Modern Tea and galette

A few weeks ago, I had my first slice of galette, strawberry plum to be exact. My friend, Maura and I had morning tea at Modern Tea in the Hayes Valley neighborhood of San Francisco.

I was also introduced to the idea of the herb-of-the-day tea. The local herb was mint. I was hoping for lavender or lemon verbena or a mix of mint/ lavender/ lemon verbena/ thyme/ amaranth. Plain mint seemed too ordinary. I ordered the Armenian Special Linden described as "light and buttery with a soft aroma and a natural honey-like sweetness." It was indeed buttery with natural honey sweetness.

Special Linden

I have forgotton Maura's tea order (it might have been Persimmon Leaf or Elderflower Nectar), but the brew was very light in color and subtle in taste.

Persimmon Leaf or Elderflower Nectar

Other teas with friends
Elevated tea service at Far Leaves
Berkeley's Imperial Tea Court
Sunday afternoon tea
Two friends at the Samovar Tea Lounge

Electric brewing

Note: This post was edited on Jan. 20, 2007. Hotlinked image(s) were removed. Follow the link(s) to the image location(s).

Have you seen it? The triniTEA Electric Tea Maker by Adagio Teas?

Whenever my office gets too cold (or I need a study break), I walk across the street to a local cafe. I usually get coffee, but if it is a warm day, I order a half iced-tea, half lemonade (an Arnold Palmer). I often dream of making a pot of tea, but the only heating device is a microwave, a poor option.

Recently I discovered the triniTEA. The tea maker heats 32 ounces of water and steeps tea leaves using a variable timer and temperature control. According to adagio teas, these two features "adjusts the strength of an infusion, ensuring a perfect cup of tea each time."

The tea maker is quite expensive at $99. It would make a nice birthday gift in late November!

Teapots in the window

A tea shop in the Monterey neighborhood of Berkeley.

Teapot shopping online
English Tea Store
Harney & Sons
Imperial Tea Court
The Guild (artful teapots)