As we entered the gardens, the first thing I received was my own hat and basket. “You have a long day ahead,” said Rebecca to me with a laugh as she pointed us to the bushes. Floral ladies everywhere, with small razors at the tip of their index fingers surrounded us, quickly picking the best leaves possible in their designated sections.
Month: March 2009
Hanami: The Cherry Blossom Festival Welcomes Spring
Lindsey “Vee” shares how she will be celebrating the start of spring and Hanami, the Cherry Blossom Festival with friends and tea. “Hanami is a long-standing Japanese tradition of welcoming spring. Also known as the “cherry blossom festival,” this annual celebration is about appreciating the temporal beauty of nature.”
San Francisco: The Heart of America’s Tea Renaissance
Lindsey “Vee” writes about America’s exciting tea renaissance. “The U.S. is in the midst of a tea renaissance. Tea traditions that had long lain dormant under the surface of American culture have sprung to vibrant life. Tea rituals, tea flavors and types, tea foods and teaware have begun to intermix with one another to create a new fusion style of tea that is wildly international and yet distinctly American.”
A Meditation Begins at Samovar Hayes Valley
Tea Ambassador and Yogi, Les finds himself in quite meditation on a rainy night at Samovar, Hayes Valley.
The Ancient Tea-Horse Road
Simon reports on one of the oldest trade routes in the world: China’s Ancient Tea-Horse Road. Tea has been brought into the Himalayas for over a millennium via this rugged foot path.
The Spice Route: Imbibe Scores our Chai Recipe
Everyone loves and craves Samovar’s Organic Masala Chai. What good fortune: Imbibe Magazine shares Samovar’s Chai recipe with the world!
St. Patrick’s Day Green Tea Cocktail
Lindsey whips up a frothy green Tea Ale Cocktail just in time for St. Patricks Day. Sláinte!
Jodet’s Tea Trip to Taiwan Part II
When Lorraine and I first arrived in Taiwan, we were so excited, we were filming and photographing everything. We were ready to engulf ourselves in all of what the tea culture had to offer us, and we did. At first, we had no idea what we would be doing, since our entire itinerary was in […]
Tea is Hot! San Jose Mercury News Visits Samovar and Tells it Like it is.
For a long time, it was listed on menus just by color. Then, suddenly, there were tastings and classes, talk of varietals, origin, terroir. Like wine 20 years ago, tea has become the drink to know.
Any beverage that’s been around for 3,000 years can hardly be called an overnight success. But even those who have been in the tea business for decades acknowledge a recent spurt of interest.
SF Weekly Tastes Tea at Samovar Hayes Valley
SF Weekly’s SFoodie pays a visit to Samovar Hayes Valley for a tea tasting. Get the scoop on the author, Janine’s experience at Samovar’s latest tea spot.