The first real tea shop I visited was The Tea House in London. There were rows and rows of visually stunning loose leaf teas in glass jars. I remember inhaling an aroma of spices, flowers and herbs. And learning how certain teas help soothe common ailments. It was such an enlightening and intoxicating sensory experience. I vowed to myself that when I came back to the States, I'd start my own collection.
In Seattle, there's a little tea tasting shop in the Pike Place Market. You sit down at the tea bar to steep and sip the teas you've selected before you buy. There's also an online artisan store, The Tea Guys, where I get wholesale loose tea for my new adored owl tea set. They have a lovely assortment of exclusive gourmet blends such as Key Lime Pie, Coconut Truffle, Chocolate Chai and Carrot Cake. Dessert in a cup.
Are you into teas?
{Images by 1. Pearls and Tea; 2. The Tea Guys}
