Locally?
My local (Within 2 miles) coffee house serves Zenyas(sp?) Gypsy teas which aren't half bad for flavored teas.
A little further off my beaten track is Goldfish teas http://www.goldfishtea.com/ over in Royal Oak They have some very nice traditional Chinese teas in a very pleasant setting. All tea is served in appropriate teaware, on gongfu tea trays with a timer so you can pour into the sharing pitcher at the right time. Hot water refills at appropriate temperatures are conveniently provided at a sidebar to the main counter so you can brew your leaves as often as you'd like.
Prices for buying take-home teas are a little on the high end, compared to internet vendors (At least for Puerh mini tuocha, which is the only tea I have compared) but great for dropping in and having a quiet pot of tea.
For buying loose tea (Not coffeehouse style set-up.) we have Teavana, Whole foods, Trader Joes and a few little Oriental markets that have passable 'everyday' tea.
Sep 14th, '08, 10:33
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I live in Atlanta, GA, which as Mary informed me is the home of Teavana. So I voted definitely not.
Tea Nerd - www.teanerd.com
I actually have one good tea shop locally, about a 20 to 30 minute drive depending on road construction. It is called Roji Tea Lounge and is run by a very nice Japanese lady who definitely knows her tea. I was thoroughly impressed the two times I have visited the shop. She has a nice collection of small teapots, including kyusus, yixing, English-style, and a few gaiwans. All teas are timed and the right temperature of water is used for brewing. The thing I really liked was that the teas were all stored in tins and not the large glass jars that I keep seeing in other tea shops. Roji also serves organic baked goods and tea cookies made with the tea leaves.
I visited two tea rooms yesterday while we were in Ottawa and I wasn't really impressed with either. Both seemed to specialize in flavored black teas and stored the teas in glass jars. The selection of greens and oolongs was incredibly lacking. The rest of Ottawa was fun at least.
No tea yet this morning. I still haven't figured out what I want to have.
I visited two tea rooms yesterday while we were in Ottawa and I wasn't really impressed with either. Both seemed to specialize in flavored black teas and stored the teas in glass jars. The selection of greens and oolongs was incredibly lacking. The rest of Ottawa was fun at least.
No tea yet this morning. I still haven't figured out what I want to have.
I don't think so – I live in a Greek/Italian neighborhood and I don't know any shop nearby that sells loose tea. However, I have noticed a brand new Middle Eastern tea room a few blocks away. Have never been in one of those. In any case I prefer to shop online for tea or otherwise.
As for the image: the tea is mango and pineapple flavored green tea.
The figure on the right is from my great grandmother who married a Chinese man and moved to China which in those days I think was pretty brave. It is hollow and has "golden sand" inside blessed by a wise man which supposedly brings a blessing to the family.
As a child I used shake the figure and manage to get a glimpse of "golden sand" which poured out through the tiny hole at the bottom. The idea of the "golden sand" seemed really fascinating.
The cup – a gift from my husband. There are no markings on the cup but it seems pretty old. Some of the ornaments are applied as a think paste.
Going to brew Earl Grey soon.
As for the image: the tea is mango and pineapple flavored green tea.
The figure on the right is from my great grandmother who married a Chinese man and moved to China which in those days I think was pretty brave. It is hollow and has "golden sand" inside blessed by a wise man which supposedly brings a blessing to the family.
As a child I used shake the figure and manage to get a glimpse of "golden sand" which poured out through the tiny hole at the bottom. The idea of the "golden sand" seemed really fascinating.
The cup – a gift from my husband. There are no markings on the cup but it seems pretty old. Some of the ornaments are applied as a think paste.
Going to brew Earl Grey soon.
Second session of o-cha Chiran sencha, this time with a more usual quantity of leaves (around 1g per 30ml) 75s 20s 45s).
The grassy taste is very present. Any other aroma is difficult to notice.
It still needs some adjustments.
The grassy taste is very present. Any other aroma is difficult to notice.
It still needs some adjustments.
Omega, you're not missing much by not having tried Tazo ... it's not that great, IMO. We also keep a supply of Red Rose on hand, so Wal-Mart is our supplier for that also. God bless Sam Walton!One day I need to try Tazo tea just for the fun of it
We have one english-style tea room close by, but she doesn't sell much in loose tea, at least she didn't a few months ago. So, it's online ordering for me like most of the other folks today.
This morning I have a nice, big mug of Adagio's Oolong #40. Yum!
That's pretty funny!scruffmcgruff wrote:I live in Atlanta, GA, which as Mary informed me is the home of Teavana. So I voted definitely not.
Guess what?? Yesterday I forgot about the White Assam I have tucked away,
so I'm having that today.
Yes, I know I have a problem if I have so many teas, I forget what I have.
Anyway it's quite delicious - it's from TeaSource.
Have a nice Sunday everyone!
Sep 14th, '08, 12:08
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I have one, my store, which is just down the street. I buy my dian hong, silver needle, and bai mu dan from their, as well as my kukicha and chai. If I'm ever desperate, I can also get some yancha, TGY, darjeeling, or a few other things. I usually grab my tea when the shipments come in, so I know its fresh.
Sep 14th, '08, 12:10
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Sep 14th, '08, 12:31
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Let's see:
Serenity Art - fantastic, 'nuff said
Fubonn market - asian supermarket where you can find some decent low cost items (I'm told. ABx - do they carry any decent Matcha?)
Uwajimaya - carries seasonal green teas like Shincha, teas from Den's, Ito-En, a vast array of very good iced teas
Tao of Tea - Some teas are mediocre, some are excellent. (Enjoying a Tao of Tea offering this morning.)
Tea Chai Te - An odd little place where you can get just about any chai blend you can think of.
Whole Foods - Actually carries some of Rishi's line-up, in some cases at better prices than Rishi. You can also find decent Matcha, and various offerings of bag tea that have real leaves in the bag.
TeaZone - good fresh teas, some seasonals. Loose leaf is stupidly overpriced (stupidly is even higher than exorbitantly) but they will brew iced tea from their large selection, so WIN!
That's a pretty good showing. I know Seattle has Portland beat in the tea department, but I'm not complaining.
Serenity Art - fantastic, 'nuff said
Fubonn market - asian supermarket where you can find some decent low cost items (I'm told. ABx - do they carry any decent Matcha?)
Uwajimaya - carries seasonal green teas like Shincha, teas from Den's, Ito-En, a vast array of very good iced teas
Tao of Tea - Some teas are mediocre, some are excellent. (Enjoying a Tao of Tea offering this morning.)
Tea Chai Te - An odd little place where you can get just about any chai blend you can think of.
Whole Foods - Actually carries some of Rishi's line-up, in some cases at better prices than Rishi. You can also find decent Matcha, and various offerings of bag tea that have real leaves in the bag.
TeaZone - good fresh teas, some seasonals. Loose leaf is stupidly overpriced (stupidly is even higher than exorbitantly) but they will brew iced tea from their large selection, so WIN!
That's a pretty good showing. I know Seattle has Portland beat in the tea department, but I'm not complaining.
Sep 14th, '08, 12:35
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I love the story, and your picture is beautiful too. I just clicked over to your website... wow, very impressive design.jazz88 wrote: The figure on the right is from my great grandmother who married a Chinese man and moved to China which in those days I think was pretty brave. It is hollow and has "golden sand" inside blessed by a wise man which supposedly brings a blessing to the family.
As a child I used shake the figure and manage to get a glimpse of "golden sand" which poured out through the tiny hole at the bottom. The idea of the "golden sand" seemed really fascinating.
Sep 14th, '08, 12:44
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Besides the local co-op market, I haven't seen loose leaf offered anywhere in town. And seeing as the co-op stores their tea in enormous clear plastic bins, I'd have to give an emphatic 'no.'
Had some Assam Majulighur TGFOP with breakfast. Decent, which is all I ask of my morning black, and especially so given the $4.25/4 oz asking price.
Had some Assam Majulighur TGFOP with breakfast. Decent, which is all I ask of my morning black, and especially so given the $4.25/4 oz asking price.
Sep 14th, '08, 13:35
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