nokcha - ranguin

Nokcha - Tea

Tea Emporium, Fine Korean Pottery and Handmade Jewellery

Located in the heart of Bloor West Village - midway between Runneymede & Jane subway stations - we carry a broad selection of fine loose-leaf teas from major tea-growing regions of the world, along with teaware, exquisite porcelains, lacquerware and other handcrafted items mainly from Korea and Japan.

Tea is served ( take-out too) and sold on the premises.
Cold beverages, including home-made Mango Lassi, ice cream, assorted snacks,juices and bottled water are also available.

Seating is limited, but we try to compensate for what we lack in space by offering a quiet spot to relax, read or even discuss matters of current interest, should you be so inclined!

Did you know that in China, Tea Houses were once banned by Mao Dze Dung? Presumably, the authorities considered such places hotbeds frequented by counter-revolutionaries.
Rest assured, Nokcha has no such aspirations, but free-speech or a civil exchange of ideas no matter how controversial, will not be discouraged.

Facts

Teas of all kinds - black, green, oolong and white - come from the same plant - Camellia Sinensis . Geographical factors in tea-growing regions of the world - such as altitude, rainfall, soil and temperature, along with processing techniques - where the leaves are essentially dried before being packed for shipment - all contribute to their taste and quality..

The special care given to the plucked leaves during processing, brings out the natural subtleties of flavor and quality that defines their pedigree. Every growing season brings to the crop, conditions that create a unique leaf and taste. So every harvest offers a new experience: To veteran tea-tasters, subtle differences enable them to identify not only the type, grade and garden, but also the vintage from a mere sip of the brew!

In processing green tea, the leaves are heated soon after picking, to deter oxidation. This preserves the nutrients and sustains high levels of antioxidants. Black teas undergo longer stages of oxidation. Traditionally, this category has been the most popular internationally, but with growing interest in healthy lifestyles, green teas are emerging as a prefered drink. Consumption of green teas has grown and spread far beyond the Orient. Extensive research into the attributes of green tea, is now proving the therapeutic benefits, familiar to practitioners of Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine and others for several centuries.

Black Teas are frequently marketed as blends of two or more varieties, selected by merchants to achieve a particular flavour. Estate teas however originate from a specific variety - similar in concept to single-malt whiskeys - and are customarily named after the plantations where they are grown. British Tea Planters in India developed a method of grading teas based principally on leaf size. They range from Flowery Orange Pekoe (FOP), Broken OP, OP and Fannings - which usually end up in tea bags. Tippy Golden FOPs include top shoots of the plant, where the flavour is found to be more concentrated. First Flush and moreso Second Flush harvests are highly prized for their superior taste, and are sought after by connoisseurs of good tea.

The Chinese, who pioneered the art of cultivating tea in its many forms, discovered the beneficial effects of this beverage.

It was drunk almost exclusively by the elite - and monks. Tea eventually became very popular among traders and explorers, and consequently a valuable export commodity. When the British discovered the tea plant flourishing in the wild in North East India, they were quick to establish plantations and later a thriving business, courtesy of the famed East India Company.

Other countries having the right geographic and climatic conditions, such as Japan, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Malaysia and others, .were also able to raise their own varieties of tea, and supply the international market. Today, India and China remain the dominant exporters of tea. But the country that holds the record for the highest consumption per capita, is Ireland.