TeaTuesday and upcoming Classes

We just got the sorapot in! It is the most beautiful way to see and steep your tea. You can watch the agony of the leaf as it unfurls and then enjoy two cups of tea.

#TeaTuesday is a twitter campaign that we are using to have extended hours and give a bit of information about tea. We are open til 7pm on Tuesdays and will have tea to sample and information about tea.
Starting in September we will have classes on how to make the perfect cup of tea, cooking with tea, making kombucha. Stop by the store to sign up for the classes.
Enjoy a short break in your day, by slowing down, making a cup and savoring your tea.

Tea Cocktails

Last night siptea made 3 tea cocktails for the Grand Opening Party. The most popular was the Mojito, or Mo-tea-to, then the Pina Chai-lada and a Lapsang Souchong Whiskey Sour.

Mojito

Day before put green tea (I used organic Gunpowder green tea) in Vodka to infuse, use approx. 6-8 Tbsp. per 1.75L of vodka
Make a pot of double strength Mint tisane (herbal tea)
Add sugar to Mint tea to taste

Combine
1 part Green Tea Vodka
3 parts sweetened Organic Mint tisane
1/2 part lime juice
pour in glass with ice
garnish with fresh mint

Pina Chai-lada

Day before put Chai (I used organic Masala Chai black tea) in rum to infuse, use appox. 6-8 Tbsp. per 1.75 L this infuses quickly, so could be done a few hours before.
Make a pot of double strength organic Coconut green tea
Add sugar to Coconut green tea

Combine
1 part Chai spiced rum
2 parts Coconut Green tea
1 part fresh pineapple
Blend well
pour over ice
garnish with pineapple slice or umbrella

Lapsang Souchong Sour

Day before put Lapsang Souchong (I used organic Lapsang Souchong) in Marker's Mark, use approx. 6-8 Tbsp. per 1.75 L. This makes a great smoky whiskey, it actually resembles a aged peety, smoky scotch whisky when finished infusing & can be enjoy neat in a glass too.

Combine
1 part Lapsang Souchong infused Maker's Mark (or other whiskey)
3 parts sour mix (you can make your own, I used the mix for the party)
pour over ice
garnish with maraschino cherry

Enjoy & let me know if you have any tea infused cocktails you want to share!

Matcha Shortbread Recipe

Thought I should put up the recipe for the Matcha Shortbread Cookies I made. It is my mother's recipe that I modified.

Oven temp 300-325 degrees

Matcha Shortbread
1 pound of salted organic butter, good quality
1/2 pound of very fine organic sugar, (approx. 1 cup heaped)
6 C less 2 Tbsp. of organic flour sifted
2 Tbsp. of organic Matcha powder

If you can't find very fine organic sugar, castor sugar is a non-organic substitution or blend organic sugar in food processor with blade or in blender til fine.

Kneed butter & sugar together. I do use a mixer with the paddle for this. Add sifted Matcha powder & flour. Kneed together in mixer til just starts to come together, then finish by hand. Roll or pat flat. Cut into shapes, squares, wedges, etc. Place on an un-greased cookie sheet. Cookies do not rise or spread, so roll & cut accordingly. Prick surface all over with a fork. Bake 20-25 minutes. Sift very fine sugar over the top when hot if desired.

Enjoy!

Sign Up on the Window at 1627

We are now officially here on Montana Ave. Our sign was installed! I don't know if it's my imagination, but we seem to have gotten more people in the store, so hey signs do work to tell people what you are doing & let them know where you are. Next have to hang the banner, that should go up in a day or so. Will try to update before heading to Las Vegas for World Tea Expo.

Ed Moses Installing Piece

Yesterday started the install of a large work by Ed Moses, Los Angeles painter who has work in museums all over the world. It was really cool seeing him directing the hanging of his work. In July, Montana Ave. has art walk, so we will have Ed Moses up in our space for the event. Montana Ave. Art Walk July 21st, from 5pm to 9m. We will have tea cocktails & snacks for the event. If you are on the Westside for the weekend the 405 is shut down we will be doing a Buy Local event at siptea, so come by for special offers.
And as always, take a break in your day, make a cup and siptea...

Knit in Public Today at siptea

Come by this weekend to knit in public at siptea. We have a nice table set up in the back and even have some treats for you. Get a tea sample and also a matcha green tea shortbread cookie. Plus you get to show off your mad knitting skills! I am wearing the most impressive thing I have ever knitted, a poncho. I have a sweater in the works, but it is still not finished, I think the problem with trying to start a business and still working my old job, makes it hard to fit in knitting a sweater. I did find time to make some organic lapsang souchong infused Marker's Mark for a friends birthday and the matcha shortbread for siptea. The rest of the shortbread are also going to the birthday party, any left will be available for sampling on Sunday at siptea.

New Products Coming In Everyday

Week number two down, and word is starting to spread. We plan on doing evening classes and had a fund raiser in the space for SMASH, Santa Monica Alternative School House. So lots of things going on in the space. The art sale was fun & a great turnout.
We just got in three new products. The Eco Cup, which is a porcelain travel cup with silicone top & grip band. Best way to enjoy your tea on the go, porcelain! The iced version, Eco Cup on Ice, comes with it's own straw. Handy ridge on the straw keeps it from falling out of the top. The last product is the steep, silicone collapsible tea infuser. This is a great way to enjoy real tea on the go!