Tea Briefings at the Tea Embassy

Carol’s Tea Blog

Tea Tumbler - BUY NOW

I really like the new Aladdin Travel Mug with a drop-down infuser basket. There are so many things I like about this mug, it’s hard for me to begin. When I first saw it at another store, I was immediately attracted to the friendly green top (also comes in a teal blue) and grabbed it off the shelf to play with it to see if it really worked. The lever on the side of the top drops the infuser basket into the liquid. Just pull the lever back when you’ve finished infusing your tea without ever opening the screw top, and you’re ready to drink.

I’m impressed with the infuser, the finest screen I’ve seen in a travel infuser, even works with Rooibos. The double layered mug is made of BPA-free copolyester plastic and keeps the tea hot for about an hour, then warms down. I’m enjoying steeping tea, then drinking it as iced tea as the day gets hotter. Then resteeping it with fresh water. There is a flip top you open to drink. We tested it and it does not leak at all. I even dropped it at my home and was impressed that I hadn’t created a big mess.

Can you believe it’s even dishwasher safe and microwavable and only costs
$17.99.

If you like to play with things with your hands, you’ll love flipping the
infuser up and down, even when you’re not drinking tea! BUY NOW

If you are both a bargain-hunter and a fan of white tea, today is the day you should drop by Tea Embassy.  The white tea we are sampling today, Pai Mu Tan, is a steal at six bucks an ounce.  If you’re like me, and haven’t quite made the jump to white tea yet, you should know that white tea’s health benefits are numerous, primarily because of its high concentration of antioxidants.  Stop by our 1872 structure in downtown Austin and try a cup for free.

Tippy Assam:  Golden-tipped, smooth Assam blend, brews smoothly weak or strong. Decafs well. At five minutes: full-bodied, brisk and bold.

Pai Mu Tan:  White peony tea from China.

Chocolate Ginger Rooibos:  South African herbal tisane, flavored with chocolate and ginger. A tasty and healthful infusion. 

Iced tea.  It’s a summertime staple.  If you’re looking for a premium quality tea to ice at home, today is your day at Tea Embassy, because the black tea we’re sampling is perfect for that.  I’ve been chilling a lot of teas at home lately, and after tasting Black Currant this morning, I know I have another flavor to steep and then refrigerate at home.  Also, the rooibos blend we’re sampling today would be great chilled, as well.

Black Currant:  Grapy, currant-flavored, full-bodied black tea. Makes a great iced tea as well as a great afternoon hot tea.

Formosa Oolong:  Peachy Oolong. Everyone likes this tea. Nice afternoon tea.

Tropical Sunrise Rooibos:  This flavored Rooibos blends fruity tropical flavors with hints of spicy cinnamon and red pepper. This naturally caffeine free herbal tisane is great hot or iced. The blend contains rooibos, apple bits, orange peels, ginger bits, cinnamon sticks, lemongrass, grated coconuts, red pepper, cardamom, flavoring cornflower blossoms, and red currants.

Most people don’t expect a woman to be blogging about “Men and Tea.” But, the first people to have influenced me the most about tea have been men, including my husband, three sons, step father (who lived to be 100) and my father-in-law. Tea never seemed like a girly thing to me. Just a civilized, special time. During the last 40 years, as I experienced hundreds of “afternoon teas,” in fancy hotels, museums, tea rooms, cafes all over the world, there were always men involved. If they weren’t enjoying the tea with us, they were serving or preparing the tea for us.

Fifty percent of our customers at the Tea Embassy are men. In fact, they usually purchase the most expensive teas. I think more and more men are coming out of the woodwork, openly enjoying their travel mugs of tea or even their teacups.

So during the celebration of Father’s Day, let me suggest that tea is a great gift for fathers. How about a travette teapot, some Tea Embassy tea and the Story of Tea or Tea Lovers Treasury. You could add a gift certificate for Afternoon Tea at the Driskill Hotel as they begin serving again every Friday or take your dad to the Steeping Room at the Domain.  —Carol

Afternoon Tea in Denver

Today’s selection of free sample teas includes an Earl Grey.  Earl Grey is a relatively new tea, it being only about 200 years old.  It was named for an 1830s-era British prime minister, who received a gift of tea flavored with bergamot oil.  If you’re an Earl Grey drinker, come in today and try a cup.  If you’re not an Earl Grey drinker, come in anyway!  We’d love to chat with you over a cup of one of our other two sample teas.

Manhattan Earl Grey:  This floral Earl Grey tea is blended with black tea, bergamot taste, sunflower blossoms, flavoring, and mallow blossoms.

Green Treasures:  Blend of five different Japanese green teas, strawberry bits, and red currants.

Hook ‘Em Horns:  Naturally caffeine free herbal blend of apple bits, hibiscus, rosehips, orange, and lemon peels.

 One of the amazing things about tea is that every culture has its own expression and WAY to prepare and enjoy drinking tea. Whether you are in Morocco, drinking their strong Chinese Gunpowder green tea with fresh mint and heaps of sugar, or in Turkey’s beautiful Istanbul, enjoying some of theirfamous tea in a clear, curved glass as you look out from one continent to the other, each culture has its own expression. This month, we are featuring the Japanese Way of Tea or Chado. Come on June 20 for a special presentation of the ceremony (ticket required) and enjoy the free workshop afterwards on how to prepare Matcha, the Japanese green tea powder. We have a handful of tickets left, so get yours today, BUY NOW. Remember, tea takes time, relax and enjoy! -Jonathan

Not a sophisticated tea drinker?  Me either.  I enjoy all three of the free samples we are offering today at Tea Embassy, and that doesn’t happen very often.  The Palm Court is a premium black tea that I would drink with sweetener.  The Genmaicha has a cereal-y smell and a delicious taste that I don’t always find in a green tea.  Lastly, the Chamomile is sweeter than I thought it’d be, and I thoroughly enjoyed discovering it.  Stop by today and discover these teas for yourself.

Palm Court:  Plaza Hotel Blend—Assam, Keeman, Ceylon and Oolong. Full bodied smooth breakfast tea.

Genmaicha:  Genmaicha used to be a poor man’s tea, since the peasants couldn’t afford to have enough tea for their cup, they added roasted rice. Now popular in Japan, this blend of green tea has roasted rice and popcorn, making a savory infusion. Great with sushi!

Organic Chamomile Flowers:  Chamomile is known for its ability to promote relaxation. Enjoy this organic chamomile especially before bed for it’s relaxing qualities.

Today at Tea Embassy we’re sampling a couple of favorites as well as a new herbal that we have just added to our stockroom.  As always, you can come into our historic structure at 9^th & Rio Grande and sample three of our teas for FREE.

Natela’s Gold:  Handmade in the peak of the spring season, Natela brings this treasured tea to you from the Caucasus Mountains in the country Georgia. This black tea has sweetness with hints of pine and cedar, making it a wonderful tea for afternoon or evening. Enjoy it while supplies last! This tea is similar to the Georgian Beauty tea we also sell, so if you like the Georgian Beauty you’ll also enjoy this one!

Strawberry Cream:  Aromatic green tea blend of organic sencha, Fog tea, Pai Mu Tan, Lung Ching, Genmaicha, strawberry bits, sunflower blossoms and flavoring.

Hydrangea:  This herbal tisane is a new addition to our inventory.  It is so versatile, and has so many uses, you can practically spend the day with this one.  Use #1:  Wake up in the morning, steep and drink it with breakfast.  Use #2:  Get home from work, wrap it around the chicken breast that you’re throwing on the grill.  Use #3:  After dinner, rinse it off, then use it as a facial scrub to remove the day’s toxins from your skin. 

 When I first started learning about tea over ten years ago, I was overwhelmed. Where do I start? I had borrowed my parent’s copy of James Norwood Pratt’s New Tea Lover’s Treasury. I was excited to learn all about tea, but the information seemed out of reach at the time. How do we taste and experience all these teas? Where can we find them? So, my dad and I made a visit to one of the Asian grocery stores in town on a mission to find these legendary teas. We were so pleased to find tins of Ti Kwan Yin (Iron Goddess of Mercy) oolong and Lung Jing (Dragon Well) green tea, and yet, we had no idea what we were doing or what they were. We probably prepared them completely different from how they are meant to be steeped, but we started our tea adventure.

Through this tea journey, I’ve realized that the best education is to experience tea by tasting. When I taste a tea, I can see what the dry tea leaves look like, smell the aroma of the steeped tea leaves and experience the bold tastes or subtle hints of flavors. I encourage you to come and experience a tea tasting. We sample 16 different teas from all over the world to give you an introduction to the major types of teas and how to identify them. We offer monthly tea tastings the last Saturday of each month. Our next one is this Saturday, from 10am-Noon. Please, call us, (512) 330-9991, to buy a ticket or come by and purchase one in our store. Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday! - Jonathan