Category: News

ANNIVERSARY TIME:

This time of year has an extra special meaning for Cup of Tea. It marks the anniversary of the day the teahouse opened, the 26th of November. 🎂 This year we are celebrating our 4th year!  The number 4 represents the continued building of the foundation for a healthy future. I truly believe that the foundation of Cup of Tea has remained strong because of YOU! Thank you for your loyalty and your continuous championing for Cup of Tea. In honor of the number 4, we will be running 4 deals from November 25 to December 25…

 

The FIRST special deal for our Anniversary is a free Cup of Tea Travel Steeper. Our to-go steeper is perfect for anyone on the go.  This steeper is double-walled, and has hi-temp inner glass, which means there’s no staining! The lid has a removable strainer, perfect for loose-leaf tea, and it’s incredibly easy to use! Simply fill the cup with hot water, add the loose tea to the strainer lid, secure it tightly, and turn it upside down! Once it’s been steeped long enough, turn your cup back over, and voila! A perfect cup of tea!  Get your very own Cup of Tea travel steeper with every $50 purchases. PLUS, you will be entered into a drawing to win an Oregon Wild tote bag filled tea, honey, chocolates, stickers AND a private tea tasting for you and 9 other people!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        This deal is instore and online 11/25-11/30 (add the Libre to your card and $50 worth of loose-leaf tea, then use coupon code “librefree”)

 

Anniversary Deal #2: Lets begin December with a $5 coupon! 💵  For every $30 you spend, I will give you $5 off your purchase…Hey, that is like getting a free cup of tea or a free ounce of tea ☕️ Who doesn’t want somthing tea related free ?  A little incentive to get you moving and get that list competed. 📝 Tony Robbins once said, “What simple action could you take today to produce momentum toward success in your life?” Okay, this coupon might not change your life, but it could be the motivation you need to not procrastic this holiday season. 

This deal is instore and online 💻 12/1-12/11 

 

 

Anniversary deal #3: FREE Sampler bag with purchase! These little sampler bags house 4 different teas and one sweet paper crane that was created to add a little hope and peace to your life. This could be the perfect little add on for a teacher’s gift, perhaps the perfect nug for your buddy who is drinking to much coffee and needs to join us in the tea world,  what about a stocking stuffer or even a hostess gift. Spend $50 and I will give you this adorable little bag!                                                                                                                                                          This deal is instore or online Deal is on from 12/12-12/18  

 

Last Anniversary deal for 2022!

 

I want to give you a $10 gift card when you purchase $50 worth of gift cards…. mix and match a couple of $5 cards for the stockings, a couple of $15 cards for those fabulous teachers, $10 card for your nail tech… this is completely up to you. 🎁 Just don’t give up at the last minute and get gift cards from You Know Who… support your local small businesses who have been trying to survive a pandemic and this jaw dropping inflation!!!

 Deal is from 12/18-12/24 get it in store or online 

Thank you all,

Susie

 

Don’t cry, it’s time for Chai!

The world of chai is vast and spans centuries. With so many different ways to create chai tea, the rich history of chai, and even the amount of different chais we have in the shop, it can be difficult to know where to start. We hope this will be the perfect introduction into the chai world!

According to legend, chai was first developed when an Indian king asked for a “spiced healing beverage”.  He asked for this to be created for use in Ayurvedic medicinal practices. Ayurveda is a medical system that is still used by 80% of the Indian and Nepalese population today and focuses on meditation, special diets, yoga, and more. The use of medicinal spices in Ayurveda makes sense when you consider the immense selection of spices that are native to South Asia. Cinnamon, for example, a common ingredient in chai teas, is native to India, making it a logical addition to chai “karha”.

Karha is the combination of spices used to flavor chai teas. This combination can include a variety of spices.  A few examples of spices commonly used in chai include star anise, black and red pepper, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, and clove.  Combine any of these with a strong black tea like Assam and you’ll have yourself a nice cup of chai tea!

The meaning of the word “chai” is interesting, as well…The Hindi word “chai” actually directly translates to tea! The specific term to refer to what we know as “chai tea” is masala chai, which directly translates to mixed-spice tea. The masala chai we have in our shop is specifically a chai that features the fundamentals of what makes a chai. Because it only features the fundamentals of chai, the tea itself is very mellow compared to other chai combinations. Because of this it’s the perfect tea to use as a base to create your own chai teas using our botanical selection!

As far as steeping your chai tea goes, it can vary depending on the type of tea used in the chai. Traditionally, you’ll see black tea being used.  Black tea usually steeps at around 205 degrees for 3 minutes.  Sometimes you’ll see green and oolong tea used with chais.  It’s actually more common to see green tea used in chai in western areas of India!  Our tea Parker’s Chai is a chai that uses oolong and we recommend steeping it at 195 degrees for 3 minutes.

We also have a large variety of uniquely different chais, as well!  Stumptown Chai, for example, is one of our most unique chais.  It’s a white tea, which gives it a far more refreshing flavor than the more traditional black teas.  It contains a variety of fruits such as pineapple, apple, and coconut, which give a sweet and silky flavor profile.  Aztec Chai is another outside the box chai that has the sweet cocoa and cinnamon flavor you’d expect from a chai but with a rooibos base, instead of the classic black tea.  That means that this tea has no caffeine, making it a great late night treat.

As for more traditional chais, we can easily recommend Parker’s Chai.  It’s the perfect blend of rich chocolate and sweet spice. We also have Diwali Chai, that is centered around a variety of spices that you will find in a traditional chai flavors, and Tea-Juana Chai, which features all the spices you would normally find in a chai, just with an extra cocoa kick.

We hope this helps give you an introduction to chai! If you’re thirsty for more, check out our website to explore our chai selection! Or better yet, come in and try our Chai Flight, where you can try every chai we have, pick a favorite, and take some home with you!

 

The Story Behind BWild Kombucha

  BWild Kombucha is 100% raw and brewed in small batches using only organic fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices. As this is a live beverage, strains of yeast or small pieces of culture may appear – this is totally normal and is actually a great sign! Each of our custom flavors are bottled in amber glass to protect the flavor and the natural probiotics from the elements.

Many of history’s great loves began with an introduction through good friends; my love for Kombucha is no different. I have made it my mission to introduce the Pacific Northwest to Kombucha as it’s never been seen before: handcrafted, fermented to perfection, and naturally flavored.

(My goal has always been to introduce a drink that people would want to give their friends, as ours did for us. Giving them something to talk about takes time, which is why, throughout the years, I have perfected our brewing technique – while remaining local, natural, and authentic.

As for the name “BWild,” it is a shout-out to those who are bold, different, and fearless. Those who aren’t afraid to travel where others haven’t, and to think in ways others may not. To you, we say “thank you,” for taking us along for the ride. Thank you for making us a part of your family, as you have become a part of ours.

 

Barbara Wildhaber — (founder of BWild Kombucha and Oregon native)

“In November, the smell of food is different.”

Cinnamon is a spice that has found a home in many tea drinkers’ cups. But how did it get there? Where does it come from?  Why did we start blending it with our tea?  Let’s find out!

Native to South Asia, cinnamon eventually found its way in Africa and Europe via the silk road.  Among the ancient nations it found itself in, cinnamon was so highly valued that, in many cases, it was gifted to some of the wealthiest and most powerful monarchs of the time.  It was commonly used in food, as incense, and of course… tea!

The history of cinnamon use in tea can be easily traced along with the history of chai, considering that cinnamon is native to India.  It’s an incredibly common ingredient found in chai tea blends and beyond.  Tell us more, you ask? Well, cinnamon is a common pairing with rooibos. The rich maltiness of rooibos is only enhanced by the sweet spiciness of cinnamon.

Cinnamon’s incredible flavor also comes with some incredible health benefits, as well. The iconic aroma of cinnamon comes from the oil cinnamon bark extrudes. This oil contains a high amount of cinnamaldehyde, which is a chemical that can improve your metabolism and reduce inflammation.  Cinnamon also contains a high amount of polyphenols, which are great antioxidants. It can also lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease, and it may have beneficial effects on neurodegenerative diseases!

There’s a long list of teas here in the tea shop that feature cinnamon. Spicy Orange, Aztec Chai, and Chemical X, just to name a few.  Like I mentioned earlier, cinnamon enhances the flavor of tea a lot.  Spicy Orange, for example, pairs its sweet citrus flavor with the spiciness of cinnamon perfectly.  It just wouldn’t be the same without cinnamon!  We couldn’t imagine most cinnamon teas without it…

Cinnamon is such an iconic flavor that it’s easy to picture it in your mind without even tasting it.  Whether it’s in chai, coffee, or Spicy Orange, cinnamon has a home in the cups of people all around the world.  By far, it’s one of the most essential spices in the tea world.