Brunch at the Teahouse – A Mother’s Day Indulgence

Brunch under the Shade of an Apricot Tree

With Mother’s Day coming quickly, you may still be looking for just the right gift for the mom in your life.  Spoil her with a relaxing trip to the Teahouse.  Our brunch menu is bursting with a full spread of gluten free and regular fresh-baked pastries, innovative egg dishes, oatmeal with maple cream, granola with yoghurt and fresh fruits.  Settle in under the shade of an apricot tree on our made-for-spring patio with a Mimosa or Bellini, or one of our rare teas.  We also just spruced up our outdoor lounging area with freshly planted herbs and flowers – the ideal scene for celebrating mom.

Surprise Mom with a Trip to Italy or New Orleans … Right Here in Santa Fe

Our Italian-inspired “Cacio e Pepe” dish of steamed eggs, pecorino and pepper will transport her to the culinary mecca that is Italy.  Our rendition is a play on the traditional Cacio e Pepe served with pasta instead of eggs; we’ve discovered ours is lovely for brunch.  Our homemade scones are uniquely fluffy and light – a scrumptious partner for a New Orleans styled iced coffee.  Cold brewed and infused with roasted chicory, this frosty libation will take her to the birthplace of jazz with the first sip.  “I’m from New Orleans and it tastes like home,” said one Teahouse guest.

Make the Teahouse One of your Passport to the Arts Stops

The highly anticipated Passport to the Arts extravaganza will take place May 10th, 11th and 12th.  This special event celebrates all that Canyon Road represents: exquisite art, an unparalleled setting and the catalyst for inspired conversation.  We invite you to make the Teahouse one of your stops.  Engulf your senses with our aromatic Provençal Lavender Lemonade, the perfect refresher to a sunlit afternoon on The Road. While the Teahouse is ideal for celebratory events, we strive to make every day here a celebration of good food and drink – it’s good for the soul.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

New menu items at The Teahouse

Every month we try to add something new and delicious to our menu. Next month we'll be debuting two rare and highly sought-after teas.The first is a 2006 VINTAGE GREEN PU ERH. Hand-picked from ancient pu erh tea trees, this tea has a flowery honey flavor and a lingering sweetness. One of our favorites, you can enjoy this tea for 8-10 infusions.

We'll also be offering a great new Japanese green tea, HASHIRI SHINCHA, a 2013 first flush Japanese tea from the famous Moriuchi tea farm. Tea grown at this farm has received many awards and the farm has been selected as a tea supplier for the Emperor's palace. Shincha means "new tea" in Japanese and hashiri means “the first of the season”. It is the first of the first flush teas made from the very young leaves and buds of the tea plant that are picked by hand. This tea is characterized by its fresh aroma and sweetness.

We have two new sandwiches on the menu. The Tuscan is a panini made with roasted pork, wild mushrooms and fontina cheese. The Caprese is an Italian classic made with fresh mozzarella, ripe tomato and pesto.

For those of you with a sweet tooth, in May we will be offering classic Cannoli Siciliano, a crisp pastry tube filled with our house made sweet ricotta filling with one end dipped in pistachios and the other in shaved chocolate. We will also be offering three delicious flavors of biscotti -- classic almond, coconut macadamia, and lemon/cranberry/pistachio.

We anticipate we will have a license to serve wine and beer within the next couple of weeks. Our plan is to offer a few high quality reds and whites by the glass at very reasonable prices. Stay tuned for details.

Make sure to follow us on our blog, Facebook,  Twitter  and Instagram for more updates on our menu and Teahouse happenings!

DRINK TO HEALTH

Science says to sip (much) more tea

The world has been drinking tea for centuries, but scientific knowledge has only recently caught up with the ancient wisdom of brewing the beverage. The Washington Post just published an article on the newly proven health benefits of tea and the ways Americans are shifting their habits accordingly. It turns out tea consumption is swiftly increasing in the United States, with home consumption rising over 10% a year for the last decade and 160 million Americans pausing for a cup of tea every day. What's the reason behind the trend?

Prevent cardiovascular disease

An epidemiological study from Taiwan concluded that those who drank 4 to 20 ounces of tea a day were 46 percent less likely to develop high blood pressure, and an American study on chronic disease showed that people drinking 12 or more ounces a day had about half the risk of heart attack as people who drank no tea.

Lose weight

A 2004 study with lab mice discovered that several compounds in green tea helped prevent weight gain and fat accumulation. A John Hopkins School of Medicine professor also noted tea's apparent ability to help manage glucose and insulin levels, which aids digestion.

Prevent cancer

The research is a bit less clear on cancer, though there have been some promising results in recent years. One study mentioned in the Post article reported that drinking 10 cups of green tea a day helps prevent multiple cancers, and a review from the Journal of the American College of Nutrition tied green tea to a lower risk of ovarian, prostate and breast cancers.

How much tea is enough to see the benefits? “The more tea you drink, the better. It's astounding, really,” said Thomas G. Sherman, an associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology at Georgetown University Medical Center who was interviewed by the Post. In many of the studies, the people who drank the most tea (sometimes upwards of 5 cups a day) tended to see the most benefits.

Tea masters prescribe anywhere from two to five cups a day. Scientists have found that adding milk to your tea can reduce some of the benefits. The drink is generally just as healthy iced, but only if it's brewed hot and then cooled rather than made with powder.

Follow our blog, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts for more information on the health benefits of tea or come in and check out our selection of over 120 teas from around the world.

FOUR EXTRAORDINARY NEW TEAS

On April 10 The Teahouse will be introducing four extraordinary premium teas - three vintage aged Pu-Erhs and a rare Oolong.

One of the five main types of tea, Pu-erh is often touted for its cholesterol-lowering properties, or for promoting weight loss. Like fine wines, Pu Erhs are aged to enhance their taste. The best Pu-Erhs have no astringency and deep, rich body.

1999 VINTAGE TUO CHA PU-ERH: This Pu-Erh produces 4+ rich, full bodied infusions with an earthy intensity and rich quality.

2001 OAK BARREL AHED PU-ERH: Plucked from tea trees that are centuries old, aged in oak barrels 3 years, then cured to mellow the tannins. An incredibly smooth and delicious tea that will be enjoyable for 3+ infusions.

1982 VINTAGE CAVE AGED PU-ERH: A Pu-Erh of exceptional quality that has been cellar-aged for over 20 years, this incredible tea exhibits a mellow, smooth, earthy flavor for 4+ infusions.

The secret to our newest oolong, Freak of Nature Oolong, is that it only occurs when the temperature changes from 80 degrees to 20 degrees then back to 80 degrees within a short amount of time. This temperature change creates the outrageous buttery shortbread component to the tea. A world class oolong that is in very limited supply, it will be enjoyable for 4+ infusions.

Check out our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds for more updates on our latest teas! 

NEW SINGLE ORIGIN COFFEES

We may be best known for our huge selection of great teas from around the world, but we also take a lot of pride in making great coffee and espresso. If you are a coffee lover, we have great news -- The Teahouse now offers a selection of delicious single origin coffees from some of the world's best coffee growing regions..

PERU BALCONES-  A special group of 48 growers from the Cajamarca region of northwestern Peru have refined their harvesting and production methods to consistently achieve a quality cup with a creamy body and flavors of maple, apricot and cranberry.

BOLIVIA COPACABANA- From small producers situated in the Caranavi region, this coffee is fully washed and sun dried on screens to bring out floral, orange and cinnamon flavor and a balanced body.

SULAWESI A TANA TORAJA- From producers certified for meeting high standards for selective picking, storage, and transportation, this brew has flavors of grapefruit and passion fruit and a medium body.

RWANDA MUSASA- Flavors of plum and red apple and a crisp, clean body characterize this brew from a cooperative of small growers situated in Rwanda’s rugged northwest. This coffee is hand picked when fully ripe and sorted three separate times before being sun dried on raised beds.

ETHIOPIA SIDAMO GUJI SHAKISO- Coffee is a core part of the culture for the Guji Oromo people. This coffee underwent meticulous selection, separation, post harvest handling and drying to create a remarkable cup with lemon and jasmine flavors and a medium body.

FRENCH PRESS and POUR OVER

When you order a cup of single origin coffee, we weigh, grind, and brew it to order. If you prefer a rich, bold, full-bodied cup, we will steep and press your coffee in a french press. If you want a more balanced and nuanced cup and have some patience, we will brew your cup by hand using the pour over method.

Of course, if you are in a hurry for that first cup of the morning, you can still enjoy a cup of our machine brewed house blend or an Americano.

Click here to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more updates on our ever-changing menu. Also, don't forget to RSVP for the Santa Fe Tea Enthusiasts, our awesome new tea club!

ON THE TEA TRAIL

Since The Teahouse changed hands, our new owners have been on the hunt for excellent new teas to offer you.

Last month we added several premium Japanese teas, including a terrific Gyokuru. This month two additional premium Japanese teas have arrived. The first is CEREMONIAL GRADE MATCHA, a thick and creamy matcha of the highest quality that has a full flavor and a bright green color. The second is SENCHA SAKURA, a rare blend of green tea and cherry blossom that is only available for a limited time in early spring. Other new teas include:

AGED PU EHR (China): Unlike other teas, pu ehr is aged after undergoing a natural fermentation process, which creates a rich-bodied tea with little or no astringency. Our aged pu ehr has been aged five years creating a bold, rich cup.

TUSCAN BLEND: An award-winning smooth herbal blend of apple pieces, silver linden tree blossoms, Melissa leaves, lavender blossoms, rose petals, sweet blackberry leaves, orange blossoms, and mallow blossoms.

TOTAL BODY: A stunning Ayurvedic blend of herbs and flowers blended to provide a sense of overall comfort and well being to the entire body. Includes peppermint and spearmint for their relaxing qualities, ginger for vitality, Osmanthus and Hibiscus for a calming aroma, Rooibos for its vitamin rich goodness, apple and almond for a dash of vitamins,  and rose hip for a floral boost.

GINGER ROOIBOS: This excellent tea combines the natural, caffeine free energizing impact of real ginger root with the taste of pure Rooibos.

VANILLA ROOIBOS: High quality vanilla enhances the taste of pure Rooibos.

If you're eager to try new teas, join us for the Santa Fe Tea Enthusiasts, our new tea club that meets on the first Saturday of every month.  We'll gather at The Teahouse to experience three or four new teas and enjoy each others' company. Our next meeting is Saturday, March 2 at 10 am. Click here to join the Facebook event, and check out our Twitter feed for updates on the club.

New Treats for your Sweetheart

It's a not-so-well kept secret at The Teahouse that our chef Rich loves giving out samples. Once a day he'll swing by with a taste of a Teahouse treat like Italian chocolate cake, tiramisu, strawberry shortcake or something new from our menu.

With Valentine's Day coming up we decided to add some extra sweet indulgences to our ever-changing menu. If you've yet to make plans for the big day, just stroll up Canyon Road and join us -- no reservations required. Here's a little preview of the delicacies to chose from:

Chocolate Hazelnut Molten Lava Cake- Our Valentine's Day special features delicious chocolate cake on the outside with a warm, creamy, oozing chocolate hazelnut center.

Jake's Dream- Our co-owner Jake was fast asleep when this delicious desert idea floated into his head -- our decadent house-made chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream and raspberry coulis.

Tiramisu- Italian for “lift me up”, our authentic version of this classic might be the most satisfying dessert in Santa Fe.

Strawberry Shortcake- Our popular twist on a classic, we start with one of our famous fresh baked scones, add a healthy helping of sweet strawberries and cream, and seal the deal with a touch of raspberry coulis.

Italian Chocolate Cake- Rich, moist and delicious, made with chocolate imported from Italy.

Affogato Al Cafe- Often seen on the menu in Rome, a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream drowned in a shot of espresso.

Gingerbread- Warm, moist and gingery, served with a dollop of cream.

Click here to see other delicious additions to our menu, and join us on Twitter and Facebook for more news from The Teahouse. We've also started a monthly tea club, and would love to see you at our next gathering on Saturday, March 2. Click here to learn more and join the Facebook event!

Adventures in Tea: Masala Chai in India

Chai is the word for tea in Southern Asia, so ordering “chai tea” is a bit redundant. What we call chai—that soothing mixture of black tea, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, pepper and other soothing flavors—is actually known as masala chai, and historians are as befuddled by its origins as the West is by its name. The blend may have come from India or Thailand, from a royal court or Ayurvedic medical texts. Its ancient roots twist through the hills of Nepal, Tibet and Pakistan.

In any case, masala chai was considered more of a medicinal brew than a recreational beverage until India's late colonial period, when Great Britain started Indian tea plantations to compete with China for the British tea market. The colonists helmed a massive tea campaign throughout India, encouraging companies to give employees tea breaks and introducing the tradition of adding milk to tea. Chai wallahs (Indian tea vendors) started using smaller amounts of the expensive tea and adding lots of cheap milk and sugar, and the modern chai latte was born.

Nowadays folks in some parts of Southern Asia enjoy up to four small cups of masala chai a day. Our head chef and co-owner Rich Freedman took part in the delicious multicultural tradition on a five week journey to India last year:

“Like many others who have traveled in India, I came away with fond memories of drinking chai. The most memorable was my first cup of chai. A friend recommended a car service to get from the airport in Mumbai to my destination. He told me that when the driver stopped to get gas, I should get a cup of chai. I walked into a bustling, crowded, chaotic, cafeteria-like place that was packed with Indian travelers. I found the spot where chai was being sold, bought a cup, and, in the midst of chaos, enjoyed the most delicious cup of chai imaginable.”

At The Teahouse we have developed our own recipes for traditional chai and some unique variations. Our SANTA FE TEA HOUSE CHAI is a traditional, masala-style chai that combines premium black tea with warming cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and other spices. Our SPICY CHOCOLATE CHAI combines chocolate and cayenne with the exotic flavors and spices of our Santa Fe Teahouse Chai to create a rich, spicy, tea with a soft liquid chocolate texture. Our ROOIBOS CHAI is a great choice for chai lovers who prefer a decaffeinated cup. We also offer WHITE SAGE MINT CHAI, which is a delicious blend of green tea, sage, mint, cardamom, and other spices.

We invite you to join us at The Teahouse for a delicious cup of freshly made chai: hot, creamy, spicy, and fragrant. You can also order our chai on our website—people from all over the country and as far away as Australia rely on us for their chai.

REFILL: Check out our tea menu to learn more about our world class selection of teas, and see our Facebook and Twitter feeds for wisdom on all things tea.

New Year's Sidekicks: Four reasons to drink matcha

They say it takes about two weeks to start forming a habit and two more for it to really stick. If you've been diligent until now, your New Year's resolution is almost ingrained. If you're anything like us, it might be time to try our resolution booster: Matcha. 

Matcha is a powdered green tea that holds a special place in Japanese culture. Its harvest is central to the Way of Tea, a traditional Japanese ceremony that has roots in Zen Buddhism. Several weeks prior to picking, farmers shade their tea bushes to inhibit growth and encourage the production of amino acids. After the leaves turn dark green, tea buds are hand selected and laid flat to dry. The leaves are de-veined, de-stemmed, and ground into a bright green powder. 

When the matcha is finally ready, family and friends come together for special tea gatherings. Because the fresh matcha powder is combined directly with water rather than brewed in a bag, it passes on all the benefits of the nutrient-rich tea leaf.

What does this have to do with your New Year's pact? Matcha is loaded with compounds that can help you on your quest to keep almost any resolution. Here's how matcha can support some common goals: 

Improve your health 

Matcha is one of the healthiest beverages on the planet. Just one cup contains ten times the nutritional value of a cup of regular green tea. The drink contains vitamin A and C, selenium, chromium, zinc, potassium and magnesium, and has been shown to help fight cancer, reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and battle bacteria and infection. Our Pure Matcha has a sweet, vegetal taste but is sugar free, so it's a great option for those trying to reduce sugar consumption.

Relax

Matcha is packed with L-Theanine, an amino acid that acts as a mood enhancer, reducing stress and relaxing the mind. There's up to five times more L-Theanine in matcha than in most black and green teas. 

Sharpen your focus

For centuries Buddhist monks have used matcha to help them stay focused for hours of meditation. Unlike coffee, matcha has tannins that release caffeine to the bloodstream over 6 to 8 hours, allowing for extended periods of alertness without the jitters. 

Lose weight 

Matcha has 137 times the amount of metabolism boosting EGCG antioxidants as regular green tea.  A recent study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that matcha increases energy expenditure and helps your body burn fat without producing negative side effects or significantly altering your heart rate. 

There are several ways to enjoy Matcha at the Teahouse:

Pure Matcha that can be consumed in the traditional manner, mixed with hot water, or in a latte with your choice of regular, soy, rice, almond or coconut milk. 

Sweet Matcha, for Matcha lovers with a sweet tooth.

Ginger Matcha for those who want to spice up their Matcha with ginger root.

White Chocolate Matcha for the many who believe everything tastes better with chocolate.

Swing by The Teahouse this week and refresh your resolutions with a cup of our famous matcha. Also, make sure to enter our Facebook contest for three gift certificates to The Teahouse. You could start your year with $100 worth of Matcha! 

Healthy Holidays: Tie up your tea with a big red bow

During Chinese New Year, which is coming up on February 10, children traditionally serve their elders cups of tea. The kids receive smaller cups in return, and everybody drinks to good health and new beginnings.

It's easy to put off thinking about resolutions until after the turkey is gobbled, the cookies munched and the champagne guzzled, but as you select your holiday gifts this year think back to that lovely Chinese ceremony. A bag of tea is a way to show love, respect and blessings—and it certainly makes for a healthy start come January 1! 

The Teahouse offers more than 100 different teas from China, India, Japan, Sri Lanka and Santa Fe, where our original flavored teas are blended. One of our new traditions this year is to spotlight two of our teas each month. Our featured December brews, or any of our gourmet teas, would be a great stocking surprise.

Pomegranate Dragonfruit  has been the most popular drink on our menu lately, which earned it a slot as our Green Tea of the Month. The brew offers a taste explosion of sour cherries and sweet pineapple, with a hint of lemongrass for a smooth finish.

Drinking more green tea is a great New Year's resolution, especially as we enter the height of flu season. Green (and black) tea plants produce organic compounds that defend them against infections, and the benefits are passed to us through their leaves.

Studies have shown that the abundant catechins in green tea, especially ECGC, help prevent the flu virus from replicating in our throats as we sip. Tea leaves' tannins, polyphenols and phytochemicals also fight flu and cold viruses and help strengthen the immune system.

Our Black Tea of the Month is called Margaret's Hope Darjeeling, and it comes paired with a poignant story. The leaves are from the Margaret's Hope tea garden in India, which was owned by a British fellow named Mr. Bagdon in the 1930's.

When Bagdon took his two daughters on a voyage to India to see the plantation, his younger daughter Margaret fell in love with the garden. She hoped to return one day, but got sick and passed away on the return journey to England. Mr. Bagdon named the place in her memory. 

Margaret's Hope is a sparkling, fully-aromatic tea from the beginning of the second flush period, which is the June to mid-August growing season in Darjeeling, India. Second flush tea has a dark amber color and very strong flavor, so make sure not to steep it for too long.

Come by The Teahouse any time this week and give the gift of health and happiness with a purchase of a pound or more of any of our gourmet teas. We'll be spreading holiday cheer right up until Christmas Eve, when we're hosting a bonfire as part of the Canyon Road Farolito Walk. If you start to get chilly, visit us for some hot chocolate—just don't wait until then to get your gift tea!

SECOND CUP: Want a refill on news from The Teahouse? Browse our Twitter and Facebook feeds for steaming hot quotes, facts and upcoming events!