My friend Kevin Rose is crazy about tea and was the first to introduce me to my favorite tea spot in San Francisco, Samovar Tea Lounge. We sat down with Jesse, the owner, and he laid out a huge spread of all the different types of teas. We tasted white, green, black, pu-erh (I did not know what it was then…), herbals, and oolong. It was fascinating. I learned what made them different (answer in the video!), about brewing times, freshness, and that many store bought teas are sprayed with flavoring – gross, right?

It hit me then that while I knew a good bit about food, I knew very little about tea. The more I talk to people about great tea, the more I realize that there are plenty of passionate food people who know little about what tea is, how to find the good stuff, and how to brew it.
I sat down with Jesse last week and captured some of his tea expertise on video so you can be in the know too. This week, check out our three part series all about tea. Part one answers the questions, “What the heck is tea anyway?” and “What makes a green tea different from a black tea?”

PS – Be kind! It’s my first time on camera. Thankfully Jesse can make anyone look good, he’s a pro.