Sakura Sencha - It's Cherry Blossom Time

http://perennialtearoom.com/sakurasencha.aspx

Sakura Sencha is now available at the Perennial Tea Room.  This lovely 1st flush Shizuoka Japan Sencha  is only available to us  in early spring when the cherry blossoms flower in Japan.

The tea is carefully scented with natural cherry flavors and the Sakura leaf.  The leaf is used in Japan to enhance the taste of a number of traditional dishes.

It is possible to re-steep your leaves.

We only bring in a very small amount of this limited quantity tea.

Create your own tea sampler pack

New this year in shop is our section of the store where you can create your own tea sampler from a selection of pre-packed sample size loose leaf teas. 

We'll pack your selections into a cute cello bag with a colorful twist and give you a discount for 4 or more of the samples.

Perfect for a sweet gift of tea, or just a good way for you to try some new teas for yourself.

We'll also be doing this at the Northwest Tea Festival the first weekend of October at the Seattle Center.

Tea infusers offer a handy convenient way to steep your tea.

Some are very functional - like this For Life infuser which fits in your mug or teapot and has a very fine mesh to make sure none of the leaves get into your brew.  It also has lots of room so that your tea leaves have room to steep and aren't squished fighting for space to infuse.

There are also tea infusers that work, but are mainly just for fun - collectible infusers for lovers of the shapes they come in - novelty infusers.

The ducks and our newest novelty infuser, the tugboat, float in your cup while the tea in the attached infuser brews you a fun cup of tea.

So whatever you use, practical or fun - enjoy your cup of tea!

Put the kettle on for Robert Burns Birthday

January 25th is the birthday of Scotland's celebrated poet Robert Burns, 1759-1796.  You don't have to dish up haggis, neeps, or tatties to celebrate.  Just put the kettle on and brew up a pot of tea - grab a book of poetry (preferably Mr. Burns himself), pull up a chair and enjoy. 

Supplier Profile: Harney & Sons Fine Teas

Established in 1983 by John Harney and later joined by son's Mike and Paul, Harney & Sons is known for their fine teas and exclusive tea blends.  They pride themselves on accepting only "exceptional teas from the world of fine teas".  They travel to buy teas, and then blend and package them in the Northeast U.S.

We stock a number of Harney & Sons teas here at the Perennial Tea Room because we appreciate the quality and careful flavoring this company offers.  And items like their Tower of London tea sachets are presented in a "must have" purple tin.

With Valentines fast approaching we seasonally carry the Harney Valentine's  tea:  a black tea scented with chocolate and roses. 

During the winter holidays the Harney Holiday blend - black tea with vanilla and lightly spiced as well as the White Christmas tea -a not to be missed white tea with vanilla and cardamom are here.

All year round we stock Bangkok  (green tea with coconut, ginger, and lemongrass, Paris (black tea with vanilla, bergamot, and citrus), Florence (a delightful chocolate hazelnut scented black tea) and Soho (we serve this on the Savor Seattle Chocolate Tours that visit us - a  China Yunnan black scented with chocolate and coconut).

We're pleased to stock such quality teas and to work with this friendly, family owned company.

Baking with Bergamots

Bergamot season has come and gone at the Perennial Tea Room, and again, thanks to our friends at Ripe to You in California who now grow these.

Having Bergamots in our shop every January is a good way for customers to see and smell what is used to flavor a naturally scented Earl Grey, like our Earl Grey Extra. Of course we sell some to customers who would like to try using this unique fruit - but staff like Sue and Annie go bergamot berserk.  Of course I (Sue) only bought 3 this year, but Annie now has 15 to enjoy.

Two of my three bergamots yielded a lovely pound cake with the zest of 1 1/2 bergamots and 2 Tbs. of the juice in the batter.  The pound cake was topped with the juice of two bergamots and a cup of sugar for a citrusy sweet finish..  The remaining zest was sprinkled atop melted chocolate to make an Earl Grey Chocolate Bark.  One bergamot left to use for something tasty and delicious.

My house smelled like Earl Grey Heaven yesterday.

As for Annie's 15, she is going to zest one in her Shortbread batter, and make Bergamot Marmalade, and from there - who knows. 

A good reason to look forward to the dark rainy chill Seattle January days.

I think I'll go make myself a cup of Earl Grey. 

Shakespeare's Birthday - celebrate with PG Tips

Come and celebrate Shakespeare's Birthday and St. George's Day with us on April 23rd (a Monday this year).

Meanwhile, while you are enjoying your PG tips, read on...

In the 1930's Arthur Brooke created Pre-Gest Tee - meaning one could drink this before digesting food. Grocers then shortened this to PG and the tips of course came from the top two leaves and a bud used to make the tea.

PG tips went into tea bags and the 1960's and took off! It is now the best selling tea in England.

You'll be pleased to know that PG Tips is now a fully certified Rainforest Alliance partner - meaning the tea is grown using sustainable farming methods and insuring that the people who pick the tea can earn a better living and have access to education and medical care.

So brew up a cuppa for yourself or to share with a friend.