"The pest resistant properties of marigold are what make it a good companion plant for most crops, including tea. Marigold produces bioactive compounds that are very effective against plant parasitic nematodes that cause root knot and cysts. The presence of marigold, especially due to it's dense growth, supresses weeds that are adverse to tea. It is very shallow rooted, and so it does not compete with the tea roots for nutrients. Also, the biomass generated once the plant has matured is invaluable as organic matter contributed to the soil."

Courtesy of our good friends at Glenburn Estates India

Fresh, green, growth, renewal...just some of the things that come to mind with this beautiful season. The freshness of spring brings new growth, brilliant colors, and a giddiness for life that makes us get up and get outdoors. It also brings new flavor longings to my taste buds!

As the cold moves out and the warm sunshine moves in, I get in the mood for light and bright greens and whites. Taking a white tea such as our Pai Mu Tan and adding a few herbs such as spearmint or lemongrass to it just hits the spot this time of year. Lively floral greens such as our Kyoto Cherry Rose Festival or Jasmine Green with Flowers and blends such as our Blooms that Brighten perfectly compliment the blooms coming out of hiding. Our sale teas during this time of year also tend to reflect the turning of the season.

Spring also signals the beginning of the first flush harvest of the tea crops. Those first baby leaves and buds are carefully picked and gingerly handled to yield some of the best teas you can get your hands on. When brewed, the cup highlights the more softer and subtle flavor notes of the tea leaf, rather than the bolder top notes that often accompany a second or third flush. However, don't let the delicate cup fool you. These first flush teas also contain some of the highest levels of antioxidants of any of the harvests throughout the year, and they can be re-steeped several times throughout the same day without losing complexity or 'oomph'. Amazing!

We tend to agree with our good friends at Glenburn Tea Direct who say "Drink tea in harmony with the seasons". What is your palate craving this spring?