It’s always a surprise to enter the Laboratory at Smith Teamaker- you never know who you’ll find mixing it up with Steve. This time, it was Oregon Ballet Theatre’s own principal dancer, Alison Roper. She met with Steve a few weeks ago to take a spin around the Teaworks, taste a variety of teas and botanicals, and choreograph a special blend she could share with her friends and fans of the ballet. Since Tiffany was on hand with her camera that day, we have photos to share with you. Enter the Teaworks and follow along with Alison’s journey of creating her own special tea blend.
Allison showing off some delicious tea.
The lab table prepped for the tasting.
Alison and Diane Syrcle, Executive Director of OBT, discussing the key ingredients for a tea blend
Ballerina Footwear
Steven explaining the merits of different ingredients
It’s not all work in the tea lab. Alison having a good laugh.
Hello all friends of Smith Teamaker! I’ve had the pleasure and privilege of working part-time at Smith since last Christmas, and just last week I had a work-time revelation. I used to not be a big hibiscus fan. I liked the idea, but the actuality was often too astringent for my tastes. Then I met Big Hibiscus. The deeply crimson flowers themselves are beautiful, both to the eye and the nose, and the blend is at once rich and light, floral and fruity, with the slightest touch of the aromatic. I love it.
We’ve had a lovely spell of much needed 83-91 degree days here in Portland, and this kind-of weather brings margaritas to my mind. So there I was, sitting on the line while we were running BH, and it hit me: these flavors would be GREAT in a margarita! On the way home that night I stopped and picked up a bottle of tequila and some lemons and limes along with my dinner sundries. After a little tinkering, I came up with a recipe I’m pretty excited about, and I thought I’d share it here in hopes that some of you would enjoy it as much as me. The resulting cocktail is unique and delicious, as well as being the most beautiful shade of crimson I’m calling it an Indian Summer in hopes that our beautiful weather will stick around for a while before the rains return. Keep your fingers crossed for us. Best, Elizabeth
Indian Summer
6 tea bags Smith Teamaker Big Hibiscus tea
hot water
5 lemons
5 limes
simple syrup (I’ll explain)*
kosher salt
tequila (I like a silver as opposed to gold tequila for this drink)
A: After A long day of painting, or before painting to put me in the right mindset.
Q: Which famous figures in history would you most like to have tea with?
A: I would like to talk painting over a cup of tea with John Singer Sargent, or Maybe Paul Cezanne.
Q: Which famous living person would you least like to have tea with?
A: Probably Lady Gaga (more…)
Meet Jill: Accounts and the fastest box folder this side of the Mississippi
Q: What was your happiest time drinking tea?
A: When Steve brought home tastings of his newly formulated Honeybush tea. I had recently been to South Africa and when I returned, brought him a package of loose Honeybush tea (I think it cost about 2 Rand which was probably .50 cents US at the time) from a grocery in LadyBrand. He told me that was the best leaf Honeybush he had tasted so far. Unfortunately, the packaging was lost and I had only brought one back for him so we weren’t able to use the particular brand. While I was in Africa, Honeybush and Rooibos were common like Lipton and Red Rose are here. (more…)
Meet Tony: Taster, mix-master, all things operational, tea-maker extraordinaire
Q: What was your happiest time drinking tea?
A: When I was young my grandmother would make large pitchers of sun tea in the summer to drink when walking beans or doing other various farm chores. The tea was soft and somewhat lackluster prior to the pound of sugar being added, but it still brings back fond memories.
Q: Which famous figures in history would you most like to have tea with?
A: JC- seems like he would have an excellent tea service.
Q: Which famous living person would you least like to have tea with?
Q: What was your happiest time drinking tea?
A: At a roadside stop while riding motorcycles with my dad in northern Vietnam.
Q: Which famous figures in history would you most like to have tea with?
A: Abraham Lincoln (for his storytelling and melancholy)
E.O. Wilson (for his amazing scientific mind)
Rosa Luxemburg (a strong female figure, who’s life was cut short)
… but maybe not all at the same time.
Q: Which famous living person would you least like to have tea with?
A: Donald Trump… my skin crawls just thinking about it. (more…)
Avocado Iced Green tea recipe from our very own teashaman was recently featured in About.com Coffee/Tea by Lindsey Goodwin.
This recipe was initially inspired by a blended avocado drink Steve tried in Ethiopia. He later added a Tex-Mex twist (chili peppers, lemon juice) and Fez (a Moroccan mint tea variation he carries) to the recipe. Click Here for recipe
To Purchase this featured product visit Smith Teashop.
We thought you might enjoy meeting the real people who fold the boxes, blend every batch, take your web orders and phone calls, pack and personally ensure that every box of Steven Smith Teamaker is handled with personal care. Meet the teamakers and if you are inclined, by all means please introduce yourself to us.
Rachael:
Q: What was your happiest time drinking tea?
A: Enjoying a cup while laughing about life with my sisters?
Q; Which famous figures in history would you most like to have tea with?
A: Beryl Markham, Agatha Christie and Emilie Du Chatelet.
Q: Which famous living person would you least like to have tea with?
A: Justin Bieber. (more…)
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