Announcing _Tea Lands of China_ tonight on PBS

Victoria Boyert at Satori Tea Bar.
Photo: D3 Productions

The documentary Tea Lands of China follows Victoria Boyert, owner of San Jose's Satori Tea Bar, and Mark Rozell, a manager with Verve Coffee Roasters in Santa Cruz, on their journey to Hangzhou and Yunnan in China to learn about Longjing and Pu’erh teas.  Longjing, better known by its English name, Dragonwell, is a type of green tea, and pu’erh is an aged green tea that is pressed into discs and stored in caves to develop its characteristic earthy flavor and aroma.  Boyer and Rozell learned how to pick, process, and brew these teas, tasted food made with tea, and met the people who have cultivated and processed these teas for generations.

The one-hour long documentary will broadcast at 9 p.m. on Channel 200 in the South Bay, and PBS’s KRCB 22 in Sonoma County on Tuesday, May 7, and at 2 p.m. on KQED World on Saturday, May 11.  Keep your eyes on this blog for the results of a personal interview with Tori Boyert about her experiences!

Copyright 2013, Elizabeth Urbach

Like what you read?  Leave a comment below, click on “Subscribe” above, visit the San Jose Tea Examiner page on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter @SanJoseTea or Pinterest!

For more information:
“Tea Lands of China” documentary web page
“Tea Lands of China” on the KQED website
"Tea Lands of China" trailer on YouTube
“San Jose’s newest tea shop: Satori Tea Bar”

_Downton Abbey_, Season 3!

original ca. 1915 cotton dress
from my collection

Who's excited that Downton Abbey is being shown again?  ME!  I'll probably have to see it online like last season because not everyone in my household is a fan, and the television was often busy on Sunday evenings with non-Downton programming ... but I'll be at a friend's house this Sunday for a Downton marathon and tea, where we'll review Season 2 and then watch the first episode of Season 3 together, all while drinking tea and enjoying cake and a variety of tea savories.  So very civilized.  Apparently there will be some heart-wrenching scenes in this season, so I might have to get out one of my vintage lace-trimmed hankies ... 

Downton Abbey is back for Season 2!

Downton Abbey cast photo.  Photo: Carnival Films.

If you'd like to watch the Christmas Special, click here.

It's on KQED for the next 6 or 7 weeks; the schedule is here.

Lots of costume fun!