Tea, glorious tea
Whilst heading back to Seattle from Bellingham this weekend, I discovered this little gem inside of a Marysville coffee shop (yes, the evil “S” word). I had a cup of vanilla rooibos that was a little on the sweet side, with a hint of cinnamon and my other half had the silver tip which, in my snobby tea opinion, was “spot on” (say it with an upper-crust English accent, you know you want to)! Do you think full leaf tea would be a good addition to our local chain? Would you sit down for a cuppa?
Hmm…I bet this product explains why there was a huge Tazo Tea tent being set up this morning downtown at Westlake Center. If they’re going to serve tea anyway, loose (or full, as they call it apparently) is better than the other stuff!
I don’t think we know how to properly enjoy tea here. For American’s our beverages seem to need to do something to us to make us more active. Tea is meant to make you sit and think. The complexity of full leaf tea is meant to invoke different memories and emotions while you sit and enjoy it. Man I wish I could find some good tea around that actually does that. We have only an inkling of what really good tea should taste like and do.
tonyb, that’s a good point. I do think with new places like Miro Tea and Remedy Teas, that there’s a gradual shift happening. Granted they’re a little trendy, but the atmosphere and tea varieties offered seem to foster that "sit and enjoy" experience you mentioned.
I’m no expert on tea, although I am English and therefore allowed to stand on my soapbox but the full leaf teas I have experienced are a such much better abroad than here. I think Tazo (and when I first tried Tazo I hated it) has done an excellent job with these full leaf offerings.
blah blah wining blah. you want amazing tea that is as taiwan good as anywhee on the planet, look around and oh, whats that…is that TEACUP on Queen Anne? Brett at Teacup knows as much as any human on the planet that lives in seattle about tea. the whole staff thers is amazing. he actually flies to taiwan / china regularly and like..hangs out on tea mountains, gets the "goods" and brings it back here. check it out.
Oooh…adding Teacup to my list. Sounds like one more reason tea in Seattle doesn’t really suck?