eighty degrees - the culture of tea



Eighty Degrees, a Tea focused periodical based in Portugal, goes well beyond what is somewhat expected from a journal. Tea is the number one beverage consumed in the world (next to water), and eighty degrees offers a well rounded look into that world. From interviews with tea shop owners and photographers, to detailed articles regarding the history of Tea and possible extinction of relatives of the plant, the first issue of eighty degrees is a winner.

I purchased the journal quite some time ago yet didn't begin reading it until this weekend. Wow, better late than never. This 140+ page journal is a good start for someone who wishes to learn more about Tea. In being an owner of a Tea company, I have had many people tell me how they "don't know much about Tea" or they "don't drink it because it's not coffee" or Tea was nothing more than "tepid salad water". After reading the first issue of eighty degrees, I wish I could purchase many copies of this journal and just hand them out to people. Tea has been around for thousands of years and those who work within the industry (like me!) love to share what we have learned about the camellia sinensis. The first issue of eighty degrees is obviously a labour of love - each page offers a rich and colourful look into the world of Tea with no frills, no smoke and mirrors, but all accessible information provided by ordinary people who just love Tea. I especially loved the interview of photographer Michael Freeman and discussion of his book, The Life of Tea (will be buying soon!). Plus, the journal has an excellent article about the kinds of water to use when making Tea. I actually learned this while studying to become a Certified Tea Specialist. Not all water is the same and in using different kinds of water, your Tea will not come out the same!


Like I said before, the first issue is filled with colourful pages just ready to leap out at you. The photos are stunning, the articles engaging, and I found myself wanting Tea even more so than usual. I'm glad that issue two is now available; I'll be purchasing my copy very soon. I had the pleasure of meeting some of the staff of this periodical at the 2019 World Tea Expo and they were a delight.


Much thanks to the people at eighty degrees!



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Lesson Learned - CONTRACT

Image
  It was a day like any other - I had taken a break from work to talk with my boyfriend at the time. I knew he'd been with friends after a job interview. He had plans to return to his home city after being away from it for over ten years. I wanted to hear his voice, and my anxiety wanted to make sure that we were still cool with each other. Imagine my surprise when not only did he say that he was no longer interested in me, but he was telling me, "since so many guys flirt with you, why don't you pursue one of them?" I had told him that I met many men (and women) at sci-fi conventions while selling my books, and of course, many guys flirted with me. However, I wasn't interested in any of them because I was happy with my relationship. I couldn't believe what he was telling me, and twenty minutes later, I returned to work with tears streaming down my face. Years later, I wish I could tell him THANK YOU for what he did. Yes, he was afraid to continue the relations...
Read more

Tea Is A Good Friend of Mine - Celia Carmen Aceae

Image
Here's another great interview - meet Celia Carmen Aceae! What’s your name and what part of the world do you live in? Hi! My name is Celia Carmen Aceae and I live in Montreal, QC, Canada How long have you been drinking tea? What’s the story, morning glory? I’ve been drinking tea since I can remember. In my house, we never drank water and there was no rule against children consuming caffeine at all! I’ve only recently realized that the reason my sister and I were always labeled as crazy, wild and hyper at school, was probably because my mom sent us to class every day with a giant jug of tea. We were constantly caffeinated! Tea also means more than just Camellia sinensis for me. I’ve been reading about medicinal herbs since I was eight. My mother forbade all forms of medication in our household, so I learned at a young age how to cure small ailments with plants and tisanes. My sister was very prone to headaches and anytime she started to get one, I would hop on my ...
Read more

Tea Is a Good Friend of Mine - Freya Radlein

Image
I am so happy that I have a third Tea Person to share with you:  Freya Radlein ! What’s your name and what part of the world do you live in? Freya Radlein and I live in Seattle. How long have you been drinking tea? Ever since I was little. Growing up in England tea was part of culture. We'd stop at 11 (we called it elevensies) and have a drink and a biscuit or a snack. It was black with milk, also known as "builder's tea" although technically, it should have two sugars as well. As I got older I added the herbals in, chamomile, straight red and green rooibos. Do you currently work in the Tea industry and if so, what do you do? I have a tea business selling both tea and designing personalized tea event favors. Why do you enjoy drinking Tea?   How does Tea make you feel? For me tea is a lifestyle. It's an intricate part of my day which brings me joy and mental relaxation even if I'm drinking it busy doing things. It's a conne...
Read more