounded cup with a malted finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur large leaf English Breakfast tea from the Tea House Collection is made using carefully sourced black tea leaves from the finest tea gardens. It is bright and satisfying with a hint of sweetness.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBuy English Breakfast and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/collections\/black-teas\" title=\"Buy from the Black Tea Collection - Dragonfly Tea\"\u003eother black teas\u003c\/a\u003e from our shop.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e[Reviewed and updated October 2022] \u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":3090709,"author":"Hayley Steward","user_id":75015061564,"published_at":"2018-08-01T10:00:00+01:00","updated_at":"2022-10-05T13:15:13+01:00","summary_html":"\u003cp\u003eThe classic English Breakfast tea has been enjoyed for decades for its comforting, smooth taste. We're taking a look at what makes this delicious tea so special.  \u003c\/p\u003e","template_suffix":"","handle":"all-about-english-breakfast-tea","tags":"featured, product-english-breakfast-tea, product-luxury-leaf-assam-black-tea, product-traditional-english-organic-breakfast-tea, tea-life, type:Tea Stories","image":{"created_at":"2020-12-01T09:40:01+00:00","alt":"A cup of English Breakfast tea - Dragonfly Tea","width":800,"height":800,"src":"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/articles\/BreakfastTea-800x800-min.jpg?v=1664972113"}}

{"id":113164517436,"title":"All About Mint Tea","created_at":"2018-06-14T10:51:24+01:00","body_html":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eOne of the most popular herbals, Mint tea can refresh on the hottest of days or soothe after the heaviest of meals. Whether peppermint or spearmint, there are \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/blogs\/our-blog\/mint-tea-benefits\"\u003elots of reasons\u003c\/a\u003e to drink this traditional favourite.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"All about mint tea\" src=\"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/moroccan-mint-2396530_1920_2048x2048.jpg?v=1528974493\" style=\"float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eMint, the ancient herb\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe mint family is a truly ancient class of plants containing over 30 different species and has been part of the culinary world for thousands of years. The name comes from the Greek nymph Menthe who was turned into a plant by Persephone and sprigs of mint have even been found in ancient Egyptian tombs!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tradition of drinking mint tea can be found around the world. Peppermint tea is widely drunk in Europe, where it is valued for its fresh cooling taste and digestive properties. Meanwhile spearmint has been traditionally used with green tea in Morocco as a miraculously refreshing and slightly caffeinated brew - try it on a hot summer’s day!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/morocco-1400631_1280.jpg?v=1528974423\" alt=\"Mint tea traditions\" style=\"float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDifferent types of mint tea\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe two varieties used most often for tea are Peppermint and Spearmint. Both boast properties long celebrated in the ancient medicinal cultures of the world and are actually closely related. Spearmint, so called for its pointed leaves, is native to Europe and Asia, whilst Peppermint with its rounder leaves is actually a hybrid of Spearmint and Water Mint, first recorded in Britain by the botanist Linnaeus in the 18th century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePeppermint\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTraditionally peppermint tea has been used to aid digestion and is enjoyed after meals as a palate cleanser. It has very high levels of menthol which helps give its distinctive cooling taste properties. According to the UK Tea and Infusions Association, recent studies have shown that peppermint can be used to relieve the symptoms of indigestion and IBS by calming the muscles of the stomach. Peppermint is rich in vitamin C and it is also a good source of minerals including magnesium, copper, iron, potassium and calcium.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpearmint\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpearmint shares many digestive properties with Peppermint although it has less of the essential oil menthol and therefore the taste is softer and a little sweeter. It contains a slightly different make-up of plant chemicals and excellent antioxidant properties including vitamin A, beta-carotene and vitamin C, as well as folates and B vitamins, including riboflavin, thiamin and vitamin B6. The UK Tea and Infusions Association states that laboratory tests suggest that spearmint may also have antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/IMG_4136_edit.jpg?v=1528969870\" alt=\"The benefits of mint tea\" style=\"float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDragonfly’s Mint teas\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen making our mint teas at Dragonfly, we dry the leaves in order to retain the characteristics and benefits of the mint to help create a superior infusion. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/products\/pure-peppermint-organic-infusion\" title=\"Organic Pure Peppermint Tea\"\u003ePure Peppermint\u003c\/a\u003e is our popular mint tea and is made using nothing but carefully sourced organic peppermint leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInspired by the Moroccan tradition, we have created our own much-loved \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/products\/moroccan-mint-organic-green-tea\" title=\"Moroccan Mint Organic Green Tea\"\u003eMoroccan Mint Green Tea\u003c\/a\u003e, blending aromatic spearmint leaves with smoky gunpowder green tea - so called as the leaves are rolled tightly into small balls that resemble gunpowder. Usually drunk in Morocco with sugar or honey, we recommend trying ours just as it is, using water that has cooled a little so as not to scald the leaves, for a truly delicious balanced cup.\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":3090709,"author":"Richard Hammond","user_id":42618748988,"published_at":"2018-07-17T12:00:00+01:00","updated_at":"2022-09-05T11:04:29+01:00","summary_html":"\u003cp\u003eMint tea is perfect for those looking for a healthy and hydrating tea that can can pick you up in the mornings and soothe in the evenings. Find out more about the different varieties here.\u003c\/p\u003e","template_suffix":"","handle":"mint-tea-blog","tags":"featured, product-moroccan-mint-organic-green-tea, tea-life, type:Tea Stories","image":{"created_at":"2020-11-30T18:00:21+00:00","alt":"A mint plant","width":800,"height":800,"src":"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/articles\/MMint-800x800.jpg?v=1624364543"}}

{"id":115400998972,"title":"Tea in the Sahara – How to Stay Cool with a Hot Cup","created_at":"2018-07-09T17:21:38+01:00","body_html":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eAs Britain basks in some of the warmest summer weather in recent history, many of us have been wondering how best to stay cool. As tea lovers, it occurred to us that some of the hottest places on earth – from Morocco, to the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent – are also some of the biggest drinkers of tea. So is there any wisdom in the idea that a hot cup on a hot day can cool you down?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/Blog_teatokeepcool1200x800px-min.jpg?v=1641899895\" alt=\"Tea to keep cool\" style=\"margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 30px; float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt Dragonfly, we decided to put this counter-intuitive cooling technique to the test. Turns out, nothing hits the spot quite like a cup of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/products\/moroccan-mint-organic-green-tea\" title=\"Moroccan Mint Green Tea\"\u003eMoroccan Mint green tea\u003c\/a\u003e – or, if you prefer something more floral, our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/products\/moonlight-jasmine-organic-green-tea\" title=\"Moonlight Jasmin Organic Green Tea\"\u003eMoonlight Jasmine green tea\u003c\/a\u003e – when trying to beat the heat! And apparently there is some emerging scientific evidence to back up this conclusion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDoes hot tea keep you cool?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAccording to research undertaken at the University of Ottawa’s Thermal Ergonomics Lab, when you have a hot drink, it can reduce the amount of heat stored inside your body.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is because the heat of the drink triggers the body’s natural cooling system – which works by lowering body temperature through the evaporation of perspiration. So if it’s a hot, dry day our recommendation is to dress lightly, pour yourself a cup of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/\"\u003eDragonfly tea\u003c\/a\u003e, and stay cool.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/Blog_MMint_1200x800px-min.jpg?v=1641899942\" alt=\"Tea to keep cool Moroccan Mint\" style=\"margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 30px; float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":3090709,"author":"Florence Summers-Aylett","user_id":42467065916,"published_at":"2018-07-09T17:21:00+01:00","updated_at":"2022-01-11T11:23:11+00:00","summary_html":"\u003cspan\u003eAs Britain basks in the heat, we've been wondering how to stay cool. Some of the hottest places on earth are also some of the biggest drinkers of tea. So can a hot cup on a hot day cool you down? \u003c\/span\u003e","template_suffix":"","handle":"some-like-it-hot","tags":"tea-life, type:Tea Stories","image":{"created_at":"2020-12-01T09:53:00+00:00","alt":"How to stay cool with a hot tea","width":800,"height":800,"src":"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/articles\/Sahara-800x800-min.jpg?v=1641900191"}}

{"id":74960371772,"title":"Introducing the Dragonfly Children's Story Competition 2018!","created_at":"2018-04-11T16:26:44+01:00","body_html":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"dragonfly 2018 short story competition\" src=\"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/DF_Story_Logo_v03_wide_e6445751-cbd7-4fb6-b42d-8f5ab0604688_1024x1024.jpg?v=1527847628\" style=\"float: none; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePop the kettle on and sharpen your pencils, it's time for the 2018 \u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003eDragonfly Tea Children's Story Competition! \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter receiving so many fantastic stories from children across the UK last year, we are very excited to launch our 2018 children's writing competition for creative young minds from 5-15 years old.     \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis year our theme is\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Wild Garden\u003c\/strong\u003e so let your imagination take flight! We look forward to reading tales of wilderness; from exotic jungles full of mystery to secret gardens high in the misty mountains (where our tea grows), and even your very own garden pond, where you may spot a Dragonfly or two! \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are three age categories (ages 5-7, 8-11, 12-15) with winners from each receiving book vouchers for themselves and their schools. Shortlisted entries will be read and reviewed by our outstanding panel of judges, Baroness Floella Benjamin and\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eHugless Douglas\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ecreator David Melling. Finalists from all categories will be invited to the Henley Literary Festival on Sunday 7th October for a special awards ceremony and prize giving.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe are delighted to again be working with the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/henleyliteraryfestival.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"henley story festival\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHenley Literary Festival\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e, and are proud to announce that this year we are partnering for the first time with \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.beanstalkcharity.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"Beanstalk children's charity\"\u003eBeanstalk\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003c\/strong\u003e the national literacy charity for children. Beanstalk recruit, train and support volunteers across England to work in schools with children who have fallen behind with their reading, helping them to express themselves with confidence and introducing them to the wonderful world of storytelling. You can support this fantastic organisation by making a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.crowdfunder.co.uk\/readgrowthrivewithbeanstalk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"beanstalk donation\"\u003edonation \u003c\/a\u003eto Beanstalk - simply mention \"Dragonfly Tea\" in the comments box when you donate and Dragonfly Tea will match your contribution!   \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"2018 short story competition partners\" src=\"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/Charity_and_Henley_joined_1024x1024.png?v=1527847130\" style=\"float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThis competition has now closed.  \u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTheme\u003c\/strong\u003e: The Wild Garden \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWord Limit\u003c\/strong\u003e: 500 words\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAge groups\u003c\/strong\u003e: 5-7, 8-11, 12-15\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePrizes\u003c\/strong\u003e: £50 voucher for each winner plus £100 voucher for their school.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClosing date for all entries is\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e11:59pm Tuesday 31st July 2018\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStories must be submitted by an adult (parent \/ guardian or the child’s teacher who has obtained consent from the child’s parent or guardian)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you wish to submit your entry by post, please print off the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/t\/5\/assets\/postal_entry_form.pdf?11824316751290423170\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"short story postal entry form\"\u003ePostal Entry Form\u003c\/a\u003e, fill in the details and send this along with your story to:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDragonfly Story Competition, PO Box 125 Newbury, Berkshire RG20 9LY.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/t\/5\/assets\/postal_entry_form.pdf?11824316751290423170\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"dragonfly tea postal entry link\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePostal entry link\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBefore you upload your entry make sure you have read the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/blogs\/our-blog\/introducing-the-dragonfly-story-competition-2018\" title=\"Competition rules, terms and conditions\"\u003eRules, Terms \u0026amp; Conditions\u003c\/a\u003e – failure to comply may result in disqualification, so please read this part carefully. You can also read our competition \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/blogs\/our-blog\/introducing-the-dragonfly-story-competition-2018\" title=\"privacy policy\"\u003ePrivacy Policy here. \u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cstrong style=\"color: red;\"\u003eThis competition has now closed.\u003c\/strong\u003e","blog_id":3090709,"author":"Becky Maynard","user_id":23825924,"published_at":"2018-05-31T16:27:00+01:00","updated_at":"2021-10-25T16:47:13+01:00","summary_html":"\u003cp\u003ePop the kettle on and sharpen your pencils, it's time for the 2018 Dragonfly Tea Children's Story Competition! \u003c\/p\u003e","template_suffix":"","handle":"introducing-the-dragonfly-story-competition-2018","tags":"featured, product-dragon-well-green-tea, short-story, type:Events \u0026 Competitions","image":{"created_at":"2018-06-01T11:16:52+01:00","alt":"dragonfly tea short story comp 2018","width":1920,"height":1271,"src":"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/articles\/DF_Story_Logo_v03_wide.jpg?v=1531818343"}}

{"id":53408170044,"title":"WIN artisan teas on National Tea Day!","created_at":"2018-03-23T10:23:09+00:00","body_html":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"win artisan teas from dragonfly tea\" src=\"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/IMG_3066_edit_lightend_background_grande.jpg?v=1524221807\" style=\"float: none; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis weekend we're celebrating National Tea Day and giving TEN lucky tea-lovers the chance to win a trio of our finest teas! \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach prize includes a packet of refreshing Garden Mint \u0026amp; Verbena, delicately scented Jade Orchid Green Tea and our classic \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/collections\/black-teas\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Black teas\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eEnglish Breakfast\u003c\/a\u003e blend from the Tea House Collection. All three large leaf teas have been sourced with great care from the finest tea gardens around the world and offer an exquisite tea-drinking experience. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTHIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEntrants must be 18 years or older to enter. No purchase necessary, entry is only available online. Competition closes at 11:59pm Monday 23rd April 2018, entries received after this time and date will not be entered into the draw. Ten winners shall be selected at random and notified by email. Each prize includes one packet each of Jade Orchid, Garden Mint \u0026amp; Verbena and English Breakfast. No cash alternative and prize non-transferable and non-refundable. Only open to residents of the UK. Employees of Tea Times Trading Ltd are excluded from entering this competition.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":3090709,"author":"Andrew Ward","user_id":40549548092,"published_at":"2018-04-20T13:11:00+01:00","updated_at":"2022-04-25T10:39:56+01:00","summary_html":"\u003cspan\u003eWe're celebrating \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNational Tea Day\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and giving \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTEN\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e lucky tea-lovers the chance to win a trio of our finest teas! \u003c\/span\u003e","template_suffix":"","handle":"win-a-bundle-of-teas-on-national-tea-day","tags":"competition-post, type:Events \u0026 Competitions","image":{"created_at":"2018-04-20T10:36:07+01:00","alt":"national tea day competition - Dragonfly tea","width":1041,"height":1041,"src":"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/articles\/IMG_3095_edit2_lightend_background.jpg?v=1524848484"}}

{"id":5741772838,"title":"How Jasmine Tea is made","created_at":"2018-01-17T15:20:13+00:00","body_html":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eOur \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/products\/jasmine-pearls-green-tea\" title=\"popular jasmine tea\"\u003eJasmine Pearls Green tea\u003c\/a\u003e is one of the most popular in the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/collections\/jasmine-teas\"\u003eDragonfly Jasmine Tea range\u003c\/a\u003e, loved for its delicate fragrance and floral taste. Here we look at the making of this extraordinary tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/Blog-JasmineField-1200x800px-min.jpg?v=1662029370\" alt=\"Jasmine Fields\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn China, the art of scenting teas with fresh flower petals goes back many hundreds of years. We build on this tradition by only using fresh jasmine flowers to naturally infuse the tea leaves. As with all things Dragonfly, we never use artificial flavourings and always choose more traditional artisan methods to give our teas the most exquisite and authentic taste.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring Spring, fresh tea leaves are picked by hand and then dried using heat to prevent oxidisation. This ensures the leaves keep their light green colour and prevents the tea from darkening into black tea. The prepared green tea is then kept to one side and the wait for the jasmine harvest begins.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003ciframe width=\"860\" height=\"573\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/X2IFWd8sd7s\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn early Summer, the jasmine buds are carefully picked by hand in the afternoon when they are still closed. The tea leaves are then spread out in the tea-making area and the collected jasmine buds are expertly placed on top and left there overnight. As dusk falls, the petals slowly unfurl, releasing their special fragrance which infuses into the leaves beneath. The process is repeated every night for several nights, until the leaves are perfectly scented with the natural aroma of the jasmine flowers. The tea makers craft lies in knowing just when that moment has arrived. In fine jasmine teas, the spent flowers are then removed to ensure a beautifully rounded and balanced tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"860\" height=\"573\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/T9PCl6N_qtM\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTraditionally, jasmine tea is then skillfully rolled into pearl shapes by hand, as in our Jasmine Pearls. When hot water is added, the pearls then slowly unfold as the tea leaves absorb the liquid.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlong with Jasmine, Dragonfly's Jade Orchid Green Tea from our Tea House Collection is made using the same technique. Petals from the Yunan or Jade Orchid flower are used to naturally infuse the finest green tea leaves with a delicately sweet and floral fragrance. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe offer three different jasmine teas at Dragonfly: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/products\/moonlight-jasmine-organic-green-tea\" title=\"moonlight jasmine green tea being made\"\u003eMoonlight Jasmine\u003c\/a\u003e from the Organic Speciality Range, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/products\/jasmine-pearls-green-tea\" title=\"jasmine tea - jasmine pearls\"\u003eJasmine Pearls\u003c\/a\u003e from our artisan pyramid Tea House Collection and \u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/products\/jasmine-dragon-pearls-green-china-tea\" title=\"Jasmine dragon Pearls green china tea\"\u003eLoose Leaf Jasmine Dragon Pearls\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e from our Leaf Teas of Distinction range. All three examples are made using these traditional artisan techniques and offer a wonderful taste experience for all occasions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/Blog-JasmineTeas-1200x800px-min.jpg?v=1662030584\" alt=\"Jasmine Tea Range\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":3090709,"author":"Florence Summers-Aylett","user_id":42467065916,"published_at":"2018-03-16T10:02:00+00:00","updated_at":"2022-09-01T12:10:33+01:00","summary_html":"\u003cp\u003eOur Jasmine Green tea is one of our most popular Dragonfly teas, loved for its delicate fragrance and floral taste. Here's a little guide to the making of this extraordinary tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","template_suffix":"","handle":"how-jasmine-tea-is-made","tags":"product-jasmine-dragon-pearls-green-china-tea, product-jasmine-pearls-green-tea, product-moonlight-jasmine-organic-green-tea, tea-life, type:Tea Stories","image":{"created_at":"2020-11-30T17:55:35+00:00","alt":"How is jasmine tea made?","width":800,"height":800,"src":"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/articles\/Jasmine-800x800-min.jpg?v=1660746057"}}

{"id":5889523750,"title":"Competition Closed. Win a Selection of our finest teas from China!","created_at":"2018-02-14T12:50:43+00:00","body_html":"\u003ch3 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"Dragonfly Teas from China\" src=\"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/chinese_teas_2_grande.png?v=1518699626\" style=\"float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eIn celebration of Chinese New Year 2018, we're giving you the chance to win a fabulous selection of teas from China! \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt Dragonfly we regularly travel to China, visiting some of the most remote and special tea gardens in the country, to bring you \u003cspan\u003erare and interesting teas. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe have spent decades building long-lasting relationships with growers and master tea-makers. These relationships are known as \"Tea Friends\" and allow us to access little known \u003cspan\u003elocations which can offer the most desirable and sustainable harvests.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"Growing tea in china\" src=\"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/Bruces_China_2007_pics_2_194_grande.jpg?v=1518699195\" style=\"float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo celebrate \u003cstrong\u003eChinese New year 2018\u003c\/strong\u003e, one lucky winner shall receive a delicious selection of our favourite Chinese teas, including: \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBai Mudan White Tea \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDragon Well Green Tea \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJade Orchid Green Tea \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMoonlight Jasmine Green Tea \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEmerald Mountain Green Tea \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJasmine Pearls Loose Leaf Green Tea \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThis competition has now closed. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEntrants must be 18 years or older to enter. No purchase necessary, entry is only available online. Competition closes at 11:59pm Sunday 18th February 2018, entries received after this time and date will not be entered into the draw. Winner shall be selected at random and notified by email. The prize includes one packet each of Bai Mudan, Jade Orchid, Dragon Well, Moonlight Jasmine, Emerald Mountain and Lapsang Souchong. No cash alternative and prize non-transferable and non-refundable. Only open to residents of the UK. Employees of Tea Times Trading Ltd are excluded from entering this competition.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":3090709,"author":"Becky Maynard","user_id":23825924,"published_at":"2018-02-16T09:12:00+00:00","updated_at":"2021-05-18T12:25:55+01:00","summary_html":"\u003cp\u003eIn celebration of Chinese New Year 2018, we're giving you the chance to win a fabulous selection of teas from China! \u003c\/p\u003e","template_suffix":"","handle":"win-a-selection-of-of-our-finest-chinese-teas","tags":"competition-post, type:Events \u0026 Competitions","image":{"created_at":"2018-02-28T16:04:36+00:00","alt":"","width":319,"height":286,"src":"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/articles\/enjoyment_appr1.jpg?v=1519833876"}}

{"id":5388828710,"title":"Dragonfly’s Organic Teas","created_at":"2017-11-21T10:42:59+00:00","body_html":"\u003cp\u003eAs a small family business, at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/\"\u003eDragonfly Tea\u003c\/a\u003e we care deeply about the provenance, production and quality of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/collections\/organic-teas\" title=\"dragonfly organic teas\"\u003eour organic teas\u003c\/a\u003e and we travel the globe to source the finest tea leaves. In fact, we only make tea that we want to drink, and personally taste every batch to ensure that we only offer the best possible blends. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"Dragonfly's organic teas\" src=\"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/IMG_0846_grande.JPG?v=1511264336\" style=\"float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHaving been growing and making tea for over 100 years, our suppliers are very important to us and we have built long-standing relationships with growers and master tea makers alike. In China, these trusted people are known as 'tea friends' and they help us to ensure that we source only the highest quality leaves. As a result, our teas often come from remote and little known farms and tea gardens, and we use only the most sustainable and fairly traded harvests. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"sustainable teas\" src=\"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/chamomile_web_grande.jpg?v=1511453624\" style=\"float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll of the teas in our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/collections\/organic-speciality\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpeciality Range\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e have been certified organic by the Organic Food Federation. Our organic teas are made using all-natural ingredients grown in areas that are not treated with any man-made fertilisers or pesticides. We genuinely believe in organic standards to the extent that even teas in our other ranges, though not certified as organic, have ingredients grown in areas where pesticides and fertilisers are only used when absolutely necessary and usage is kept to an absolute minimum. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery new harvest of tea is sent to an independent laboratory for rigorous testing to determine that the purity levels of our teas exceed (rather than simply meet) a stringent set of international standards. Only then are we are happy to package the teas up ready to be enjoyed in kitchens around the country. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"Serving fairtrade teas\" src=\"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/Dragonfly-Tea-93_web_cropped_grande.png?v=1510934735\" style=\"float: none; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo make our teas, whether organic or non-organic, we never use artificial additives, preservatives or colourings and all of our teas are GM-free. We take every care to make sure our teas are both delicious and also environmentally friendly. Even the teabags in our Speciality range are sealed with a tag and string, making them fully biodegradable and compostable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 14 organic teas in our Speciality range include much loved classics such as \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/blogs\/our-blog\/all-about-english-breakfast-tea\"\u003eEnglish Breakfast tea\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/products\/earl-grey-tea\"\u003eEarl Grey\u003c\/a\u003e, refreshing green teas including \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/products\/moonlight-jasmine-organic-green-tea\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Moonlight jasmine organic tea\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eMoonlight Jasmine\u003c\/a\u003e and naturally caffeine free herbal and rooibos teas. Our Organic tea range ensures we have a cup to suit all tastes, whatever the occasion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"Dargonfly organic teas\" src=\"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/window_small_grande.JPG?v=1511260783\" style=\"float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can find many of our organic teas in Waitrose, Ocado and independent health food shops. You can also buy the full range directly from our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/collections\/all-products\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"Where to buy organic teas\"\u003ewebsite\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":3090709,"author":"Becky Maynard","user_id":23825924,"published_at":"2018-01-09T16:01:00+00:00","updated_at":"2021-10-25T16:35:15+01:00","summary_html":"\u003cspan\u003eAs a small family business, at Dragonfly we care deeply about the provenance, production and quality of our organic teas and we travel the globe to source the finest tea leaves.\u003c\/span\u003e","template_suffix":"","handle":"dragonfly-s-organic-teas","tags":"product-cape-malay-organic-spiced-rooibos, tea-life, type:Tea Stories","image":{"created_at":"2020-12-01T10:12:52+00:00","alt":"","width":800,"height":800,"src":"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/articles\/China-800x800-min.jpg?v=1606817573"}}

{"id":5291048998,"title":"Dragonfly's Winter Tea Guide","created_at":"2017-11-10T11:28:50+00:00","body_html":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eAs the cold weather sets in, we’re popping on the kettle and drinking lots of delicious tea to keep warm and hydrated. Take a look at some favourites that will be seeing us through the winter.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/Blog-WinterTeaGuideWarmDrink-1200x800px-min.jpg?v=1662385271\" alt=\"Cosy image of person holding tea\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eA hot cup of tea to start a chilly winter day\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf, like us, you struggle to get out of a warm bed on a frosty winter's morning, drinking a cup of tea is a great way to put that spring in your step.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/products\/traditional-english-organic-breakfast-tea\" title=\"Traditional English Organic Breakfast Tea\"\u003eEnglish Breakfast Tea\u003c\/a\u003e is a full-bodied and invigorating blend that will help get you going and feeling ready for the day. For moments when lighter and more fragrant black teas are the thing, then our classic \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/products\/earl-grey-tea\" title=\"Earl Grey tea for winter\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eEarl Grey Tea\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e infused with natural oil of bergamot and our \u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/collections\/black-teas\/products\/golden-himalaya-organic-black-tea\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Winter darjeeling tea\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eG\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/collections\/black-teas\/products\/golden-himalaya-organic-black-tea\" title=\"Winter darjeeling tea\"\u003eolden Himalaya Darjeeling\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e with its hints of fruit and wild honey are both deliciously smooth. We like to drink them all without milk, alongside some lovely wholemeal toast or hot porridge to get us truly warmed up for the day ahead.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eTeas for after a big meal\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the festive celebrations reach full swing, over-indulging in all our favourite foods is inevitable. A cup of herbal tea after dinner can often work wonders to help digestion and leave us feeling more balanced and relaxed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeppermint based teas have long been used as palate cleansers and our \u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/collections\/caffeine-free-tea\/products\/pure-peppermint-organic-infusion\" title=\"organic peppermint tea helps digestion\"\u003eOrganic Pure Peppermint\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e can help revive after even the most indulgent of meals. Ginger has also been appreciated the world over for its digestive properties.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/Blog-WinterTeaGuideFriends-1200x800px-min.jpg?v=1662385338\" alt=\"Tea with friends\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNaturally caffeine free teas for bedtime\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike all of our herbal teas, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/collections\/rooibos-honeybush\" title=\"rooibos tea for bedtime\"\u003erooibos tea is naturally caffeine free\u003c\/a\u003e making it an ideal drink for any time of day, and particularly great later in the evenings. Rooibos comes from a different plant to traditional black and green teas and is a wonderfully gentle brew, packed with antioxidants and low in tannins.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen we're looking for something a little extra special, we reach for our smooth and velvety \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/products\/vanilla-rooibos-tea\" title=\"vanilla rooibos tea late at night\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eVanilla Rooibos\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e - rooibos tea infused with the finest Vanilla from Madagascar - or for our authentic \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/products\/earl-grey-rooibos-tea\" title=\"earl grey redbush tea\"\u003eRooibos Earl Grey\u003c\/a\u003e with natural oil of bergamot. For a delicious aromatic brew, our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/collections\/rooibos-honeybush\/products\/cape-malay-organic-spiced-rooibos\" title=\"Cape malay redbush tea\"\u003eCape Malay Chai Rooibos\u003c\/a\u003e is made with warming spices including cardamom and cinnamon, and is perfect on a wintry evening sitting by the fire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTeas to share with family and friends \u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA truly exquisite tea makes a perfect present for tea-lovers and we have some very special artisan teas that would make lovely Christmas gifts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur Tea House Collection features ten carefully crafted teas such our mellow \u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/products\/eastern-beauty-oolong-tea\" title=\"Oolong tea gift\"\u003eEastern Beauty Oolong\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e. Each tea in the collection contains 20 large leaf tea pyramids of the finest quality.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/Blog-WinterTeaGuide-1200x800px-min.jpg?v=1662385361\" alt=\"Cup of tea, pack and candle\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith their elegant jade tins, we think our loose teas always make fabulous stocking fillers! Our fine Leaf Teas of Distinction range consists of six \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/collections\/loose-leaf-tea\"\u003eloose leaf teas\u003c\/a\u003e including \u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/products\/luxury-leaf-bai-mudan-white-china-tea\" title=\"White tea stocking filler\"\u003eBai Mudan White Tea\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e and \u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/products\/jasmine-dragon-pearls-green-china-tea\" title=\"Jasmine green tea\"\u003eJasmine Pearls Green Tea\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eWe know that our teas will be keeping us warm and refreshed this winter - and hopefully they will do the same for you too! Dragonfly teas are available to buy at Waitrose, Ocado, independent health food shops and you can also find the full range on our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/collections\/all-products\" title=\"Shop teas online\"\u003ehere.\u003c\/a\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":3090709,"author":"Becky Maynard","user_id":23825924,"published_at":"2017-12-06T16:55:00+00:00","updated_at":"2022-09-05T14:45:46+01:00","summary_html":"\u003cp\u003eAs the cold weather sets in, we’re popping on the kettle and drinking lots of delicious tea to keep warm and hydrated. Take a look at some  favourites that will be seeing us through the winter.\u003c\/p\u003e","template_suffix":"","handle":"teas-to-enjoy-over-winter","tags":"product-golden-himalaya-organic-black-tea, spotlight, type:Tea Stories","image":{"created_at":"2022-09-05T14:45:45+01:00","alt":"Cosy image of person holding tea","width":800,"height":800,"src":"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/articles\/Blog_WinterTeaGuide_800x800-min.jpg?v=1662385546"}}

{"id":1441005598,"title":"Announcing the 2017 Short Story Winners!","created_at":"2017-10-09T10:39:58+01:00","body_html":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/story_main.jpg?v=1504799577\" style=\"margin-right: 27.3333px; margin-left: 27.3333px; float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinally the wait is over! It's been an exciting few months here at Dragonfly and we are very happy to share with you the winners of the 2017 Dragonfly Tea Short Story Competition.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the third year of our competition, run in association with the Henley Literary Festival, and we received an amazing 1300 entries across the adult and children's categories on the themes of \u003cem\u003eJourney\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eMaps.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter a tough judging process, our shortlisted entrants were invited to a very special Awards Ceremony at Henley Town Hall, where Dragonfly's Georgia Ginsberg and short story judge Helen Lederer announced this year's winners to a rapt audience. See below for the names of our worthy winners!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"Draginfly Tea 2017 short story winners\" src=\"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/winners_low_res_1024x1024.JPG?v=1507651067\" style=\"float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"comp_winners_2016\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #05a88e;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #666666;\"\u003ePhoto Credit: Scarlet Page \/ Henley Literary Festival\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #05a88e;\"\u003eMain Competition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"adults_winners announced\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"winners final\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"position\"\u003e \u003cspan class=\"icon\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e1st Prize \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan class=\"name\"\u003eAimee White\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan class=\"story-title\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0;\"\u003eGeneration Lotus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan class=\"position\"\u003e \u003cspan class=\"icon\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eJoint 2nd Prize \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan class=\"name\"\u003eJulie Hayman\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan class=\"story-title\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0;\"\u003eGold\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin: .25em 0; display: inline-block;\"\u003e\u0026amp;\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"name\"\u003eAnita Goveas\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan class=\"story-title\"\u003eThe Bombay Flying Club \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- adults_winners --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #05a88e;\"\u003eChildren's 12-15\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"adults_winners announced\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"winners final\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"position\"\u003e \u003cspan class=\"icon\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e1st Prize \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan class=\"name\"\u003eJessica Griffiths\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan class=\"story-title\"\u003eMaps\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan class=\"position\"\u003e \u003cspan class=\"icon\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eHighly Commended \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan class=\"name\"\u003eHenry Hindle\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan class=\"story-title\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0;\"\u003eSarcophagus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin: .25em 0; display: inline-block;\"\u003e\u0026amp;\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan class=\"name\"\u003eAnna Hughes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan class=\"story-title\"\u003eIn Plain Sight\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- adults_winners --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #05a88e;\"\u003eChildren's 8-11\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"adults_winners announced\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"winners final\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"position\"\u003e \u003cspan class=\"icon\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eJoint 1st Prize \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan class=\"name\"\u003eRose Wakefield\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"story-title\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0;\"\u003eThe World at my Fingertips\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin: .25em 0; display: inline-block;\"\u003e\u0026amp;\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan class=\"name\"\u003eShreya Ghorpade\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan class=\"story-title\"\u003eThe Map of Wealth\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan class=\"position\"\u003e \u003cspan class=\"icon\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eHighly Commended \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan class=\"name\"\u003eDaniel Beesley\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan class=\"story-title\"\u003eThe Treasure Hunt\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- adults_winners --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #05a88e;\"\u003eChildren's 4-7\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"adults_winners announced\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"winners final\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"position\"\u003e \u003cspan class=\"icon\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e1st Prize \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan class=\"name\"\u003eCora Batchelor\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan class=\"story-title\"\u003eThe Magic Fidget Spinner \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan class=\"position\"\u003e \u003cspan class=\"icon\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eHighly Commended \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan class=\"name\"\u003eAlice Keen\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan class=\"story-title\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0;\"\u003eFinding True Treasure \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"margin: .25em 0; display: inline-block;\"\u003e\u0026amp;\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan class=\"name\"\u003eEmma Blake \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan class=\"story-title\"\u003ePirate's Stole My Bunny\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- adults_winners --\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp align=\"center\"\u003eCongratulations to all of our winners and runners up, and an enormous thank you to everyone who entered a story - we loved reading them! \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp align=\"center\"\u003eThis year we have published two booklets with all of the shortlisted stories, if you'd like us to send you a copy of the children's, adults or both, please send an email to \u003ca href=\"mailto:hello@dragonflytea.com\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Email dragonfly tea\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003ehello@dragonflytea.com\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"Dragonfly short story competition books 2017\" src=\"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/booklets_large.JPG?v=1507541785\" style=\"float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp align=\"center\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":3090709,"author":"Becky Maynard","user_id":23825924,"published_at":"2017-10-12T13:22:00+01:00","updated_at":"2021-05-10T16:49:30+01:00","summary_html":"\u003cspan\u003eFinally the wait is over! It's been an exciting few months here at Dragonfly and we are very happy to share with you the winners of the 2017 Dragonfly Tea Short Story Competition. \u003c\/span\u003e","template_suffix":"","handle":"announcing-the-2017-short-story-winners","tags":"product-vanilla-rooibos, short-story, type:Events \u0026 Competitions","image":{"created_at":"2020-11-30T18:56:55+00:00","alt":"","width":680,"height":438,"src":"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/articles\/story_main_2048x2048_0820a897-a07c-43ce-9a39-d70efa519dae.jpg?v=1606762616"}}

{"id":354848200,"title":"Irenosen Okojie discusses her thoughts and tips on writing","created_at":"2017-06-02T11:18:58+01:00","body_html":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLast year, Irenosen Okojie was a wonderful judge on our Short Story Competition panel. To help inspire this year's entrants, we've asked Irenosen to share her thoughts and tips on writing:\u003c\/strong\u003e   \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"Irenosen Okojie\" src=\"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/Irenosen_2_medium.jpg?v=1496398274\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere do you write?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEverywhere! I carry small notebooks around with me. I write a lot in my bedroom. If I'm feeling properly writerly, I'll go to a cafe or a space I find interesting. Somewhere I can people watch and listen in to conversations inconspicuously. Writing is the perfect outlet for my constant curiosity about people and how intriguing they are.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat was your favourite book as a child?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnything by Dr Seuss, Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e....and your favourite book as an adult?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eToo many! Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is right up there, anything by Toni Morrison, everything by James Baldwin, as is Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat book are you reading right now?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLeone Ross's short story collection, Come Let Us Sing Anyway. She's a beautiful conjurer. I really like what she does as a writer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003eCan you name one example of a perfect short story? Something you'd recommend our entrants read?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBlack Vodka, from Deborah Levy's collection Black Vodka. It's illuminating, sad, funny, strange and well crafted. It's everything I love in a short story, perfectly contained but with the emotional weight and impact of a longer work. I'm a big Deborah Levy fan.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat has been your most memorable journey?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGoing on a road trip with my dad to Benin when researching my novel, Butterfly Fish. It reminded me how charismatic, adventurous, hilarious and surprising he is. Benin itself was hugely evocative. Being in Nigeria again; the vibrancy, the food, the music, the heat, the languages, it was like an assault on the senses in the best way.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere do you find inspiration for a story? \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEverywhere. I try to keep my eyes and ears open because human beings are so gloriously odd. Even the ones that think they're not. I have a very skewed imagination. I think that really shows in my collection, Speak Gigantular. Obviously reading other writers is a good tip but read writers that are out of your comfort zone too. I really enjoy films and immersive theatre experiences so feeding myself from different mediums.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do you celebrate finishing writing a story?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVery often with a treat! A nice meal out or a wander around a part of the city I'm not that familiar with. When I'm writing short stories, I try to treat myself to at least two experiences a week. It keeps me excited, curious about the world and that feeds into the writing. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is your favourite cup of tea?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI love a good Peppermint tea! Peppermint tea and Viennese whirls, too good!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat are your writing rituals?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI always write early in the mornings, I never write for more than three hours at time. I usually buy bright, striking notebooks because psychologically it makes you want to fill the pages. I walk our dog in between writing stints, it's excellent thinking time or great for solving any issues, plot or otherwise because things just come to you. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is your number-one writing tip? \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDon't over analyse the process, just keep going. Find ways to reward yourself and keep things interesting. Remember that every writer you ever admired writes at least a few drafts of each book. Writing can be magical. Remember to enjoy it. Let it take as long as it needs to. Don't follow trends. Don't adhere to anybody's expectations or rules. Make up your own. Do what works for you.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIrenosen Okojie is a writer and Arts Project Manager. Her debut novel, Butterfly Fish won a Betty Trask Award. Her short story collection, Speak Gigantular was shortlisted for the Jhalak Prize, is longlisted for the Edgehill Short Story Prize, shortlisted for the Saboteur Awards and nominated for a Shirley Jackson Award. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.irenosenokojie.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"www.irenosenokojie.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ewww.irenosenokojie.com\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/IrenosenOkojie\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Irenosen Okojie Twitter\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e@IrenosenOkojie\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/blogs\/our-blog\/dragonfly-tea-short-story-competition-2017\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"Dragonfly Tea 2017 competition\" src=\"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/Logo_676cd9f6-63f1-47c3-a971-70c9167dbecd_small.png?v=1496239815\" style=\"float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/blogs\/our-blog\/dragonfly-tea-short-story-competition-2017\" title=\"Short story competiton 2017\"\u003eFind our more about our 2017 Short Story Competition here \u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":3090709,"author":"Becky Maynard","user_id":23825924,"published_at":"2017-06-12T15:39:00+01:00","updated_at":"2021-10-25T16:51:59+01:00","summary_html":"Last year, Irenosen Okojie was a wonderful judge on our Short Story Competition panel. To help inspire this year's entrants, we've asked Irenosen to share her thoughts and tips on writing.","template_suffix":"","handle":"irenosen-okojie-interview","tags":"short-story, type:Events \u0026 Competitions","image":{"created_at":"2017-12-05T11:21:42+00:00","alt":"","width":601,"height":548,"src":"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/articles\/Irenosen_3.JPG?v=1512472902"}}

{"id":286813576,"title":"Competition CLOSED : Let the Journey begin! Announcing the Dragonfly Tea Short Story Competition 2017","created_at":"2017-03-30T13:46:32+01:00","body_html":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"Dragonfly Tea short story competition 2017 announcement\" src=\"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/2017_image_vfinal_grande.jpg?v=1493818402\" style=\"float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"line-height: 1.75; color: #463235;\"\u003ePop the kettle on, sharpen your pencils and let your imagination take flight; it's time for Dragonfly's 2017 Short Story Competition!\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter receiving over 1000 entries from across the UK last year, we are proud to announce the launch of the 2017 Dragonfly Tea Short Story Competition, in association with \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/henleyliteraryfestival.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Henley Literary Festival\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eHenley Literary Festival\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis year, our theme for the main competition is \u003cstrong\u003eJourney\u003c\/strong\u003e. Ever since tea chests began travelling along the fabelled spice routes, the little green leaf has been at the heart of many a journey -- from journeys of the mind, to journeys of the spirit, and of course grand journeys across the land. For our children's competition, entries are considered in three age categories (ages 4-7, 8-11, 12-15) with winners receiving book vouchers for themselves and their schools. The theme for these marvellous tales will be \u003cstrong\u003eMaps\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOpen to all unknown budding writers, shortlisted entries will be read and reviewed by our outstanding panel of judges including comedian and writer Helen Lederer, journalist-turned-novelist Paula Cocozza and Literary Editor at the Daily Mail Sandra Parsons. For our children's competition, Baroness Floella Benjamin and \u003cem\u003eHugless Douglas\u003c\/em\u003e creator David Melling will be picking the worthy winners.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFinalists from all categories will be invited to the Henley Literary Festival on Sunday 8th October 2017 for a special awards ceremony and prize giving.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-family: 'Gotham A','Gotham B'; font-weight: 500; font-style: italic; border: 2px solid #008f73; border-width: 2px 0; color: #008f73; padding: 14px 0; font-size: 24px; margin: 28px 0 12px; letter-spacing: 0.04em;\"\u003eMain Competition\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"color: #008f73; line-height: 2; padding-bottom: 6px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong style=\"font-family: 'Gotham A','Gotham B';\"\u003eTheme\u003c\/strong\u003e: Journey\u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong style=\"font-family: 'Gotham A','Gotham B';\"\u003eWord Limit\u003c\/strong\u003e: 3000 words\u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong style=\"font-family: 'Gotham A','Gotham B';\"\u003e1st Prize\u003c\/strong\u003e: £1500\u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong style=\"font-family: 'Gotham A','Gotham B';\"\u003e2nd Prize\u003c\/strong\u003e: £750\u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong style=\"font-family: 'Gotham A','Gotham B';\"\u003e3rd Prize\u003c\/strong\u003e: £500\u003cbr\u003e \u003cem style=\"color: #999;\"\u003e For full details of what is meant by a non-professional writer, please read our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/blogs\/our-blog\/introducing-the-dragonfly-story-competition-2018\" title=\"Short story 2017 terms and conditions\"\u003eterms and conditions\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-family: 'Gotham A','Gotham B'; font-weight: 500; font-style: italic; border: 2px solid #dc5252; border-width: 2px 0; color: #dc5252; padding: 14px 0; font-size: 24px; margin: 28px 0 12px; letter-spacing: 0.04em;\"\u003eChildren's Competition\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"color: #dc5252; line-height: 2; padding-bottom: 6px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong style=\"font-family: 'Gotham A','Gotham B';\"\u003eTheme\u003c\/strong\u003e: Maps\u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong style=\"font-family: 'Gotham A','Gotham B';\"\u003eWord Limit\u003c\/strong\u003e: 500 words\u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong style=\"font-family: 'Gotham A','Gotham B';\"\u003eAge groups\u003c\/strong\u003e: 4-7, 8-11, 12-15\u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong style=\"font-family: 'Gotham A','Gotham B';\"\u003ePrizes\u003c\/strong\u003e: £50 voucher for each winner plus £100 voucher for their school.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClosing date for all entries is \u003cspan style=\"color: #cf0039;\"\u003e11:59pm Monday 31st July 2017\u003c\/span\u003e. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo, if you're inspired to pen a tale, why not pop the kettle on and let your imagination lead the way...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"font-family: 'Gotham A','Gotham B'; font-weight: bold; border: 2px solid #ccc; border-width: 2px 0; color: #463235; padding: 10px 0; font-size: 24px; margin: 28px 0 12px; letter-spacing: 0.04em;\"\u003eENTER NOW!\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis competition is open to all non-professional writers who are UK residents.\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBefore you upload your entry make sure you have read the \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/dragonfly-tea-short-story-competition-2017-rules-terms-conditions\" title=\"Competition rules, terms and conditions\"\u003eRules, Terms \u0026amp; Conditions\u003c\/a\u003e instructions – failure to comply may result in disqualification, so please read this part carefully. \u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDeadline for entries is \u003cspan style=\"color: #cf0039;\"\u003e31st July 2017\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can upload your entry in the following file types: \u003cem\u003e.doc, .docx, .txt, .rtf and .pdf\u003c\/em\u003e. Maximum allowed file size is \u003cem\u003e2MB\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"nb\"\u003ePLEASE NOTE:\u003c\/span\u003e The title of your short story entry must also be the file name of your uploaded document. Thank you!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cstrong style=\"color: red;\"\u003eThis competition has now closed.\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c!--script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/form.jotformeu.com\/jsform\/70883634124356\"\u003e\u003c\/script--\u003e","blog_id":3090709,"author":"Becky Maynard","user_id":23825924,"published_at":"2017-04-01T13:35:00+01:00","updated_at":"2021-10-25T16:39:34+01:00","summary_html":"After receiving over 1000 entries from across the UK last year, we are proud to announce the launch of the 2017 Dragonfly Tea Short Story Competition, in association with \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/henleyliteraryfestival.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"Henley literary festival 2017\"\u003eHenley Literary Festival\u003c\/a\u003e.","template_suffix":"","handle":"dragonfly-tea-short-story-competition-2017","tags":"exclude, featured, product-emerald-mountain-organic-green-tea, short-story, type:Events \u0026 Competitions","image":{"created_at":"2021-04-27T15:40:34+01:00","alt":"","width":800,"height":800,"src":"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/articles\/Competition2-800x800-min.jpg?v=1619534435"}}

{"id":115706180,"title":"It’s National Tea Day!","created_at":"2016-04-19T15:44:00+01:00","body_html":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e To celebrate Britain’s favourite drink, here are a few fun facts about the wonderful world of tea….\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/Blog-NationalTeaDayTeaField-1200x800px-min.jpg?v=1662381345\" alt=\"Tea field and house\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDid you know on average we drink 3 cups of tea a day in the UK?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThat\u003c\/span\u003e’\u003cspan\u003es 165 million cups in total every day, and 60.2 billion cups a year! National Tea Day is a great opportunity to celebrate the little green leaf, but really every day is a tea day. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTea has been our drink of choice in Britain ever since the 18\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e century, when it replaced ale and gin as the nation’s favourite beverage. However, tea has been enjoyed around the world for a lot longer than this, particularly in China where green tea is said to have originated over 5000 years ago. In fact the first tea to arrive in Europe was actually \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/collections\/green-teas\" title=\"Dragonfly Tea Green Tea products\"\u003egreen tea\u003c\/a\u003e from China; drinking \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/collections\/black-teas\" title=\"Black Tea products from Dragonfly Tea\"\u003eblack tea\u003c\/a\u003e with milk is a much newer concept that became popular in the 19\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e century. Today we are once again seeing a surge of interest in tea as more people are discovering the huge variety of teas on offer – from green, to \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/collections\/white-teas\" title=\"white tea products\"\u003ewhite tea\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/collections\/puer-tea\"\u003epu'er tea\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/collections\/rooibos-honeybush\" title=\"Rooibos tea products\"\u003erooibos tea\u003c\/a\u003e, there’s a tea out there for everyone and every taste.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/Blog-NationalTeaDayHistory-1200x800px-min.jpg?v=1662381378\" alt=\"Tea history images\"\u003e \n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWe estimate there are over 5000 types of teas sourced from 1500 varieties of tea bush and endless options of blending, flavouring and tea making.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eG\u003cspan\u003ereen and black teas are actually made from the same plant, \u003cem\u003eCamellia Sinensis\u003cstrong\u003e,\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/em\u003eof which there are thousands of sub-varieties. The best teas are typically grown at altitude. Once the leaves are picked, they are sorted and bruised and allowed to oxidise for varying amounts of time. To make black teas, the leaves are left to fully oxidise, darkening over time - the same process as an apple turning brown once you\u003c\/span\u003e’\u003cspan\u003eve taken a bite. Green teas and white teas however are barely oxidised at all and are dried soon after being picked, allowing them to retain their green colour and delicious light taste. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTea making is a hugely refined and intuitive craft, like winemaking or craft beer making, and great taste depends on provenance, growing conditions and variety of tea bush, but also on the way the oxidation process is controlled, often using artisan techniques passed down the generations.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/Blog-NationalTeaDayLeaves-1200x800px-min.jpg?v=1662381407\" alt=\"Tea growing traditions\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe ‘Tea break’ is a tradition that goes back around 200 years.\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTea is a huge part of British life, and more than just tasting great and having a long history, it is still the perfect drink for our time. In our increasingly busy lives, tea can give you the opportunity to come to together, whether for Afternoon Tea or just having a catch up with a friend. In fact 80% of office workers say they find out more about what's going on at work over a cup of tea than any other way. However, tea is special and a cup of tea is also a chance to take a moment for yourself; to catch your breath and enjoy the complex flavours that develop in the cup and allow the warm positive sense of wellbeing that is unique to tea to slow you down a little. A moment of calm – a true tea moment!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/files\/Blog-NationalTeaDayGB-1200x800px-min.jpg?v=1662381429\" alt=\"The tea experts \"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eListen out for our tea expert!\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGeorgia Ginsberg is a director of Dragonfly tea and the 5th generation to inherit the family passion for tea – her great grandfather Benjamin Ginsberg was the founder of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dragonflytea.com\/collections\/rooibos-honeybush\" title=\"rooibos tea\"\u003erooibos tea\u003c\/a\u003e and father Bruce Ginsberg started Dragonfly to bring to really varied good quality teas, including rooibos, chai tea and white tea, to a broader audience. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGeorgia will be sharing her knowledge of tea across the radio on National Tea Day, so be sure to listen out and learn more about our favourite drink! Follow us on \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/dragonflytea\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Dragonfly Tea on Twitter\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eTwitter\u003c\/a\u003e to find out more. #NationalTeaDay\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":3090709,"author":"Florence Summers-Aylett","user_id":42467065916,"published_at":"2016-04-21T10:30:00+01:00","updated_at":"2022-09-05T13:44:18+01:00","summary_html":"It's National Tea Day! Our favourite day of the year. Make yourself a cuppa and read some fun facts about tea here.","template_suffix":"","handle":"national-tea-day","tags":"spotlight, tea-life, type:Events \u0026 Competitions","image":{"created_at":"2020-12-01T09:47:24+00:00","alt":"Tea field view","width":800,"height":800,"src":"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0272\/6943\/articles\/Jasmine-800x800-min_f43f5fdd-769b-4d1e-9a0a-270739fe85cd.jpg?v=1662381451"}}