Oct

29

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This week’s featured tea (10% off all week): Huang Shan Mao Feng

For this week, we have picked a gentle Chinese green tea from the legendary Yellow Mountain (Huang Shan) region of Anhui. This selection is very mellow, light in the cup, with a pleasant airiness that is almost more about feel than it is upfront flavor. It is fresh and mildly sweet with a smooth, lingering finish. Stop in and see what you think! Four O’Clock Fridays have quickly become a highlight of our week in the shop!

Thanks for checking in!

- James

Oct

24

Regulars No. 1

October 24, 2009 | Leave a Comment

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Name: Iain Baker
What do you do? Manager at Hostelling International.

Why tea?
I enjoy the wide variety and availability. As a traveler, it’s nice to know that I can probably find something fun wherever I go!
How did you get into it?
As a true Scotsman should, I have always enjoyed it. But it wasn’t until I decided to move away from drinking coffee and switching to tea that I really grew a liking for it. After spending a little time learning about the different types of tea and variations in preparation, I really fell in love with the process itself, not just the end result.
Which teas you have been into lately?
Most recently I’ve been drinking a lot of Jade Tikuanyin and Yunnan Gold Silk.
Do you have a perfect tea scenario?
On my couch in the morning, wearing sweatpants and watching cartoons.

Thanks, Iain!

And thank you all for checking in.

- James

Oct

22

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This week’s featured tea (10% off all week): Jade Tikuanyin Reserve

This week we are featuring a Chinese oolong from Anxi, a region well known for producing some of the most prized oolong teas in the world. This Jade Tikuanyin is harvested in the spring, lightly roasted and minimally oxidized, similar in style to Taiwanese jade oolongs. The tightly rolled leaves slowly unfurl to yield a beautiful golden green cup that is incredibly fragrant. Its pronounced floral character begins with a velvety front end and a crisp, lively finish.

Thanks to our Four O’Clock Friday regulars and newcomers. We always have a blast sharing tea with you!

And thanks to you for checking in.

- James

Oct

21

Hey all, just a quick post to give you a heads-up on a fun new blog feature. Regulars will be a series of quick posts featuring some of the folks who really make this whole thing possible. We feel fortunate to have so many wonderful customers. Seriously, I can’t think of a single lemon in the entire 10+ months we have been open. Even the people who come in a little grouchy always seem to leave with a smile. We are proud to be a positive presence in the everyday lives of those who enter our shop, and this interaction really is the most gratifying part of what we do. So, we would like to introduce all of you to the people who are a regular part of the mix here at Halcyon Tea. With so many variables, it is always interesting to learn about the different tea experiences people create for themselves . Whether it’s types of tea, affinities for different teaware, personal preparation techniques, etc. it is just so much fun to share stories, swap notes, and have a few good laughs over a cup or three.

Thanks so much to all of the great people who choose to share their time with us. And, as always, thanks for checking in!

- James

Oct

16

4 O’Clock Friday!

October 16, 2009 | 2 Comments

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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

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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).

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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

Oct

7

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We had a blast at the Harvest Walkabout last Saturday! Lots of music, good people, the tea was flowing, and Fall was in the air. I always enjoy meeting new folks at the Walkabouts, and there were many new faces in the shop that night. We also get a lot of regulars on those evenings, and this always makes me aware of how fortunate we are to be doing what we do. So, thank you to everyone who made it out. It was a great time.

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Gregory Page’s performance attracted a crowd out front.

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Christi and our good friend Joe.

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Self-serve at the tea station.

We are already looking forward to the Holiday Walkabout. We will have plenty of gift packages and even more new items in stock for that one.

Thanks so much for checking in. We really appreciate it!

- James

Oct

2

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The Harvest Walkabout is here!

Yes, it’s that time already! The South Park Harvest Walkabout is upon us. Join us tomorrow (Saturday), October 3rd from 6 to 10 pm for another wonderful night of festivities! The neighborhood shops will be open late with all kinds of delicious sampling going on. If that isn’t enough, there is live music to boot! We will have teas for you to sample accompanied by chocolates and our favorite tea biscuits. For more event details check out the South Park Scene website. Join fellow tea friends for what is always an incredibly fun evening. We look forward to seeing you!

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Tea of the Week: Ceylon Venture Organic FTC.

Well, we had a wonderful 4:00 Friday today. It came and went so quickly, but we had a blast with some of our favorite regulars (including Dave, a new regular and serious tea lover who is lots of fun to talk to). Ceylon teas hail from the island nation of Sri Lanka, the fourth or fifth leading tea producer in the world, depending on who you ask. The country’s tea trade began in the 1870’s after a devastating blight destroyed most of the island’s coffee bushes—the country’s main crop at the time. Venture was one of the first organic, bio-dynamic gardens in the country, and it is Fair Trade Certified. This black tea is mild, ices beautifully (for this Indian summer we’re having), and has light fruity notes with a smooth mouthfeel. As always, the featured tea will be 10% off all week long.

We hope to see you all at the Walkabout or sometime soon! Thanks so much for checking in.

- James