Tea Time

by Tim Yu

I recently visited Zhejiang Province in China, home to the Dragon Well Tea, which has long been ranked first for Chinese teas in successive appraisals for its mild fragrance, clear brew and nutty, smooth taste. The highest grade harvests of its yellowish-green spears are hard to attain, even in China.

Inspired by this superlative tea-drinking experience, we found some first-rate tea products to help infuse a perfect cup. The following are some of our favorites and good ones to add to your mental Mother's Day list.

Thanks to Adagio, we also have the latest model of the TriniTea (pictured right, description below) to give away to one lucky Cool Hunting reader. We'll chose a winner at random from the entries. To enter, follow the contact link at the bottom of the page, fill out the form and select "TriniTea Giveaway" from the pull-down menu. All entries must be in by Monday, 16 April 2007, 11:59pm EST.

Simplifying morning routines and the preparation of loose tea, TriniTEA is an electric tea maker that works like a coffee maker. Heated water in the upper chamber steeps with tea leaves in the center cylinder and then drips into a pot to keep warm throughout the day. Variable timer and temperature controls lets you adjust the strength of the infusion, ensuring a cup of tea to your liking. Available for $99 from Adagio.

This Tea Infuser by Tovolo (above left) features an angled base making it easy to use and set down, while also serving as a receptacle for drips—an often overlooked detail. Made of heat resistant polycarbonate with stainless steel accents and basket, it holds enough loose tea to brew a generous strong cup. It comes in red, green and purple and is available for $10 here.

The Teaposy Light My Life Warmer (above right) is an artful way to keep your tea warm. Handmade of heat resistant borosilicate glassware, it contains 20% recycled material. Made to use with other Teaposy products, you simply set the pot on the glass base over the flame of a candle to keep your tea from becoming cold. Purchase it for $16 here.

A clever German design, this Tea Stick Infuser is a must-have for tea lovers with a minimalist flair. To use, simply pull out the canister, fill with loose tea and swirl in a cup of hot water. Fumble proof and made of stainless steel, it's one of the easiest, quickest and sleekest ways to make a single serving—a great example of elegant design. Made by Floz, it's available for $20 from the MoMA Store.

The Filio Teapot (above left), by Mono Tabletop, is sleek and modern in design and suspends the tea above the tabletop in its pot. Made of glass, brewing tea in the open stainless steel mesh infuser allows the leaves to unfold for fuller flavor. It holds 20 ounces of liquid and though steep at $116, it's the preferred method of tea afficionados. Get it from Mighty Leaf.

The Treleela Charm (above right) is a crisp, good tea but the real innovation are the pochettes designed so that each acts as an individual infuser. Made to replicate the experience of a traditional brew, the tea bag opens along a seam in the top and wings attach to the brim of the mug allowing the tea more circulation while it brews. All of Treleela's teas come directly from their farms and are 100% organic. Different varieties are available exclusively at Hello Delicious for $10.

Iosselliani Silver Snake Bracelet

by Ami Kealoha

Master of the opulent, mystical, and baroque, Roman jewelry line Iosselliani follows a cultural legacy of defining beauty with the tastefully over-the-top. Established in 1997 by Paolo Giacomelli and Roberta Paolucci, the revered label melds traditional metals and gems, often layering one delicate strand upon another until an ornate piece forms an unexpected look that's misshapen, refined, and altogether enchanting. Representing one of the quieter trends of late, the silver snake bracelet reveals the impact of one key accessory on an everyday look.

Composed of scaly, intertwined silver chains held together by four silver loops, the robust but finely detailed bracelet begs for closer inspection. Bejeweled serpent heads, glittering with semi-precious stones, hang from the sides, each one unique. Wrap it around your wrist and you'll see that with all the dangling and coiling, this is a bracelet that doesn't need any additional charms.

by Loryn Hatch

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Pierre Vanni

by Leonora Oppenheim

Pierre Vanni does amazing things with paper. A 23 year-old graphic designer based in Toulouse, the paper sculptures pictured above were created for an exhibition held in Toulouse in December 2006 by the creative blog Many Stuff. Apart from these beautiful geometric landscapes, we also love Vanni’s poetic work for the musician Ghostape. (Pictured above right. Click images for detail.)

The Filter

by Tim Yu

Joining the family of iTunes plug-ins, The Filter is a free program that works like your own personal DJ by automatically creating playlists from your library and syncing them to your iPod with just a few clicks.

Selecting a few songs directs the program to analyze your picks, scan your library and generate a mood-matching mix. The time-saver will even compile data on your musical tastes to recommend new music it thinks you might like.

I've only been using Filter for a short while but find it perfect for the gym as well as bedtime mixes and has also uncovered old music that I forgot about. Available for Mac, Windows and select Nokia mp3-enabled phones, it is available for download here.

Also on Cool Hunting: iConcertCal, Coverflow Icon, Coverflow

Start Here Notebooks

by Tim Yu

For those who are the multiple notebook type, the Start Here line of notebooks connect together by sliding and linking covers, increasing organization and functionality. Designed by Little Fury, they're refreshingly simple and practical with a clean design that inspires users to fill them with their own ideas and art.

The white covers are 100% recyclable and made of synthetic paper, which is stain and tear resistant and waterproof, keeping your schedule, diary or doodles clean and protected. Each page in the lined notebooks features a title line and perfectly spaced lines in a 5"x7" format. Small perforated corners on the planner enable an easy way to mark days, while open boxed calendars create an elegant aesthetic. The Three-Level Notebook is a stacked combination of plain, grid, and lined pages, using soy based inks (like all Start Here notebooks). Pages open flat, facilitating use and all the notebooks come in different colors for mixing and matching. Self-adhesive pockets and color tabs can be added for further functionality.

Offering simple aesthetics with purpose, the range of notebooks and accessories are available exclusively at Start Here.