Vermont Liberty Tea

I'm Back!!!!

2012-01-06T11:53:00.000-08:00

Open for business at the old location!!! Opened yesterday. Still alot of work setting up the shop but while I'm putting everything back in its place, I am open for business. Tue thru Sat 10am till 5p, Come on down!

The latest

2011-12-26T14:51:00.000-08:00

So here is the latest. I am going out of town until Jan 1 and when I come back I am moving back into the shop. It should take a few days to get everything in and set up and I am estimating by Jan 5th I shall be open again at the old shop. A new front door(with the glass on the operating side of the door) for all of you who have tried getting through the glass in the old door, new concrete floor with radiant heat and insulated walls. I look forward to seeing you all again at the old new shop.

Update

2011-12-01T05:07:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately they are telling me that it will be another 3 weeks before the shop is ready. I am sorry for the inconvenience. For now I am still at the temporary site Fridays and Saturdays and you can always get me online or email me. vermontlibertytea@myfairpoint.net
Thanks
John

The light at the end of the tunnel

2011-10-31T16:14:00.001-07:00

Good News...work has started on the shop and it looks like we will back around Thanksgiving!!!!
I will be away this week so will not be back at the temporary shop until Nov 11th.

Thanks to all for your continued support and good wishes

John

The temporary Shop

2011-10-16T16:21:00.001-07:00

Still at the restaurant in Waterbury and thank you to all who have found me and the temporary shop.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors- Friends Helping Friends

2011-09-27T15:05:00.000-07:00

Marsala Salsa, a great restaurant in waterbury, has offered us the back room to run the business from until the Tea shop is ready!! So starting this weekend We will be open Fri Sat Sun from 10am to 4:30pm at Marsala Salsa Restaurant on Stowe St in Waterbury. If you need directions, look for one of the resort maps in town. See you all soon

Flood Update

2011-09-19T15:39:00.000-07:00

Flood Update
Well the floor has been removed, the walls 4 feet up are gone and they have dried it all up. Next comes the reconstruction. I am hoping it will take only about 2 more weeks. I want to thank all of you who have offered help, and have been concerned! It's very much appreciated. I will let you know as soon as I am back in the shop and up and running again.
John

Hurricane Irene

2011-09-03T06:53:00.000-07:00

Hurricane Irene left us with a real mess in the shop. Water to 2 feet everywhere. Then there was the silt left after the water receded. In order for the Landlord to get the building in shape again, we have to move the shop out of the building... I am storing it between many friends basements that were not affected by the storm.

Mine was filled with water so I am dealing with that too..

I will be trying to keep up with online orders and those of you who live locally, I will be picking up my phone messages and trying to fill orders and meet you at the tea shop when you can pick them up.... just give me a day or two.

Thank you all for the emotional and physical support. You will never know how much easier it makes it all and how much I appreciate it.

Mine was unfortunately

Organic Makurazaki Black Tea Hime Fuki

2011-08-10T07:21:00.000-07:00

WOW!, this black tea is beyond description. The sweetness and floral notes are incredible. I ordered it from www.yuuki-cha.com. It isn't cheap but well worth it. It isn't an everyday tea, more like a decadent indulgence. I also ordered the Hime Hikari and the Hatsumomiji. They were both less expensive but also not as impressive.

The Hime Fuki has won a gold star two years running at the Great Taste Awards in the UK.

I also have to say that yuuki-cha.com got my tea to me in 5 days... great customer service!!

Japanese Black Teas, Who Knew?

2011-08-03T12:33:00.000-07:00

I just had a visit from a young English customer...he has just finished his 2nd year at Oxford. He knows his teas. He has just made me aware of Japanese Black Tea. I went on line and have ordered a small sample to try. I'll let you know when I get them. He says that they have a very unique taste.
As soon as he left the shop I received a note from another new customer telling me about Australian teas that are supposed to have less caffeine and reduced tannins compared to other teas. I'll try to get hold of some of that as well. Ah, the limitless world of tea.

Bad News about Cuppouri Infuser

2010-12-01T08:16:00.000-08:00

I just spoke with the manufacturer of the Cuppouri infuser. He informed me that he has 110 left and they will no longer be making them.

I know many of you really liked them so wanted to let you know, there are only 110 left. I will probably have them around the 10th of Dec.

2010-07-27T08:47:00.000-07:00

The infuser travel mugs are back in stock!!!!

Bohea

2010-07-16T06:45:00.000-07:00

For those of you who were waiting for me to get Bohea in, it's here.

Bohea
Grown high in the Wuyi mountains of China this remarkable tea was once the talk of Europe and made a splash in American history as one of the teas thrown overboard at the Boston Tea PartyGrown high in the Wuyi mountains of China this remarkable tea was once the talk of Europe and made a splash in American history as one of the teas thrown overboard at the Boston Tea Party
It is a smoked tea but very different from Lapsang Souchong, lighter with an oakey smoked taste..... small tin $8

Tea Trip to San Francisco

2010-05-13T07:22:00.000-07:00

The first part of May I took a short trip to San Francisco. They have some amazing places for tea that I would highly recommend. First and foremost, don't miss the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park. The garden is awesome and have some tea and mochi while you are there. A real surprise was "Samovar". There are 3 of them around the city and they have a very innovative menu, a wide variety of tea, knowledgeable staff, and beautiful presentation. Bring money, it's on the expensive side but worth it. China town was dissappointing to me for tea, but down at the Ferry Building or in Berkeley, head to the Imperial Tea Court. This tea room and tea shop are focused on Chinese tea. They serve it Gong Fu style. Looking for an inexpensive British style tea?, head for Leland Tea Company. Leland offers a wide variety of teas, scones, tea sandwiches etc.

I also went to Berkely to have lunch at Alice Water's Chez Panisse. It was very nice...food was exceptional, simple and fresh. The reason I went was that years ago I read a book called the "The Agony of the Leaves" by Helen Gustafson. Helen worked at Chez Panisse and had a love of tea. Consequently she taught them how to do tea right. I wanted to see if after her passing they continued to "serve tea right". They do!!! Although the number of teas they offer are few, they make a great cup of tea. They are one of the very few restaurants in this country that do it right.

All of the places mentioned above have websites... google them and the next time you are in San Francisco, check them out.

Tea Lovers

2010-04-20T06:52:00.000-07:00

No matter where a tea lover is or what he has to work with.... they make do and must have their chai.

Growing Ginger at Home

2010-03-23T07:55:00.000-07:00

March 23, 2010

I find that many tea drinkers are also big fans of Ginger. Ginger is very easy to grow at home in the house. The next time you use ginger from the store to cook with, whatever you don't use, throw into a pot of dirt and keep it watered. In about 2 weeks you will see little sprouts pop out of the pot. Don't plant it too deep, you want it to eventually grow big roots at the surface of the dirt so harvesting is easy. Every time you use your ginger, throw the peels and what you don't use into another pot and start another. I have been growing ginger at home for several years now. I have used it in Kombucha that I make, cooking, candied ginger, for ginger syrup, and a ginger liqueur. It makes great gifts for friends.

You can put them out in the garden in the warmer weather but bring them back inside before frost.

2009-12-09T07:56:00.000-08:00

Dec 9 2009
Liz, the owner of Inky Dinky Oink, a beautiful bed and breakfast in Moscow VT(Stowe VT) will be opening a tea room or tea garden in the Spring. Liz is an artist and has an amazing art gallery. In addition to great teas, she will be serving both savory and sweets. Keep an eye out for her opening. Those of you who have been to the Moscow Tea House, you will know exactly where the Inky Dinky Oink B&B is, it is across road from the old Moscow Tea House.

Tea in a Jar

2009-08-03T08:56:00.001-07:00

I know I am really bad at keeping the blog up to date but I will get better, promise!

So back in May I went to the annual tea trade show(World Tea Expo) in Las Vegas. The big change this year was the number of tea manufacturers who were trying to sell directly to those of us who usually use importers to get our teas. There were also two very interesting Korean tea sellers. The had herbals like Hydrangea, Aloe, Buckwheat, and Chrysanthemum tea as well as "tea in a jar" a fermented fruit in honey and sugar that has been a big seller. Just two tsp of the syrup in a large mug, add hot water and you have sweet fruit drink. So far I have had the ginger, pomegranete, citron and papaya.

New travel mug with infuser

2009-08-03T08:48:00.000-07:00

I just got a new travel mug that has an infuser in it that retracts into the lid when you are done steeping your teas

Paris Tea shops

2009-02-19T10:33:00.000-08:00

My Favorite New Tea Infusers

This brewing basket from Finum which fits in a cup/mug, a tea pot or a mason jar to make tea or iced tea, is not only versatile but with the fine stainless steel mesh is easy to clean and keeps all the tea in the basket. $9.00

Designed and Manufactured in Maine, USA, This infuser is made of hard plastic that does not add a plastic taste to your tea. The mesh on it is very fine so nothing gets through it. Dishwasher safe and easy to clean. Comes with its own coaster. $6.00 call to order 802-244-6102 or order online

Cuppouri infuser

PARIS TEA SHOPS

In October I went to Paris to check out the incredible tea shops there. If you get to Paris and love tea, here are a few to check out. The one I would definitely not miss is Mariage Freres. This tea shop has been around since the mid 1800s and is a real experience. They have incredible teas from all over the world and a tea room that shouldn't be missed. The food, the teas, the service is unbelievable. I had lunch there one day and afternoon tea another. They have 3 shops in Paris but the one to go to is 30-32-35 Rue du Bourg-Tibourg in the Marais. I bought an incredible Golden Monkey Black Tea there, rich in notes of cocoa.

Another not to be missed is Maison Des Trois Thes. This shop specializes in Oolongs and PuEhrs. Bring lots of money and go after 1:30pm and do a tasting of one of the teas. This shop could be intimidating if not for the friendly, helpful staff. The teas are in a league all of their own.

We found it by accident. It was difficult to find the street on our maps. The address is 1 rue Saint Medard. I purchased a Ti Guan Yin 6 there and am only sharing it with very special friends. The sweet floral aroma and taste is exquisite.

The Teas at the Le Palais des Thes didn't seem as exceptional as the first two shops but they have a Tea book there, written by the owner and master taster, that is by far the best tea book I have ever read. It comes in french and english and you can even order it on their website. It is on the expensive side but worth every euro. http://www.palaisdesthes.com/

Two other shops that were really nice and deserve a visit were La Route du The, 14 rue Lacepede and Terre de Chine, 49 rue Quincampoix where I bought a Keemun Mao Feng and an Imperial Jasmine that I continue to enjoy.