SEATTLE
I could move in here! With 150 teas, goodies, free wireless and a fresh atmosphere it is the perfect place to spend time. The concept is contemporary. White-lidded tea jars marked with large numbers 1-150 line the back wall. Glass, steel, white tiles and lime green accents craft a hip café feel. The all-organic selection is grouped into wellness, white tea, green tea, oolong tea, black tea, pu-erh tea, rooibos, yerba mate, botanicals (blends), and pure botanicals. Many are their own creations. Teas are brought to your table on white trays with timers and tea light warmers to help ensure a tasty cup. Full tea service is available featuring unique tea sandwiches with names like Cuke Classic, Ravish and Apple Pie. To calm the sweet tooth there is a full range of cookies, truffles and desserts. For tea with a twist try a Mimosa made of Earl Grey white tea, champagne and orange juice. Organic beer and wine round out the menu.
I look forward to working my way through all 150 teas.
Dubbed “Seattle’s first authentic Chinese Teahouse” Floating Leaves in Ballard is a joy.
The focus here is entirely tea and specifically quality Chinese and Taiwanese varieties. The ambiance is peaceful, decorated in dark wood and Chinese antiques to evoke teahouses in
the owner’s native Taiwan. Classic and local Asian music fills the space. Shelves of tea accoutrement beckon one to further involve themselves in the art of tea. We enjoyed two oolongs gongfu style. The Bao Zhong, faint green in color, is fresh and subtle with a floral aroma. The second, Oriental Beauty, is more oxidized and roasty with overtones of honey. This methodical process draws your attention to the tea as you pour and drink several steepings from tiny cups. This teahouse embodies the cross-cultural enjoyment of tea here in the US.
Just up from the waterfront and its must-see Pike Place Market is the Perennial Tea Room. This spot is more of a shop than a place to sit and savor a pot, although they do have a few teas available to drink on the premises. Within their array of over 100 loose-leaf teas they have several house blends and teas from other vendors including Silk Roads, Harney and Sons and Barnes and Watson. The selection of books, teapots, tea accessories, gadgets and British-style afternoon tea paraphernalia is extensive.
A contemporary tea bar with a modern Chinese sensibility. They cater to the urban tea drinker giving them quite a full experience. The ambience is important here, and with free Wi-Fi it is a great place to connect with friends. An earthy color scheme with unique textures and surfaces, high ceilings and chic furniture create an updated version of a teahouse. Their 200+ loose-leaf teas are offered in bulk and the extensive collection includes many organic and fair-trade teas. They concoct many inventive tea infusions and serve both sweet and savory crepes. What a great addition to Ballard.
For a peak into Seattle’s tea culture please read my article at TeaMuse.com:
The Crumpet Shop
Near the entry to the thoroughly enjoyable Pike Place Market The Crumpet Shop is a good
place to duck in for a cup of tea and of course, a delicious crumpet. A welcoming sign reads “TEA unlimited refills” and an even better sign tells of their First Arrival, First Flush Darjeeling, Singbulli Estate tea. It’s an eclectic spot, covered in posters and murals, not the lace and doily place for tea. With its friendly, laid-back vibe you get the feeling it’s a local hangout for all: the elderly, the young and hip, mothers with children. There are approximately fifteen teas in lidded metal buckets to choose from. I selected the Bai Mu Dan and the proprietor came over to suggest a brewing time and later offer a second steeping. I admit, I had two crumpets; they are so good. First, I had a traditional warm crumpet with butter and northwest raspberry and blackberry preserves. With my second steeping I had another crumpet with tomato and cucumber. Crumpet combos include sweet; honey, maple butter, Nutella and savory; cream cheese, egg and ham, pesto, ricotta, imported English cheese and smoked salmon. They
have a large window to watch the crumpet-maker at work. It is a fun place to have a
northwest experience.
Boulder // Chicago // NYC // Pasadena // Portland // Seattle // Salt Lake City // San Diego // San Francisco
In the quaint upper Queen Anne district, Teacup offers “A World of World Class Teas.” It’s a casual spot with a friendly, knowledgeable staff who guides their guests through the large variety of quality tea. This shop, or tea market, as they refer to themselves, has one hundred and fifty teas in their permanent collection and they continually add to their line. There is a large variety of classic teas organized by type and region including white, green, oolong,
black, pu’erh, herbals, rooibos and honeybush. Teacup is a large importer of the French line, Dammann Fréres, which offers a selection of twenty premiere flavored teas. The well-prepared tea is served on a tray in a small pot with infuser basket and topped with a cozy. I enjoyed two teas. The lovely Phoenix Dragon Pearls are a mix of jasmine flowers and green tea rolled into pearls that are a joy to watch unfurl while brewing. The Assam Silver Needles is a rare white tea offering a mix of subtle nuances found in white tea and malty notes that characterize teas from Assam. Teacup is a tea enthusiast’s kind of place. The variety and quality of tea will
bring me back!
For my full article about Teacup, please visit TeaMuse.com
http://www.teamuse.com/article_081103.html