A few weeks ago my new friends and neighbors K & A invited me to a Baozhong ("early spring picking, slightly oxidized, almost like a green tea") , Bai Hao (Silvertip Oolong) and Pu-erh ("scoop of dirt, soil, earthy, like a forest floor) tea tasting at their favorite tea shop in Seattle, The Tea Cup.
The shop and tea salon is located in Queen Anne and every Saturday afternoon at one Brett Boynton hosts a tea tasting in which some of the finest teas imported from small family farms in China and Taiwan are served in the Gaiwan method of tea preparation.
After quick introductions guests are presented with beautiful Gaiwan cups. These beautiful porcelain vessels are the traditional covered teacup of China which remains to this day a favorite implement used for the steeping, serving, and drinking of some of the worlds best and rarest of teas.
Those in attendance at these tastings are encouraged to smell and taste teas while Brett elaborates on their particular history, place of origin and nuances of flavor.
I've been a life long tea enthusiast but I am really a neophyte when it comes to this kind of teas. So for me this was not only an eye opening, wonderful experience but a real education fo both mind and palate.
While at The Tea Cup, we drank tea, made new friends, shopped for some Moroccan Mint tea (redolent of the sweetended Egyptian tea served at my favorite Egytptian tea room in Paris), lovely Dammann Frères teas, cookies and delicious biscotti.
I look forward to returning very soon for more sipping, learning and shopping. For those of you interested in rare, single estate teas, Brett also does in-home tea service and in-home tea sales and his teas all from small family owned farms, stuff you can't find at stores. To contact Brett you may email him at: bdteabar@mac.com.
The Tea Cup
2207 Queen Anne Ave N.
Seattle, WA 98109
206-283-5931
877-841-4890
Fax: 206-284-6754
teacup@seattleteacup.com
Other wonderful tea purveyors and salons in the Seattle area:
Market Spice- a world of tea and accoutrement's
World Merchants - a Spice, Herb and Tea House , on Western Avenue
Perennial Tea Room- at the market
Floating Leaves Tea- new tea house in Ballard
Churchmouse Yarns & Tea- in Bainbridge Island
Fairmont Olympic Hotel- The best afternoon tea service in the city.
