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Aesthetica Tea Studio, 100 Kasson Road, Camillus, NY (2026)

10/06/2026

TUESDAY TEATIME... Welcome to October! Now that it's officially Autumn, I'm drinking less of my favorite white teas (great for summer as they're steeped at lower temperatures)... I'm not necessarily looking to flip completely into the robust flavors of black teas quite yet... so I've been choosing more Pu'er Teas.
There are two types of Pu'er tea, Sheng ('raw') and Shou ('ripe'). Sheng Pu'er teas are allowed to ferment naturally over time to develop their complex, nuanced flavor notes, while Shou Pu'er's fermentation is accelerated thorough controlled 'piling' of the leaves as they oxidize. This process of microbial fermentation produces smooth, mellow brews that have several potential health benefits... aiding digestion, improving cholesterol levels, and supporting a healthy gut microbiome. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Pu'er Teas are useful after heavy, greasy meals.
Today's tea is a "Zun" Qianjiazhai Sheng Pu'er from verdanttea.com ... with gentle notes of neroli, fennel, yuzu and toasted almond, with a juicy cooling profile. "Zun" means "Reverance"...a designation given by the family farms that harvest the young tender buds of ancient (500 to 1000 years old) Qianjiazhai tea trees. "Zun" also reminds us of the deep connection between humans and the living habitat that has existed long before us. For more about this tea, info on tastings at the tea studio , or how to schedule a Gongfu Cha workshop, please get in touch! 秋天快乐 Happy Autumn!

09/13/2026

Join me for a tasting at our new, larger tea table at the ! And as always, our comfy cushion seating area is always ready for a Gongfu Cha ritual session! Keep watching this Autumn for tea tastings and workshop events!

09/08/2026

BACK TO SCHOOL TEA TIME! September is in full bloom... teachers and students alike are back in school mode (or will be tomorrow), and I'm heading back to work after a nice end of summer holiday, I thought today would be a great day to get back into the routine of my (nearly) weekly tea blog. After a beautiful Tuesday in the yard, alternating between gardening and relaxing in a hammock, I decided a nice tea session with a great Oolong would be a perfect end to the afternoon. Today's Tea is a Qi Lan Wuyi Oolong, grown in the Wuyi Mountains in the Fujian province of China. This very popular tea is one of the more delicate Oolongs, with a delicious, smooth texture, low astringency, and distinct flavor note of orchids, stone fruits, and toasted nuts. Qi Lan tea (奇兰, meaning "Rare Orchid"), is less oxidized and more lightly roasted than other Wuyi oolongs, giving it a delicate sweetness with less minerality. Today, I brewed this one a bit cooler, about 200°F, Gongfu style, with a 5 second initial steeping, so as to ensure the delicate flavor notes matched the beautiful, fragrant aroma... and the beautiful golden amber color of the tea itself completes this absolute treat for the senses! And of course, because of how it's both created and brewed, the caffeine profile is calmly moderate,... perfect for an afternoon refresh. Keep watching for tastings and Tea Events at the !

08/25/2026

JOIN IN THE CELEBRATION WITH AESTHETICA TEA STUDIO! Come to the Aesthetica Salon Spa 30th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday August 29, 12pm to 3pm, and tour the Aesthetica Tea Studio! All teaware, teapots, and tea accessories will be 10% off! And... all in-stock Verdant Tea will be BUY ONE GET ONE HALF OFF (equal or lesser value)! Discover how you can schedule a private Gongfu Tea event for your group, or attend a workshop in the Gonfu Cha ritual!

08/22/2026

TEA LOVERS! COME TO THE AESTHETICA SALON SPA 30TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT ON SATURDAY AUGUST 29 12PM TO 3PM AND CHECK OUT INCREDIBLE SALES FROM AESTHETICA TEA STUDIO! All our teaware, teapots, and tea accessories will be 10% off, and all Verdant Tea will be BOGO half off (equal or lesser value)! Limited to in-stock items only!

06/22/2026

Happy First Day of Summer from the ! Its been a bit since I've had a chance to sit for tea and create an update here (too much time tending to the lavender at the Liverpool Lavender Farm ) ... but since this first Summer Day is cool and rainy, it was a great time to relax in the home tea room and enjoy some great tea! During warmer months, I enjoy a lot of white teas... with a more delicate flavor profile than black teas, plus being brewed at lower water temperatures, white teas make a great, refreshing pick me up any time of a nice summer day. Today I'm having a Yue Guang Bia white tea from Verdant Tea... an aged, pressed tea that comes in a mini-cake. This tea is created from a winter harvested Da Bai varietal from Yunnan, that grows semi wild in the region, and takes on the complex minerality and almost fruity herbaceous notes from the environment. This amazing tea is pressed into 4 portion disks, and age incredibly... in Verdant Tea's own words:

"This Yue Guangbai, or moonlight white is has the kind of complexity you’d expect from Sheng pu’er but with the smooth, crisp, floral quality of fine white tea. Notes of jasmine, burdock, nutmeg, orange and marigold."

I brew a piece of this tea for about 25 seconds with 205° water in a gaiwan... and like many pressed teas, I'll do two quick rinses (don't forget to feed your Chá Chong (Tea Pet)). With each successive steeping, the color of the brew deepens, and the lucious savory fruit and floral notes leave a cooling, lingering mouth feel... although I've not yet tried it this would make an incredible iced tea too!

04/20/2026

GONGFU TEA, JUST FOR ME? Or, is it OK to brew Gongfu style tea when it's only for me?
The answer, without any hesitation is absolutely YES! The Gongfu Cha ritual is perfect for creating a few moments of mindful calm for yourself, and allows you to really explore, savor, and enjoy the world of fine teas. The term Gongfu Cha literally translates to "tea with skill"... doing your own ritual when making tea in this way, is really all about mindfulness and intention. In my home tea studio, I just enjoy having some time in a quiet space, being comfortable, with a few things around me that I find beautiful, to enhance the mood even more. You do not need your own tea room at home of course... but I do absolutely encourage people to create their own "tea nook"...it doesn't have to be fancy. Pick a place in your home that isn't a high energy or high traffic area... maybe that unused chair by a window, a little cozy corner of your living room with a bunch of floor pillows , or maybe even that guest room that never gets used anymore. Put a few things there that give you Joy, near whatever comfortable area you choose... add a small table to hold a tea tray, a small plant or a little bud vase, a candle if you like, and maybe an object or spiritual item that gives you a special sense of peace. A small tea tray (cha pan) , a gaiwan or teapot (chahu), a Gong Dao Bei (Fairness Pitcher), a tea cup (cha bei), and maybe a small tea towel (cha jin)...of course, a tea pet (cha chong) is a fun addition to keep you company). I think the best way to keep hot water handy if you're not close to your kettle is to fill an insulated carafe, or that giant travel hot beverage mug that we all have more than one of sitting in our cupboards! When you're making your tea, be present and mindful. Play some relaxing music, if you like. Give the experience of making and drinking the tea one that has your full attention... from counting the seconds to each steeping, to the aroma of the both the leaves and the tea itself, and the flavor the subtle notes you taste and how the tea feels as you drink it. Just enjoy everything about it with mindfulness and intention... and you've created your very own Gongfu Cha ritual... just for YOU! Remember, has a curated collection of all the basics and essentials that you may need to create your own Tea Nook...stop in check out our selection of teaware and accessories as well as our selection of tea from verdanttea.com! And remember, your $20 purchase entitles to your own complimentary, personal Gongfu Cha session with me (by appointment)!

04/14/2026

TUESDAY TEATIME! Today's tea: Bai Mu Dan Wuyi Oolong! This wonderful tea is perfect for a spring afternoon...its gentle roasty, toasty notes are delightfully accented with crisp, bright notes of jasmine, star anise, peony, and pomegranate! This incredible combination is created from Da Bai varietal tea, grown in Wuyishan and typically used for a crisp, floral white tea... but in this case, it's finished as a roasted Oolong, giving it a perfect blend of the deeper flavor typical of a Wuyi Oolong with the aromatic favor notes of a crisp white tea. I brew this tea in one of favorite yixing teapots , with 5g of tea and 205° water , for about 6 seconds, adding another 3 seconds to each successive steep. This tea would also be amazingly delicious as an iced tea!
Ask me about setting up a tasting session for you and your friends, or about joining me for a tea service at the # !

03/31/2026

(RAINY) TUESDAY TEATIME! While I'm waiting for ACTUAL spring to show itself, when I can enjoy having tea out in the gardens in the sunshine, I decided to have one of my favorite floral teas today: Yunnan Golden Jasmine. This wonderful tea is made from Golden Fleece black tea and night blooming Jasmine flowers. Huge buds are picked from Yunnan Da Bai, a varietal normally used for white tea. These buds are allowed to fully oxidize into black tea, but during oxidation and drying, wild jasmine blossoms are scattered among the buds, allowing the natural aroma of the jasmine to absorb over several days into the tea itself. The jasmine flowers have to be changed and renewed six times over six days to get a full aromatic infusion that lasts over many steepings. The old craft of true jasmine scenting is a slow laborious process, but the results are worth it. This tea is as rich and sweet as Golden Fleece and as luscious as Jasmine. I brew this one with 205° water to 5g of tea... and on warm days for something deliciously cool and refreshing, this tea is wonderful iced! Just add 5g tea to 12oz room temp water (I use a mason jar), and refrigerate overnight, then serve over ice! Yunnan Golden Jasmine Tea is in stock at the !

03/17/2026

TUESDAY TEA TIME! Today's tea: (and one of my all time favorites) Da Hong Pao... also known as Big Red Robe! This Oolong tea has been called the "King of the Rock Teas", and is one of the most famous Oolongs, created from tea plants growing in the high elevations of the Wuyi Mountains of China. According to legend, the Emperor at the time was restored to health with a tea brewed from the tea plants growing in this rocky, mountainous area, and in appreciation, ordered that the tea trees be covered with a red robe, the highest symbol of honor and nobility... and so beginning the Big Red Robe name for this Oolong tea. The long, twisted leaves of this Big Red Robe from are roasted in bamboo baskets over smoldering charcoal embers to bring out the rich minerality of the region. The gorgeous deep amber color of this tea gives of a beautiful orchid aroma... and has a flavor with notes of chocolate, caramel, allspice, tangerine, and geranium... with a deep minerality and juicy mouthfeel. I brew this one with 5g of tea with water at about 210° in a clay yixing teapot, for about 5 or 6 seconds, adding 3 seconds for each additional steep. If you'd like to try this tea, or any of the other wonderful Oolong teas at the , let me know!

Aesthetica Tea Studio

10/06/2026

09/13/2026

09/08/2026

08/25/2026

08/22/2026

06/22/2026

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03/31/2026

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