With the end of August comes the conclusion of the first anniversary of Satoricha.com. This past year has been an exciting journey filled with learning experiences. Since its humble beginnings, Satoricha has grown and evolved, providing valuable and entertaining content to a community that has shown increasing interest in the world of tea, infusions, and hospitality. The last year has been filled with challenges, but also with significant achievements that have established Satoricha as a reference point for those looking to deepen their understanding of these topics.
In just one year, many milestones have been reached: enriching sections that cover everything from the chemistry of flavor to stories inspired by tea culture; special guests who have shared their knowledge and experiences; and numerous "Tea Wisdoms," bite-sized pieces of knowledge that have guided the community through the vast world of infusions. Moreover, the delightful adventures of the kittens have added a touch of fun and entertainment that has undoubtedly captured the hearts of many. The list of reasons to be grateful is endless, and none of this would have been possible without the incredible community that has formed around Satoricha.
As September arrives—a month of celebration for many Spanish-speaking countries—Satoricha continues to move forward stronger than ever. Although we have accomplished much in this first year, we are far from complacent. From our earliest steps, our goal has been clear: to provide quality content, inspire learning, and foster curiosity. As Satoricha continues to grow, our mission remains steadfast. We aim to be a beacon for those who wish to learn more about tea, infusions, and how these elements intertwine with hospitality and everyday life.
However, before delving into intermediate and advanced knowledge, it’s important to remember the fundamentals. There’s often a misconception that the basics are left behind as more knowledge is acquired, but the reality is quite the opposite. The fundamentals are essential, especially in something as complex as tea. What we really do is strengthen that foundational knowledge and make it increasingly robust. It’s like building a house: the foundation is the base of everything. Without it, any structure we build on top will be unstable. At Satoricha, we believe it’s crucial to continually reinforce those foundations, as they allow us to grow in a solid and secure manner.
“Hey, kiddo, make me a chamomile tea!”
This is a phrase commonly heard in many Spanish-speaking countries. Depending on the region, the words may vary, but the essence remains the same. In many places, it’s common for any herbal or fruit infusion to be referred to as “tea.” While this practice has been adopted by various cultures over time, it’s important to understand that technically, not all infusions are tea. This isn’t about being the “bad guy” or correcting others, but rather about acquiring the knowledge necessary to make informed distinctions. At the end of the day, we are all responsible for what we consume and how it may positively or negatively impact our bodies.
So, the key questions are:
When is it “tea” and when is it not?
Although this may seem like a complicated question, the answer is simpler than it appears. To distinguish between tea and other infusions, it’s essential to understand the components of the beverage. If it contains only fruits or herbs, we’re talking about an infusion, not tea.
The Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) defines “infusion” as a beverage obtained from various fruits or aromatic herbs, such as tea, coffee, chamomile, etc., by introducing them into boiling water, and as the action of extracting soluble parts from organic substances in water at a temperature higher than the ambient temperature but lower than boiling water. While this definition includes both chamomile and tea, it can cause confusion since proper tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant, whereas infusions can be made from a variety of ingredients that do not necessarily come from this plant.
Is it incorrect to say that tea is an infusion?
Actually, no. It’s accurate to say that tea is an infusion, as it’s made by steeping the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant in hot water. However, to avoid confusion, it’s better to refer to beverages that do not contain tea leaves as "tisanes." The RAE defines “tisana” as a medicinal drink resulting from lightly boiling one or more herbs and other ingredients in water. Therefore, when discussing fruit or herbal infusions, it’s more precise to use the term "tisana (tisane)" to differentiate them from tea.
Why should this distinction matter to you?
Understanding the difference between tea and infusion helps you make more informed decisions. For instance, if you have a high sensitivity to caffeine and avoid it after a certain time, it’s important to know that tea contains caffeine, while fruit or herbal tisanes do not. This way, when you’re looking for a drink to relax before bed, you’ll know that a tisane is a better choice than tea.
Where is my tea?
Now, let’s talk about tea itself. As mentioned earlier, tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. There are different varieties of this plant, but the two most common in tea production are Camellia sinensis var. sinensis (originating from China) and Camellia sinensis var. assamica (originating from Assam, India). Both varieties contain caffeine, so any infusion made with these leaves should be called “tea.”
However, like any rule, there are exceptions. There are other plants that, while not belonging to the Camellia sinensis family, produce infusions containing caffeine and can also be called tea. These include yerba mate, guayusa, and guarana, all of which have high levels of caffeine.
So, how can you tell when a beverage is tea and when it is not?
Here’s a quick guide to help you make this distinction:
This new Questions and Answers section at Satoricha aims to provide you with the basic knowledge that should be the foundation of your learning in the world of tea and related topics. As constantly evolving beings, we often encounter misinformation or incomplete information, which can lead to controversies. At Satoricha, we believe it’s our responsibility to question everything, apply critical thinking, and remain open to learning. However, we understand that accessing quality information is not always easy, which is why our mission is to make knowledge about tea and infusions accessible to everyone.
That’s why this quarter’s phrase at Satoricha is a quote from the developer of the video game Ultrakill: “Culture should not exist only for those who can afford it.” With this idea in mind, we begin our second year with renewed energy, motivated by our T.E.A. methodology to continue providing valuable content to our community.
If there’s any topic related to tea, infusions, or hospitality that you would like to learn about this year, let us know. We will do our best to provide the content you seek, even if it takes us a whole year to gather the information or find the perfect special guest to address the topic.
With that said, we wish you a great start to the month, or even better, an excellent beginning of the year with Satoricha.
Until next time!
Satoricha ~
Psst…
Have you ever been told or heard that white tea doesn't contain caffeine? Sorry, but that’s not accurate. White tea does contain caffeine, albeit in smaller amounts compared to other varieties. There has only been one caffeine-free variety of white tea, but that’s not the case for the vast majority available on the market.
References
ERKENS. (2022). Tea: Wine's Sober Sibling Hb: Tea. Lannoo N. V., Uitgeverij.
RAE. (n.d.). infusión | Definición | Diccionario de la lengua española | RAE - ASALE. Diccionario de la lengua española. Retrieved September 1, 2024, from https://dle.rae.es/infusi%C3%B3n
RAE. (n.d.). infusión | Definición | Diccionario de la lengua española | RAE - ASALE. Diccionario de la lengua española. Retrieved September 1, 2024, from https://dle.rae.es/infusi%C3%B3n