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Colonial Tea Prices

Posted by Natalie Carey – Tea Historian, Oliver Pluff & Co. on 8th Jun 2019

The price of tea in England declined during the 18th century. Now able to afford this commodity, English laborers included tea in their budgets for the first time. A study of such budgets published … read more

The Origins of the Tea Brick

Posted by Ashley Isom, Oliver Pluff & Co. on 23rd Mar 2017

Black Tea Brick, China. Photography by Kyle Brown. All Rights Reserved. Estimated to be formed around 350 A.D., tea bricks have become a part of Chinese and European culture throughout the ages. … read more

Cocoa and Cacao Shell Tea

Posted by Natalie Carey – Tea Historian, Oliver Pluff & Co. on 15th Mar 2017

19th Century Drinking Chocolate Ceramics, London. Special thanks to: GEORGE C. BIRLANT & CO. (Antiques), Charleston, 843-722-3842, www.birlant.com. Photography: Kyle Brown. All Rights R … read more

The Origins of Earl Grey Tea

Posted by Natalie Carey – Tea Historian, Oliver Pluff & Co. on 13th Mar 2017

Bergamot Orange watercolor illustration (Citrus Bergamia), by L. Osbeck The origin of “who first put leaf to water” is completely unknown to culinary historians. Before the mid-nineteenth century, bo … read more

Bohea over ice

Posted by Kyle Brown, Oliver Pluff & Co. on 10th Mar 2017

I started a tea business in 2009 with a business plan of becoming the “Ben and Jerry’s of iced tea”. After sampling over 300 broken orange pekoes from India and Sri Lanka, we selected single estate te … read more