Friday, June 29, 2012

Steep Thoughts: The Tea Ritual Edition

Over the last few days I've been thinking more about my tea 'rituals'. These are my required routines that center around tea. They help me center my thoughts, and enjoy my cup. Of course there are organized tea rituals such as the Japanese tea ceremony, and preparing tea in the Chinese gongfu style. But my tea rituals are just for me. If I don't get my tea moments every day, something is missing.  I basically have two routines, one for the office, and one for home.

When I am in the office, my morning tea ritual starts as soon as I arrive, steeping leaves in a small teapot. I spend a few minutes transitioning from home life to work, thinking about what lies ahead for the day and what I'd like to accomplish. After a few sips my mood starts to lift as the effects of the tea kick in. This ritual only takes a few minutes as I'm in the office and ready to start the day. It is a good way to wake up, and get my mind focused on the tasks ahead. I have a similar afternoon office tea ritual, but in this case I will stop the work that I'm doing and try to still my mind and focus on the tea I'm drinking. I find that my afternoon cup of tea is relaxing, while my morning cup motivates my brain to wake up.

When I'm at home I have my special tea routines, but I often get sidetracked with two young kids running around. My favorite part of drinking tea at home is that I can share a cup with my daughter, who always asks for sips. We take a few minutes to talk about what she's tasting, and how it tastes different from other types of tea that she's tried. It's a lovely bonding experience, and also helps her learn about her sense of taste. The other benefit of being at home is that I have different teaware. I'll sometimes use a glass teapot, watching the leaves as they brew. Sometimes I'll use a porcelain gaiwan for more interaction with the tea leaves. But the gaiwan is reserved for when the kids aren't around, because it is more delicate, and requires much more attention. The same goes for when I'm feeling brave enough to try and make a bowl of matcha. I'm still a novice so it takes a lot of focus. I often over-steep my tea at home as I am usually paying more attention to my kids than my teapot. If that happens and becomes un-drinkable, I'll dilute the tea and use it to water my plants. I try to never waste a drop!

Do you have your own special tea routines? Feel free to share in the comments.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Spotlight: Cerra Teas

loving kindness tea
One of the reasons I drink tea is because it gives me an opportunity to pause, relax, and reflect. While I'm sipping I'll take a moment to think about how I'm feeling, what I'm tasting, and how it is changing my mood. All of my senses are enhanced when I drink tea. Cerra is a company looking to help complement your tea drinking experience. They offer teas and other products to help you 'be your best self'. They are about taking a moment to breathe and observe the world around you. Of course drinking tea fits in perfectly with this mission.

It is an interesting idea for a line of teas, although I'm a big believer that tea will provide you peace, balance, and awareness no matter what type you are drinking. It's about the personal sensory experience which can be found in all teas, as long as you pause and truly experience it.

A friend of mine generously gave me two Cerra teas of my choice. I decided on the Loving Kindness, and Gratitude teas. Their packaging is well thought out. The tins are a good size, with tasteful graphics that enhance their brand message. The teas have 'spiritual' names such as loving kindness, gratitude, and grounded. At first I thought loose tea would be in the tins because of the foil vacuum packed bag inside. But opening it up reveals large pyramid shaped bags.

I am always skeptical of blends, especially those that have added mystery 'flavors'. I abhor flavors that don't usually exist in beverage form such as 'blueberry cheesecake', 'maple waffle', etc. But, I keep telling myself to try...try to keep an open mind. It takes all my effort to accept the fact that the teas in front of me smell good. I actually love the aroma of the dry mixture for Loving Kindness. It's...well, delicious. Sweet, juicy, fruity. It is a strong aroma. Not what I'd expect when I'm drinking oolong tea, but pleasing nonetheless.

The brew is sweet with a slight sourness. There is a mellow hint of something like dried grass, which must be the oolong. It's a tasty brew, but doesn't quite give me the punch of tea flavor that I enjoy. This would be a nice as an iced tea, the tart flavor would work well as a summertime refresher. I'd also be interested to try it in ice pop form.
gratitude tea
The Gratitude dry leaves smell like a peach. It's a strong, sweet smell. It permeates my senses and I can almost feel the fuzzy peach exterior. The brewed tea does not have any of this fruity sweetness. It smells mostly like earthy white tea with a distant hint of peach. It tastes mellow with a subtle floral sweetness and malty background. Much more like a white tea and not just a flavored blend. It is quite soothing, like many white teas I've had. Again, I'd prefer more 'tea' taste, but it is an enjoyable experience.

Even though I'm not in love with these two blends, I think if you like flavored teas you should give the Cerra products a try. Perhaps the Cerra teas have finally opened my mind to embrace flavored teas. Cerra includes a sweet little booklet with the teas which has room to write your reflections as you sip. A nice touch for those that don't have a tea blog for such a purpose!
I always use my tea breaks as a special moment for myself. I don't need a specialized blend to give me awareness or peace. But the two teas I tried certainly were tasty, and the company does have some interesting ideas that I'd like to explore on my own.

Monday, June 18, 2012

Colombian Sugar Cane Tea

I had a new tea experience over the weekend. After my daughter's year-end dance recital on Saturday, a few of the families went to Bogota Latin Bistro for brunch. I've been to this friendly, tasty place a few times but never noticed an interesting item on the menu- Aguapanela, Colombian Sugar Cane Tea. I had no idea what it was, but of course I had to try it! This drink is served hot or iced, and I went for the cold version.

It looked like iced tea, so I was expecting something similar to southern sweet tea. The first sip actually reminded me more of Sujeonggwa, a cinnamon punch I've had at many Korean restaurants. It was thick and sweet with notes of citrus and cinnamon. A tasty drink, but a bit too cloying for me. It's called a tea, but there isn't any Camellia Sinensis involved. It's made from panela, crystallized unrefined sugar cane, along with lemon and hot water. It's strange that my drink had a strong taste of cinnamon, which isn't listed in any of the recipes I could find for this drink. But it is in many other Colombian beverages, so perhaps this is the restaurant's twist on a classic.

This isn't the kind of thing I'd drink on a regular basis, but it was a fun learning experience. As an iced tea, it is a sweet energizing drink.

Friday, June 15, 2012

Cha-An Japanese Tea House

It's Friday. I can't focus. It's a gorgeous day. Perfect for a lunchtime tea adventure. Cha-An, a popular Japanese tea house has been high on my list of places to visit. It felt like the perfect time, so I pounced.

Through an unassuming door and up a flight of stairs is a smart little room with dark wood and delicate Japanese flourishes. When I arrived it was early and quiet. There is a bar with a view of the kitchen for a quick bite (and sip), but I chose a table in order to relax a bit more.

The service is sweet and friendly. As you can imagine, the tea selection is inviting with a focus on Japanese greens. The menu is helpful, giving the country of origin for each tea, as well as the body. There is a tea to suit just about every mood.


Today I was looking for something that packed a bit of punch, so I chose the Makinohara Sencha for it's assertive vegetal flavor. The tea arrived quickly and was poured from a kyusu. The pot was the perfect size, with just enough water for one large cup. Served in this way the tea didn't continue to steep and get bitter. I like this attention to detail. When my cup was drained, the pot was promptly refilled with water. This tea was exactly what I wanted. Bitter, with a vibrant vegetal flavor. Refreshing and invigorating. It paired well with the smoked salmon and sweets that came with my meal.

Regarding food, it is prepared with focus and care. Everything is dainty, and I felt a bit clumsy while I ate. But it's all very tasty, especially the sweets. The scones I had were quite buttery and delicious. They even had little bits of tea in them, which added a subtle floral note. I was so full that I had to take some of my sweets to go, which made for a cheerful afternoon snack.
Cha-An is a perfect place for Japanese style afternoon tea, or to relax with a bowl of Matcha. They also offer special events including tea ceremonies. It gets a bit loud during lunchtime, but I imagine it is quite peaceful during the off hours. The perfect place for a lunchtime respite.

Cha-An: 230 East 9th Street NY, NY 10013: Recommended

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

A Community Institution


I've lived in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Park Slope for well over a year now, but have not mentioned one of the most popular 'hangs', the Tea Lounge. Sitting in the lounge, it feels like this 12 year institution has been in the area for decades. Before I even moved to Brooklyn I remember taking refuge here after a long day of exploring the neighborhood. It is a gathering place for all the different personalities in the area to relax and refuel.

With tea in the name, thankfully the list of hot and iced options do not disappoint. The tea menu is diverse, with something to please just about everyone. Since the weather has been sticky and steamy, I've been sipping on their iced black tea. It's perfectly strong, even when the ice melts. It has a nice bold black tea flavor that lasts through the entire drink. There are lots of flavored iced teas as well, but I always go with standard black. What can I say, I'm predictable. Whether you are ordering a full pot of tea, or just a cup to go, prices are competitive and fair, and service is friendly.

This is a very laid back joint, with dim lighting and lots of mismatched couches and tables. It is a welcoming, comfortable place to sit and read, write, or watch your kids play. It feels like you are sitting in a large living room. There is a bulletin board for events and sales happening throughout the neighborhood, and it is always packed with notices. My children enjoy the space, and they even have music classes for kids during the week. There is a schedule of ongoing events such as musical performances. They serve food and alcoholic drinks as well, but of course I usually just go for a cup of tea and neighborhood charm.

Tea Lounge: 837 Union Street Brooklyn, NY: Recommended