Author
Tess founded YourChoiceSip after switching from coffee to tea and falling straight down the Chinese tea rabbit hole. Since earning her tea certificates along the way, she's a firm believer that a genuinely good cup doesn't need fancy gear — just water at the right temperature and a little patience. She keeps testing teas from every corner of China to prove it.
What Tess does away from the tea table:
When she's not brewing, Tess is playing with her cow cat — who has strong opinions about teacups left unattended — traveling with friends, or hiking up a mountain whenever the weather behaves. The best trails are the ones near a tea farm, in her opinion.
Tess says…
"Starting this tea journal is one of the best decisions I've ever made. I love sharing the detours and small wins with readers — because you can't buy happiness, but you can buy good tea, and that's kind of the same thing."
Published Work
Tea has caffeine, but it doesn't hit like coffee. Learn which teas keep you up, when to stop drinking, and how to enjoy your evening cup without wrecking your sleep.
That used tea bag in your hand — can it give you one more decent cup? The honest answer depends on what's inside it.
Green tea and matcha come from the same plant but taste, brew, and hit completely differently. See which one fits your morning, your budget, and your goals.
Not every tea deserves milk. Learn which teas are built for creaminess and which ones milk will completely ruin.
Matcha and sencha are both Japanese green teas, but they feel completely different in the cup. Here's the honest comparison to help you pick.
Your green tea tastes bitter and grassy? The fix is embarrassingly simple. Learn the water temperature, steep time, and gear that make it smooth and sweet.
Your chamomile tea tastes like bitter grass water? Here are the brewing fixes, natural sweeteners, and flavor tricks that actually work.
Trying to choose between matcha and yerba mate? Compare their caffeine, taste, energy effects, and brewing methods, and find out which drink fits your lifestyle.
Chamomile and white tea get lumped together, but they're completely different drinks. Here's the honest comparison — flavor, caffeine, benefits, and when to drink each.
First flush isn't weak -- it's spring in a cup. Learn what first flush tea really means, how to brew it, and why it's worth the price.
You don't need forty gadgets to make great tea. Here's the honest breakdown of essentials, upgrades, and things you can skip entirely.
Porcelain and clay teaware shape every cup differently. Learn which material suits your tea type, budget, and brewing style.
Up to 90% of online 'Yixing' teapots are fake. Learn the visual clues, physical tests, and red flags that protect your investment.
Discover the ancient art of gongfu cha. Learn the essential equipment, master the step-by-step brewing process, and unlock flavors you never knew existed.
Learn how to create a meaningful tea ritual in just 5 minutes. Practical steps for busy professionals seeking stress relief and mindfulness through tea.
Which teapot material actually makes your tea taste better? We break down ceramic, glass, and cast iron so you can choose with confidence.
Your teapot isn't just a brewing vessel. Discover the ancient symbols, cultural significance, and spiritual meaning behind Chinese teapots.
Most tea lovers are unknowingly sabotaging their perfect cup. Discover the five biggest brewing mistakes and how to fix them for café-quality tea every time.
Glass teapots let you watch the magic happen. Discover the types, benefits, and what to look for when choosing your next teapot.
I wasted expensive tea for months making these beginner mistakes. Learn the right water temperature, steeping times, and storage tips that actually work.
Choosing your first gaiwan doesn't have to be overwhelming. Here's exactly what to look for -- size, material, and features that matter.
Different varieties need different quality criteria. Learn to demand specificity, check cultivars, verify origin, and read the leaves so you never waste money on bad tea again.
Never brewed tea before? This simple roadmap takes you from picking your first tea to brewing it without messing it up.
I was a four-cup-a-day coffee addict. The jitters, anxiety, and crashes forced me to switch. Here's what happened -- and why I never went back.
The Chinese teapot market is flooded with counterfeits. Discover the trusted brands that serious tea enthusiasts rely on for authentic craftsmanship.
The right teapot transforms your tea. Discover every type of teapot — from Yixing clay to porcelain — and find your perfect match.
Why does Yunnan tea taste so different? Discover what makes regional teas unique—from ancient trees to terroir. Your complete guide to tea origins.
Your tea is probably fine. The brewing settings did. Learn the 3-step fix that makes your next cup smoother, sweeter, and way more balanced.
The gaiwan transforms tea from a beverage into an experience. Discover how this simple 600-year-old vessel reveals flavors your teapot can't.
Master the essential techniques for seasoning, daily maintenance, and troubleshooting your Yixing teapot so it enhances every brew for decades.
You don't need a yixing pot or a gongfu table. Here's how to brew a genuinely good cup of Chinese tea with whatever you already have in your kitchen.
A practical guide to choosing your first real teaware -- what actually matters, what's just marketing, and how to build a setup that grows with you.
Green tea and black tea come from the same plant. Here is the real difference, how each one tastes, which has more caffeine, and how to brew them right.
Tea fading faster than you'd like? The fix is simpler than you think. Learn the 5 enemies of fresh tea and the storage setup that actually works.
Oolong vs black tea — what's the real difference? Oxidation, flavor, caffeine, and which one you'll actually enjoy drinking, explained simply.
Wondering what a tea salon actually is? How it differs from a tea house, what happens inside, and whether it's worth visiting — explained simply.
A tea pet doesn't make your tea taste better. So why do people keep one? Here is what they actually do, what they are made of, and whether you need one.