Tea Butler Illuminated Tea Chests

28 03 2009

Putting teas on display is surely a good thing to do, and so Tea Butler is offering a new and presentable way if doing it – in an Illuminated Tea Chest. This is a product intended for tea businesses or tea rooms/cafes who want to show their available range, but it’s not quite suitable for storing tea. These chests let customers experience the aroma, texture and look of different teas in your selection. The box is made of mahogany hardwood and foam inserts that hold the jars. However, the most important and exciting feature is that the inside lights up with the lid is lifted and the jars as well as the inscription are illuminated. The jars are acrylic, with see-though lids and they can hold about 6 grams of tea. On the plaque there is space for the name of your company and short descriptions of the selection. Tea Butler Chests are only available as custom orders, so the choice of teas and print on the plaque are up to you to decide. At the moment there are 2 variants available – one holding 9 tea samples, like in the picture below and the other for 12 samples of tea.

As a whole it looks very classy and tasteful, most suitable for tea places with that antique english look. The jars draw my attention especially – they have a great shape and look, perfect for exposing the tea with style. The question is, is it all really necessary? If you have a tea shop or tea house with dim lights and a mystic atmosphere I think an illuminated tea chest could be very useful and effective. If you don’t, I would save some money and buy a non-illuminated chest, but with all other features still present which Tea Butler also offers.

 

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The Tea House Covent Garden | Tea Shop Review

29 12 2008

Products  8
Decor       7
Service     5

The Tea House located on a busy, crowded street in Covent Garden attracts a lot of attention of passerby’s with it’s huge, brightly illuminated window stuffed with all kinds of colorful things and gadgets. People stop to admire and stare because it’s hard to take it all in while just walking by. I have to say this is the most enticing shop window I have seen so far in a tea shop. The first thing I noticed after walking in is the overwhelming amount of products on the shelves, but also the crowd of people which makes it had to walk in there. The store has two levels, but there is little walking space, which adds to the cosy and warm vibe, but is also disadvantage.

The bottom level of The Tea House holds more then 100 kinds of teas, including teas form Japan, China, India and traditional English blends. Their brand teas are packed in simple paper bags with different color stickers (depending on tea type), but also in cellophane bags which was quite a disappointment for me to see. It’s nice to be able to see through the packet, sure, but since tea freshness and quality gets affected by the light I was not too fond of seeing that at a place specializing in tea. As for teas of other brands, they have some, but it’s rather a small selection. The prices here are defiantly a plus – good and adequate, anything from 1,5 GBP (1,5 EUR) upwards. Here is where I bought my first Houjicha. On the upper level you will find a big selection of books, pots, cups, English and Chinese style sets and china and all kinds of teaphernalia.

My experience of the service there was ‘cold’, the woman at the counter did her job, but wasn’t especially kind or smiling. The Tea House is a great place, with a few minor things that need improvement and a must see if you are visiting London (even if you’re not particularly obsessive about tea).

 

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Address - 15a Neal Street, Covent Garden, London

Related productsThe Tea House Houjicha





Whittard of Chelsea Canterbury | Tea Shop Review

27 10 2008

Products  6
Decor      6
Service    8

In cantebury I have found one of the many Whittard of Chelsea shops scattered around England. Whittard of Chelsea is the most known tea company in England, established in 1886 as a tea trade company on London’s Fleet Street. Since then it has been expanding nationwide.

This particular shop is cosy, very appropriate – with it’s small town vibe and it’s cute and colorful wooden shelves packed with nicely laid out and organized products. On the shelves there are samples of the tea and you’re free to smell them and see if you like it, which is nice because not many stores do that. This doesn’t require you to feel annoyed with yourself for ask the seller for every single tea you’d like to smell and look at. Very convenient. It offered pretty much the standard Whittard of Chelsea product range (except for tea, also coffee, teaware, sweets and coffee makers) including classic English teas – earl grey, afternoon blends, English breakfast, specialist and flavored black and green tea.

I like that Whittard of Chelsea sells Teaposy blooming teas – this is where I have purchased my first pack. They also have Teaposy teaware - glass pot with glass infuser, perfect for brewing and observing blooming teas and small tea cups with saucers. Whittard makes excellent instant teas, but unfortunatly they are not offered in this store.

As for the quality of Whittard teas, it’s hard for me to tell at the moment. Of the loose leaf thes I have only tried The Green Peach so far and I thought it was ok. I’ve also had the Dreamtime instant tea and that was really excellent! I’m looking forward to trying more and seeing what I think about it generally.

This store was closed down January 2009

Adress – 23 High Street, Canterbury, Kent

Related productsWhittard of Chelsea Green Peach, Teaposy Medley








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