Indie Mart, Thee Parkside, 17th & Wisconsin in Portrero Hill

Come one, come all and experience a little tea safari T-We Tea style at Thee Parkside in celebration of the 4th birthday for Indie Mart.  The Madame of Morocco will make a cameo as well as a surprise limited engagement appearance by our very own Dolores Day.  Come taste the joys of life (tea) and party in celebration of DIY’ers and art and each other!

Stop by also for a chance to make your own tea blend to take home, or leave it to the pros and purchase some great T-We Tea takeaways!

Ta Ta For Now, Tea Lovers!

Tea Cupping Set and Airpots

Given the incredible SF Weather the past couple of weeks, I took my ritual tea cupping time to the great outdoors.  This project was all about finding inspiration for the next great addition to the T-We Tea lineup.  I, a Virgo, find my peace and harmony surrounded in greenery and vast expanses so what better place than the picturesque Golden Gate Park.  I packed up my little Echo with a gym bag of vendor tea samples, cupping sets in their perfect containers, and an airport of just boiled water.  Little did I know what kind of journey this would bring…

My first choice of location was the Chinese Pavilion located on Stow Lake.  I was just there a few days prior visiting with a friend, and the serene water and pure beauty of the pavilion is the idyllic spot to revel in tea.  I parked my car and begin my journey of schlepping tea things (story of my life) to the bridge to cross onto the island where the pavilion is located.  To my suprise, a construction truck met me at the bridge crossing with a sign translating “None Shall Pass.”   Me being an outstanding citizen with a high morale code decided not to rent the paddle boat to cross onto the forbidden island and taste tea.  I moved on…

Cupping Keemuns. One on the right was the best!

Next stop, I found the most spectacular glen equipped with vast picnic areas with benches, grills, and what other material may be required to host a party equipped with a moonjump.  The expanse of this valley was stunning, and the countless tables guaranteed that I wouldn’t be bothered by another soul.  Here, I setup shop and began my ellarborate OCD procedure for tasting teas.  I dove into a battle of 3 Keemuns all vying for my love and final sales order.  I was in my element.  Inspired by the alluring smokey aromas, I was on journaling away in this serene and peaceful environment UNTIL a band of 8-10 rogue hipsters decided their ideal ‘Snoop Dog Themed Picnic’ location was located 10 feet from my table.  WTF!  Out of the 100 empty tables presenting them self to the hipsters, how come they need to cluster next to the guy with some wacky airpot and little porcelain sets.  When one shouted, “What we drinking?” to the response of “PBR” (seriously, it doesn’t get more cliche than this), I knew it was time for me to admit defeat and pack up and move onwards.  Ohh hipsters…

Last stop was a small expanse of grass where I just setup shop on the ground in a little dirt patch.  Here, I was able to get two more cuppings finished looking at Indian Black Teas and then a round of Chinese Greens and Oolongs.  At this point, the game of homeless man frisbee that I was volunteered as the center of the throwing field did not sway me in my spot and I stood my ground to finish the damn tea cuppings.

Moral of the story, next time I think I will just open my window from my apartment.

Tea Cupping the Great Outdoors

From my recent back to back DIY Tea Blending Class (Thanks Daily Candy!) at Workshop, I had the pleasure of meeting a new tea friend Ben, a great food blogger from  the site, Cooking with the Single Guy.  In his review he shares his journey in creating his own signature tea blend.  Artfully done and I am appreciative for his insight.  Check it out!!!

Cooking with the Single Guy – Blog Post – Blending Tea at Workshop SF

Christopher C

Today I taught probably my new favorite class style to teach.  It is DIY TEA BLENDING held @ Workshop SF.  Workshop SF is a nonprofit that teaches people to make stuff, awesome stuff.  A bit bohemian, a lot Rock and Roll, the space in which the class was taught was the perfect setting.  Basically, the amazing pupils learned a little bit about tea (didn’t get to bring my TEA 101 Keynote speech) and then we let the fun begin.  I setup an amazing “buffet” of teas, tisanes, botanicals, herbs, you name it, we got it!  Then, we got our hands dirty and started blending and tasting using our cupping sets.

My students came up with some inventive uses for coriander seeds, raw cocoa nibs, lemongrass, yerba mate, etc and the teas we were mixing today were Keemun, Assam, Bai Mu Dan, Jasmine Pan-fired Green, etc.  We had some awesome spins on a classic chai as well as some herbal infusions that were just all around beautiful.  Great job everyone!

To be in the know of when the next DIY TEA Blending class is happening, subscribe to WorkshopSF’s newsletter (www.workshopsf.org) and sign up for the class immediately cause this round filled up faster than I could publicize!

DIY Tea Blending in the Making

Like Visiting a Salad Bar!

Looks Like Fruity Pebbles!

Let me clue you in on some lessons learned along the way.

• Don’t let the inner perfectionist drive you MAD!
• Quoted print/delivery times never seem to include the 5 “flex” days that printers take for those additional hiccups.
• Always have a Plan B and be willing to go back to Plan A when Plan B falls on its face.  Also, reserve a Plan C.
• Too many paints that we use are toxic (well at least the prettiest colors).
• Referrals are the best sources to good vendors.
• Stay away from Colbalt Blue.
• Inkjet labels melt in a laser printer.
• When in doubt, do it all yourself.
• If DIY approach is taken, employ friends and have a bottle of champagne waiting.

I do not know how many of you venturing into the world of retail packaging, but you never know.  Here are some photos of a tea line in the making.  Enjoy.

Cpher

Painting logos with NON toxic paints

Little teapots drying

Miles of self-made stickers

Frisco Teapot Box in Dolores Park

G’Day Everyone!

This weekend I had quite a lovely Sunday in Dolores Park.  I had the pleasure to serve tea at the Frisco TeaPot’s experiential event on “Place”.  Never ceasing to amaze, TeaPot built an experiential box that looked out onto the cityscape.  It was one of the most glorious November days I have ever experienced with warm air, sunshine, and tea.  I served up some Vietnamese Organic Nam Lahn Black Tea, a Chinese Dark Oolong, and the fabulous Hawaiian Coffee Cherry Tisane (previous blog post).  It was a perfect symphony focusing on place utilizing pure single origin teas.

Check out the friscoteapot.wordpress.com blog to be in the know on where they will pop up next.  Also, “Like” them on Facebook to see what all the fun is about!  TeaPot Facebook

So I adore fresh pasta.  With the help of my hand crank pasta machine (thank you Nelson), I have arrived at the point where I can quickly whip up a fresh batch for dinner.  One night, I was on my craze of adding tea to everything I cook, so I became daring and added Japanese Matcha Powder to my whole wheat flour and egg combination.  It was probably about 1/4 cup of matcha into the mix substituting the flour, of course.  I easily combined the dough according to the online recipes from my dear friend Martha (Stewart).

The most thrilling part of the whole experience was the smell of the noodles when rolling out the dough.  The matcha added this incredible fragrance to the blend.  I rolled the dough into sheets and then hand cut some for pappardelle style noodles and left the others in full sheets.  With the full sheets I made an awesome veggie lasagna of zucchini ribbons, kale, fresh tomato sauce, garlic, ground tofu (for protein), spinach, and parmesan cheese (on top).  The green tea noodles added this sweet vegetal aroma to the entire dish and it was a hit among coworkers.  I have yet again earned another cooking with tea pat on the back.  Hip hip!

I daringly ventured into a new world of truth and beauty by creating a delicious, organic, and vegetarian tea-based soup.  Now I don’t mean to toot my own horn (but of course I do) but this was the first soup of my many lifetime soup creations where the moment after I blended the elixir I said, “Damn, it’s perfect!”  I subscribe to the Eatwell CSA farm delivery box and the bi-weekly deliveries of organic produce always challenge me to venture into new avenues of cooking I previously wouldn’t go.  Check them out here.  Eatwell Farm.  Here’s a simple way you can create it:

Ingredients:  8-10 Large Carrots (peeled and chunky chopped), 1 Medium Yellow Onion (Chopped), 3 Cloves Garlic (Chopped), 4-5 Red Bell Peppers (Deseeded and chopped in chunks), 1 tsp chili flakes, a large pot of brewed White Peony Tea (Bai Mu Dan), one vegetable bouillon cube.

Go for it:  Stove over medium heat: With olive oil saute onions and garlic ’til sizzlely good, add chili flakes for the kick and continue sauteing, throw in carrots and saute another 3 minutes, throw in peppers and go for it for 2 more minutes.  Pour in your pre-brewed White Peony tea (enough to cover all veggies) and add the bouillon cube.  Stir up and heat up to a boil.  Once at a boil, cover and lower temperature to a simmer.  Simmer about 30 minutes.  Throw in some fresh herbs (I chose oregano) and pepper.  Recover and cook about 10 mins.  Breathe in the amazing smells of the white tea symphony.  With a handblender, blend up your concoction.  Taste and fall in love or re-season to your taste then fall passionately in love.

The white tea adds an incredible woodiness to the soup which lingers on the tongue after the ripe flavors of carrot and pepper dissipate.

Get creative and post your renditions in the comments!

The white peony tea used for the brew

Carrots Peppers are a sizzlin'

White Peony Tea Added to Soup

Given light of my interest in the morning ritual, I am intrigued on how this can affect one’s tea or coffee enjoyment.  I hear so many people, in a haze, head straight for the coffee pot which they turn on or has been on an auto-timer through the night.  So many others share they are not functional until they have their morning cup of coffee.  Just the name “morning cup of coffee” speaks to a habit or a ritual.  Is there still pure enjoyment or are we only in pursuit the after affects of a jolted morning?  Is there beauty and gratitude in our morning ritual?

In the morning, I too am on autopilot.  After three or six snooze buttons, I immediately wander to the electric hot water kettle, refilling it with water from my Brita filter.  I turn it on, jump in the shower, then proceed with the post-shower rituals.  Once complete, I return to my kettle and determine my morning selection of loose leaf tea to enjoy.  Here’s where I see a difference and wish to bring this difference into the world.  Though I have preferences on a tea type, I avoid doing the mundane and repeating the tea offering from the day before.  Tea offers me a creative jump start into my day due to the shear multitude of varieties of flavor experience.  One day it will be white tea, the next Keemun, some mornings a smokey Lapsang, others a calming and creative gathering Oolong.  Each experience charges me in a different and unique way, and though all have caffeine, something beautiful arises.

So my challenge for you this morning is to breakup your habit and mindfully live in the moments you are creating.  Willfully choose your morning cuppa, whether it is a single origin tea or coffee.  Celebrate the notes and experiences the consumption creates and mindfully live your day noting and breaking up your habits throughout.

Tea bar entrance

Satori Retail Tea Shop/Tea Bar

Whackadoodle Art at Satori Tea Company

About a week ago I made a long overdue pilgrimage down to San Jose, CA to visit Victoria, Tea Empress and owner of recently opened Satori Tea Company.  Located off of 37 N. San Pedro Street in downtown San Jose, the dramatic entrance is hard to miss.  Immediately upon walking into the shop I was transported from San Jose to Santa Monica Blvd.  The shop is contemporary, colorful, euro pop, with a little bit of rock and roll.

The space is a haven for art and I can see how this place is quickly becoming the retreat for the suburban bohemians and hipsters alike!  Victoria and her team have crafted a delightful and organic tea offering where you can order retail or sit down and enjoy a pot of tea, adorned in fabulous tea ware and expert steeping procedures.  They also have a delightful and reasonable high tea offering.  Weekends are off the hook with celebrations of music and art!

Of course the greatest perk for the establishment is the local tea empress herself, Victoria.  I had the pleasure of spending a few moments with Victoria over a pot of Assam, and she sure knows her tea!  Ask her about her oolong/pu’erh detox going on right now.  For more reviews, see http://www.yelp.com/biz/satori-tea-company-san-jose.

Incredible restored antique chairs at Satori