Visit: Press Tea

Press Tea had a huge presence at the NY Coffee & Tea Expo in March, along with a trial store on the Lower East Side for a few months to hone their product. Now after months of preparation, Press Tea has finally opened their West Village shop. 

I have visited the new shop twice now, and both times I had to battle the crazy NY elements to get there. Torrential rain the first time, extreme heat the next. Both times I entered the shop in a foul mood because of the weather, and both times my mood lifted after a first sip of tea.

For those of you unfamiliar with the Press Tea process, you can read my visit to the trial store here which mentions how the tea is made in something similar to an espresso machine. Also here is an adorable video discussing their brewing process.

On my first visit I was soaked and chilly, so I went for a hot tea latte. I tried the Himalayan Black tea and added rose flavoring. I remembered at the NY Coffee & Tea Festival they were giving out rose flavored samples, and tasted divine. My latte was a bit too sweet for my taste and the rose was more overpowering than I remembered, but still very comforting and warming on such a raw day. I could taste the black tea even through the sweet rose flavor. A very nice first cup.

Black Tea Latte

Black tea Macchiato

On my second visit I wanted to cool down, so I had an iced macchiato which is black tea with milk. I went without sweetener this time, so I could taste the tea loud and clear. It appears that most of the drinks come with sweetener unless you specify otherwise. As I sat with my drink and listened to the subway rumble distantly underneath me, I enjoyed the intense black tea flavor. the bold bitter taste reminded me of a coffee drink. It is almost impossible to find an iced black tea with such a fabulous intensity. The flavor holds up to the ice and mocks the milk with its robust flavor. The heat of the day was obliterated.

The store is well situated on a busy stretch of 7th avenue in the West Village. The interior is

cheery with a few little tables. The two times I visited there were a selection of mini cupcakes you choose with your tea if you are hungry. The shop is painted with clean, soothing grey hues while natural wood and Victorian wallpaper decorate the space. 

This is a perfect place for a drink, no mater what the cranky NY weather throws at us. I will definitely be making frequent trips here if I am in the area. Even if I'm not thirsty, that bold tea will lure me inside.

Press Tea: 167 7th Avenue South, NY, NY: recommended for a quick cup, a lingering drink with a book, or anything in between.

Visit: Tamarind Tea Room

I recently read about a tea room on Midtown Lunch adjacent to the well regarded Tamarind restaurant on 22nd street. Indian flavors along with a large selection of tea? Count me in.

 The Tamarind Tea Room is a sweet little spot just next to the main restaurant. The space is small but very comfortable and elegant. There are 6 tables and one extremely warm and friendly staff member taking orders. He immediately made us feel at home, chatting and recommending various teas to go with the food we ordered.

The first page of the menu has a welcome note. The owner started the tea room to connect childhood memories of drinking tea in India to his NYC life, "My family always prepared for the day ahead with a bracing cup of fine tea. After school there was afternoon tea awaiting us, and in the evening, a relaxing cup as we shared the events of the day". You can feel his love for tea and family through this relaxed and amiable restaurant.

We went with the 'tea for two' option, which includes a sandwich, pot of tea, and dessert. This option is a large amount of food, and should satisfy even the hungriest lunch seekers. There is a suitable list of Indian teas as well as oolongs, greens, and herbals. Something for everyone. I decided on the Assam which was bold and reviving. It was served in a perfectly sized teapot. My saag paneer sandwich was filling and tasty, as was the creamy rice pudding and buttery cookies for dessert. The tea paired well with the food, creating an overall sense of happiness and peace. It helped with digestion, too! My idea of the perfect lunch.

The gentleman waiting on us was so friendly we felt like regulars. Service was a little on the slow side, so I'd suggest coming here only if you have an ample lunch break. The food was so delicious and the tea selection so satisfying that I will definitely be back. It's a great place for a long lunch away from the office, or a break from shopping in the flatiron district. Tamarind Tea Room is an absolute gem.

Tamarind Tea Room: 41-43 E 22nd St, New York, NY 10010

Update: Tea In The Office

My Trusty Trio

A wonderful friend read my Tea in the Office post and gave me a lovely electric kettle as a Birthday gift. I am so touched by the thoughtful gifts I received this year (if you aren't reading my facebook page, here is a link to the other amazing tea related gift)! This kettle has helped change my office tea routine, since I'm now easily able to achieve the perfect temperature for my tea. This is the kettle, and it's a great BPA-free choice for an office space.

My new routine has also caused an interesting issue- every time I take the kettle to the kitchen to fill it, someone has a comment  It's usually "why do you need a kettle if we have hot water from the cooler?" I then have to explain how some teas require boiling water and our water machine isn't hot enough. Watching everyone's face as I explain this has been fun. Some show a look of confusion and walk away. Others have a smile of realization, and usually ask a follow up question or two. It's fun to see how many people I can educate about water temperature!

Do you get any tea questions from coworkers? Do you share your tea routine with others?

A Visit to Kanlo tea in Tribeca

Tribeca is a neighborhood composed of new and old New York. Cobble stone streets are lined with historic houses but if you look closely you'll see hordes of strollers, expensive restaurants, and organic food markets. It's historical pull lures me there every so often, and this week I found myself admiring 19th century row houses and thinking of tea. There were two places on my Tribeca must-visit list, Kanlo, and Laughing Man. I decided to visit Kanlo, because they only focus on tea (Laughing Man is primarily a coffee place), and I have been curious about their store since they opened in 2011.

Kanlo's store is a small, but with a large selection. Many tea blends as well as pure teas line the shelves. They have attractively packaged loose and bagged tea to purchase, and brew up cups to go. It was a quiet afternoon at the shop, and the gentleman behind the counter was able to give me his full attention. I asked what the store was known for, and he pointed to a few flavored blends, and noted his favorites. According to their website (you can buy all of their teas online) Kanlo focuses on teas from Sri Lanka. Because of this I was tempted to try one of the Ceylon teas. The friendly man behind the counter said he could make me a cup of any tea in the store, hot or iced. I was surprised to see that they didn't offer any samples to taste, which didn't help my indecisiveness, but ended up with an iced Mango Ceylon tea. It was very refreshing, with a convincing mango flavor along with brisk black tea. I will definitely be back to try one of the pure Ceylon teas to get a better idea of the quality.

The store has a simple, clean decor, and I admired little touches such as a few small tables to sit, along with a nice table in the back. A little 'money frog' caught my eye, smiling in the corner bringing balance to the store.

Kanlo is a perfect place to grab an iced tea before sitting in the waterfront park a few blocks away. Sip a Ceylon tea and imagine the clipper ships bringing in tea and spices into the harbor. I can't imagine anything better on a warm spring day.

Kanlo: 5 Harrison St. NY, NY 10013: Recommended for a quick cup, and for tea to take home.