Sep
9
We’re Back to Regular Hours!
September 9, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Hello, everyone. Thanks for being patient with our summer hours over the past two weeks. As of today, we go back to regular hours:
Tuesday–Saturday: 11 am to 7 pm
Sunday: 11 am to 5 pm
Closed Monday
We are very excited for fall, our web launch, upcoming events, and more great stuff in the works. We have received new teas and teaware over the past couple of weeks, so stop in and have a look or a taste. 5:00 Friday is back in action as of this week. We look forward to seeing you!
As always, thanks so much for checking in.
- James
Sep
2
A Few New Things
September 2, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Books are back! And we added a couple of new titles to the mix.
A couple of old favorites with the new Year in Japan postcard set (amazing).
Yes, Thermos bottles are back in stock. We have both 16 and 26 oz. versions. Get ready for fall, or you can ice your tea and keep it with you all day.

Mmmm…licorice spice herbal blend is delicious.
Hello! Just wanted to show you a few of the new arrivals at the shop. We have been receiving lots of new teas, teaware, and essentials in anticipation of the web launch and the upcoming fall season. We are excited for the upcoming seasonal changes, and we will continue to feature new items as they arrive. Also, be sure to look for us on Facebook for daily posts, current happenings, etc.
We hope you are all well. We will go back to regular hours beginning next week, September 9th. Until then, you can catch us at the shop Tuesday through Saturday from 11 to 5.
Thanks very much for checking in!
- James
Aug
18
New Forlife and BeeHouse + Liquid Jade!
August 18, 2010 | Leave a Comment


We recently received a bunch of new items from the ever-popular BeeHouse and Forlife lines. We proudly carry these wares as they are well-crafted, beautifully designed, and exceptionally usable for preparing most any tea. New colors, new sizes…they’re all worth checking out.


We also just received more copies of Liquid Jade as we had sold out a while back. I have mentioned this book more than once here. I think it is one of the finest books on tea, and perhaps the most beautifully written. If you read one book on the history and culture of tea through the ages, this may be the one you want to check out.
Lots of web work, and we are in the final stages! We can see the light, and it will go live very soon (honestly).
We hope you are all well. Thanks very much for checking in.
- James
Jun
22
A Proper Introduction
June 22, 2010 | Leave a Comment

Polaroid photo: Ian Cuevas (more here)
Chances are, if you have been in the shop during the past five months or so, you probably recognize this lovely person. Christina began working with us back in January and has been such a welcomed addition to the Halcyon Tea family. She was first introduced to tea by a college friend and become an avid tea lover when she stumbled upon our shop during a South Park Walkabout. She likes to start her mornings with our Sencha Shan Izumi and has fallen in love with our loose Pu-erhs as her afternoon drink of choice. Cloudy, Sunday morning brunches are paired with stovetop-cooked Indian Chai, and movie nights are often accompanied by a cup of Restful Calm. If you haven’t met her, come by our next 5:00 Friday and introduce yourself. Thanks so much for joining us, Christina.
Lots of new, great things in the shop! 2010 Jungpana 1st-flush Darjeeling is now in stock along with new Japanese canisters, Tokoname Kyusu, Chawan (matcha bowls), new BeeHouse items, miscellaneous accessories, and more new teas we’ll talk about in a forthcoming post. Stop on by!
Thanks so much for checking in. We appreciate your interest. More to come.
- James
May
12
Sencha-Do Event this Saturday!
May 12, 2010 | Leave a Comment

We are very happy to host a new event this Saturday, May 15th at 7:30 pm. One of our great friends and customers, Blair Whitaker will showcase his knowledge of Sencha-Do, the “relaxed” tea ceremony of Japan. His presentation will emphasize a practice of Sencha-Do that people will be able to take home and perform themselves. He will touch on the important aesthetic principles along with an abridged history of tea in Japan. The main Japanese tea varietials will also be discussed with some related information on harvesting and crafting methods. Come learn more about tea, art, poetry, ceramics, and other elements that have evolved from, and with, the way of sencha. You will be surprised how this “relaxed” ceremony has had a long and entangled history with the more familiar and formal practice of chanoyu.
When: Saturday, May 15th 7:30 to 9 pm
Where: Halcyon Tea, 3009 Beech Street, 92102
Cost: $7 includes tea tasting and small snacks
Space is limited to 12 participants, so please call 619.450.4224 to reserve your spot! We can’t wait for this one!
Thanks for checking in.
- James
Feb
28
Bird’s Eye View: 5:00 Friday
February 28, 2010 | Leave a Comment

I love this shot of a recent 5:00 Friday session. After enough oolong I guess people can start to climb on things, which is how our buddy Chad got this shot. I dig it. It is always so much fun sharing tea with our Friday evening folks. If you need a new way to start your Friday nights, tea with us is a great transition between work and your evening play. See friends you know, start a conversation with someone you just met…tea is, among many things, a wonderful unifying element. Thanks to all of you that come in to share tea with us. We really enjoy having you.
Hope your weekend was a great one. Thanks for checking in!
- James
Jan
19
Something for the Intrepid Tea Lovers
January 19, 2010 | Leave a Comment

So, it rained pretty darn hard earlier today, and we hear it’s supposed to keep going through the week. Perfect tea weather! There’s nothing like being indoors with your favorite cup of tea tea, maybe a book or a movie, and a solid rain outside. So, here’s something for those of you who need to replenish your stocks or check out a new winter tea option. Don’t let a little rain stop you! Simply mention the code on this card if you’re at the shop when it’s raining, and we’ll give you 15% off your total loose tea purchase through the month of February.
Hope all is well with all of you. Be safe, go slowly, and enjoy the weather!
Thanks for checking in.
- James
Nov
20
4 o’clock Friday: Orange Spice Organic FTC
November 20, 2009 | 1 Comment
This week’s featured tea (10% off all week): Orange Spice Organic FTC
This fair trade certified, organic, scented tea is a well-balanced blend of organic Indian and Sri Lanka broken leaf tea, organic cinnamon, organic cloves, organic orange peel, and organic orange extract and oils. Not too heavy on the cinnamon, it’s comfortable and cozy, just like fall. A perfect holiday tea!
Stop in today and share a cup of tea with us this afternoon. Thanks for checking in.
- James
Oct
16
4 O’Clock Friday!
October 16, 2009 | 2 Comments


This week’s featured tea (10% off all week): Yunnan Gold Silk
This week we are going to the place where it all started: China, specifically the southwestern province of Yunnan where some say tea was first discovered. Yunnan Gold Silk is a handcrafted black tea made purely from golden leaf buds. The dry leaf has a rich tobacco-like aroma and produces a deep amber-red liquor in the cup. Notes of warm spice and cacao accompany a mild peppery sweetness. Chinese black teas are quite different from the black teas of India, Sri Lanka, Africa, etc. Come check out this gem from 4 pm to close today. We would love to share a cup with you. We hope you all have a wonderful Friday!
Thanks so much for checking in.
- James
Oct
8
It’s Another 4 O’Clock Friday!
October 8, 2009 | 2 Comments

This week’s featured tea (10% off all week): Kenya Supreme
Did you know that Kenya ranks in the top five producers of tea in the world (top three for black teas)? Usually known for bold teas that are often used for blending, there is now a focus on producing some very fine single origin teas. A great example of this is our Kenya Supreme. This tea is grown in the shadow of Mt. Kenya and yields a smooth yet full-flavored cup that pairs beautifully with your favorite tea snacks (we like it with toast or scones and jam).

Stop in for a taste of this hidden gem today from 4 pm until close. We look forward to seeing you!
Thanks for checking in.
- James & Zach
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