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Tawny LeafAn independent journal of loose-leaf tea

Stock list

Everything on the shelf

Every article we have published, newest at the top. Each one starts by answering the question in its title.

  1. How much caffeine is in a cup of tea?

    The NHS uses about 75mg as its working figure. Real cups vary widely, and the colour of the leaf is a poor guide.

    Photo: David J. Fred, CC BY-SA 2.5, cropped

  2. Afternoon tea and high tea: what is the difference?

    One was a dainty stopgap for the rich. The other was the main meal of a working day.

    Photo: Andy Li, CC0

  3. Why does tea taste different in hard water?

    If your cup grows a skin and tastes flat, blame the tap before you blame the tea.

    Photo: Lee Haywood, CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped

  4. How should you store loose-leaf tea, and how long does it keep?

    An opaque, airtight tin in a cool cupboard, well away from the spice rack. The fridge is not your friend.

    Photo: Daderot, Public domain

  5. How long should you brew loose-leaf tea?

    Three to five minutes for most black tea, less for almost everything else. Five dials and how to use them.

    Photo: AlphaLemur, CC BY 4.0, cropped

  6. Black, green, oolong, white: what makes them different?

    One plant, and a good deal of kitchen work. Oxidation decides most of what ends up in your cup.

    Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, cropped