Lots of choices.
At the end of a cold windy day of shopping today, Michelle, Joey, Freyja and I, stopped in at Vital T-Leaf, on First Avenue.
I figured we’d grab some tea, maybe sniff a couple in the jars and take off.
Instead, a lovely, friendly woman named Tikka beckoned us inside, told us to sit down at the long table, and placed tiny cups on rectangle saucers in front of us. She poured tea and we all sipped, asked questions and chatted while an hour slipped by. She told us about life in Taiwan and China, about the flavors of the tea, how they are made, and how each tea benefits health.
“Lavender can take away headaches,” she says.
“You are getting a cold, aren’t you? Drink this,” she commands Michelle.
“This is the best tea for iced tea. I always keep a big pot in the summer. No calories, you don’t add sugar, your friends can come drink it all day.”
We left warmed and happy, refreshed after a hectic day downtown. And I walked away as a brand new tea lover.
Art tea, or flowering tea looks as beautiful as it tastes when steaped.
Black Lychee tea has been aged 10 years and is good for the stomach after a large meal.
I'll never go back to tea bags.
MIchelle and Joey drink it all in.
Siberian Rose Tea freshens the breath, Tikka says.
Freyja missed out on the tea, but made a new friend.
are those chrysanthemums in the 4th picture? we used to get chrysanthemum tea (with lots of honey in it) when we were sick — was comforting.
If I get a chance to come visit you we “must” visit this place – sounds wonderful
What a great outing!
So…. did anyone buy some tea? What kind?
One of the best parts of Taiwan was the tea houses – one I went to was on top of a mountain and you had to take a gondola to get to it, but the tea was worth it! Some of it was more like fruit juice than traditional tea, kind of weird but amazing!
How fitting that I as I read this blog,I have a cup of tea in hand.
I’m starting to like tea more and more, but Taite and Madison, man, they drink the stuff like there is no tomorrow!
Every time I see a picture of Freyja I miss her more and more. I think I’m getting a cold, maybe I should pop in to visit and get some remedy from Tikka…
I’m so mad I didn’t get any Black Lychee tea– it was so sweet and amazing! I’ll go back soon and take Zac with me. Michelle got the Siberian Rose tea.
Yes, Grandma and Jarret, come see me soon and we’ll go there! And to the chocolate factory in town!
Zedek, you would know better than me- I don’t know what kind of tea that was sitting on the counter- i just snapped a shot because it was so pretty.
The Siberian Rose Tea is amazing! Plus, you can reuse the same tea several times. You could literally spend hours in this store… definitely worth visiting! Try the Monkey Pick Oolong, too.
Jealous…absolutely jealous