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.

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.

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

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

Spotlight: Bellocq No. 11 White Peony

A few dear friends recently gave me a gorgeous sampler box of tea from Bellocq. It's as if they read my mind, as I've been meaning to check out their Brooklyn Atelier for months. It's right near one of our favorite pizza places, but a visit has just not timed out properly. Hungry children usually don't have much interest in tea shops. I'll need to take a solo venture there one of these days.

 Everything about the brand is artistic yet simple. The website is absolutely gorgeous. The designers have a great eye. Their teas are also beautifully packaged. Just looking at the silver and yellow canisters makes me want to collect as many as possible. Purchasing teas in the canister is expensive, but  perhaps an occasional indulgence. The sampler box I have is quite sturdy and stands out with its bright yellow color. It's a particularly grey day here in NYC (it feels like I say that a lot) so the box truly brightened up my world. I cannot wait to visit the Atelier, I imagine it to be a full sensory experience.

 

My yellow nails match the box!

My friends chose well, selecting a box of 'pure teas' as I don't usually prefer blends. I like the little added touches in the packaging- they include paper infuser bags for the teas, and also provide a detailed steeping chart for each tea. Nicely done.


Steeping chart inside the lid

 I've been sipping each tea in the sampler, and they are all tasty and of good quality. I decided to focus a post on just the No. 11 White Peony. The dry leaves are an attractive mixture of cut leaves and downy buds. The mixture smells sweet and floral which is usually my experience with this type of tea.

I'm always amazed that no matter how sweet the White Peony leaves smell, the sweetness never transfers to the aroma of the brew. The tea has a dried grass/hay-like smell, and is very earthy. I did slightly over steep my tea, but it still tastes smooth and delicious. Sweet, rich, yet delicate. An earthy taste of the dried grass with a slightly mellow vegetal finish. Refreshing and invigorating. It would make a nice iced tea in the hot weather as well.  

 

After trying these sample teas, I am even more excited to visit the Brooklyn store. One question I have though...how do you pronounce their name? Is it bello-C-Q or something else? If anyone knows, please share!! Thank a huge thank you to my friends that gave me such a lovely gift!

Steep Thoughts- Tea and Remembrance

I had been composing a post about my recent tea gifts, but then I received the tragic news that my beloved grandfather passed away. All thoughts of tea happiness were thrown into the recesses of my mind. I posted a few months ago about tea and grief, and how it is a component of comfort and fuel for remembrance. This week I found myself sitting at my parents' table, sipping strong tea and thinking about the long life filled with hardship and happiness that my grandfather led. He survived persecution, starvation and war to finally meet the love of his life and raise a family. He will always be an inspiration to me. After being ripped from his family and homeland, he managed to start a new life in New York, and lovingly support a family as a talented dressmaker. He lived a long life full of weddings, Bar-Mitzvahs, the birth of his grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. I can only hope that all of us are lucky enough to experience such joy in our lives.

As I watch the tea leaves dance in the pot, I think about these things, and revel in the beauty of our mysterious existence.

Steep Thoughts: The Parenting and Tea Edition

Today I've been digging out the teas that give me the most caffeinated bang for my exhausted buck. Right now I'm once again steeping Taylor's of Harrogate's English Breakfast, because it's the strongest-tasting tea I have in the office. I know that taste doesn't correspond to caffeine content, but at least it helps me think that I'm waking myself up. Our daughter has been having sleep troubles for quite awhile now, and I need every bit of caffeine I can get.

I find that being a parent makes me approach tea differently than before I had kids. Of course I need that caffeine now more than ever, but I am more desperate for a break, and time to reflect. Often I can only steal a sip here and there, but when I have time for a cup, it's a moment just for myself. Not time to answer questions, or make sure no one is going to hurt themselves, or eat a moldy cracker that has been hiding under the couch. Taking a moment to drink tea also helps me brainstorm and problem solve. I get a chance to mull things over. It also keeps me sitting on the edge of insanity instead of hanging off of it. It helps me find patience, which makes me a better parent.

I enjoy sharing tea with my daughter. She already knows the difference between green and black tea, and is familiar with some of the flavors. I hope she develops joyful memories around sharing a cup of tea with her mother. A special time for just the two of us to relax and reflect.

For those that have children, do you share your tea with them?