News
BTB: September's Blend September 17 2019
Fall is here and we are ready ready READY for autumnal flavors. I'm personally using the season as an excuse to highlight one of my favorite fandom teas, inspired by an ill-tempered and irascible young girl from Omaha, Nebraska.September is the protagonist of Catherynne M. Valente'slush and heartbreaking Fairyland series. When the series begins (the first book is titled The Girl Who...
Oxidation vs. Fermentation September 16 2019 1 Comment
When teaching classes, speaking on panels, or even just in casual conversation, two of the most common questions I've been asked are:- What is oxidation?
- What does fermentation mean in regards to tea?
Juicy Tea-Glazed Ribs Recipe! September 09 2019 1 Comment
Calling all tea-obsessed carnivores! Fall is upon us and everyone seems eager to get back to the kitchen. If you're looking for a cozy, low-maintenance dinner option and have a soft spot for complex flavor and a lush, fatty mouthfeel, follow me to tastytown.
I wrote and tested this succulent rib recipe for you, and my friends and family can testify to its deliciousness. Enjoy, and feel free let me...
Six True Types of Tea July 25 2019
We get asked a LOT what the difference is between white tea and black tea, herbal tea and green tea, and so on. The world of tea is mysterious and a lot of you want to learn more, so let's start with the basics!True tea comes from the Camellia Sinensis plant. Always. Any infusion made from the leaf, stem, root or whatever other part of any other plant falls into the "tisane" category, also known as...
Teafest PDX Recap July 22 2019
A fair number of you first encountered our tea company at NW Tea Festival, an awesome Seattle-based festival that launched in 2007 and has only grown bigger and better each year since. Newer to the tea festival scene is Tea Fest PDX. This Portland festival only just had its third year, but is already so put-together and well structured that I would have thought it was an event with 5-7 years under...
BTB: Ranger's Blend July 09 2019
Today's episode of Behind the Blend features my personal favorite of our RPG character class collection: Ranger's Blend!The inspiration for each character class blend is an archetype, rather than any specific character. Rangers are sly, observant, and physically dexterous. They have a close relationship with the forest, a kinship with the natural world.
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| Toasty green mélange of foresty delish. |
Green...
Farm Spotlight: Hattori Family Matcha! May 21 2019
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| Yoshiaki Hattori stands with his tea plants under a solar shade screen |
Meet Yoshiaki Hattori, sustainable tea visionary and crafter of some of the finest matcha we've ever tasted. The Hattori facility (Tenryu Agri-Farms) resides in Shizuoka, Japan, a region probably best known for its beautiful scenery, delicious food and hugetrade in green tea. In fact, this prefecture grows 40% of the green tea...
BTB: Rohan's Research Blend May 19 2019
For today's episode of Behind the Blend, I am delighted to highlight our first ever Chari-tea: Rohan's Research Blend! |
| Rohan's Research Blend |
Flavors and Colors for Spring March 20 2019
As the days lengthen and the clouds clear away, I've been finding myself holding back spontaneous laughter bubbling in my chest, itching to move, overflowing with inspiration. Are you feeling the same way? Here in the PNW, winter is dark, grey, dreary and a real slog to get through. Today may be equinox, the true first day of spring, but I've noticed for a week or two now that people's steps have...
Friday's Holiday Gift Guide! November 21 2018
'Tis the season for thoughtful gifts and quality time spent with friends and family! We at Friday Afternoon are firm believers in the uniting powers of tea. What better way to show love than with one of the world's oldest social beverages? Cozy, flavorful and dripping with personality! I have taken a bit of time as we move into the holiday season to personally curate for you a list of delicious...
Website Upgrades Galore! November 07 2018
We've been busy bees behind the scenes for some months now, improving our website for your perusing and purchasing pleasure. New features include:
- 1 oz. option now available for all products
- Brewing suggestions now included on all product pages
- Decaf options now available for many products
- ALL RETIRED TEAS ARE BACK. Every. Single. One. (seasonal teas remain seasonal.)
- Products are now sorted by...
Feliz Día de Muertos, amores! October 31 2018
Hola, mi gente!En este año, mantenernos ocupado en forjar un centro de comunidad para todos. En nuestro salón de té, eres siempre bienvenido. Eres siempre querido. Eres siempre seguro aqui. En el espíritu de amistad, amor y comunidad, nos tu deseamos un muy muy feliz Día de Muertos! Que tu familia viajar bien y tu ofrenda brilla!
Mucho amor,
Friday y el #TeaSquad
We've been keeping...
It's that time of year! August 30 2018
It's time, friends. Summer is rapidly drawing to a close and Fall is making itself known in the cool mornings and subtle bite in the air. Seattle is starting to grow its clouds a little darker and a little more gloomy, and like most Northwesterners, we loveit. Seattleites have a tradition of jumping the gun when it comes to Fall. The second any color shows on the edges of our maple leaves, out...
Big Move for Friday Afternoon Tea July 14 2018 1 Comment
Hello, friends!For the past several months I have been secretly (Well, not so secretly. I'm terrible at keeping my own secrets.) working on a huge project. Very happy to announce the great news that we have split-branded! This sub-brand means moving our medicinal teas to a new line: New Apothecary. This will serve to focus our main line (Friday Afternoon) on our unusual single origin and fandom...
5 Ridiculously Tasty Summer Sips July 05 2018
Here in Seattle, we just hit full-on summer. June-uary is over and we are facing days hovering around 80°F for the next few months. Seattlites are renowned whiners when it comes to weather over 70° (Don't make that face, Lauren. You know it's true.), so we've got you covered with some fantastic summer bevvie ideas.#1: Shaken Iced Tea
Really want to elevate your iced tea game? It's as simple as...
What exactly IS caffeine? June 23 2018
We love our caffeine. In the US alone, we consume upward of 970 tons of caffeine annually. Caffeine is just a fact in our day-to-day. Sodas, coffee, tea, even caffeinated soap is now a thing. Ok, so we love the stuff. But what exactly is it? |
| Caffeine Molecule |
BTB: Bioluminescence June 22 2018 1 Comment
On today's episode of Behind the Blend, I'm going to take you through the synesthetic taste experience of one of our prettiest blends: Bioluminescence.Those of you that are familiar with my blending process already know, but for the folks just joining us, let me tell you a little bit about my work. I have a rare neurological oddity known as Lexical-Gustatory Synesthesia. Now, synesthesia itself is...
Some Categories of Medicinal Herbs June 14 2018
Medicinal Herb Exploration
Herbal remedies are categorized by application. Here are a few of the most common categories and some examples of herbs that fit them!
Anti-Inflammatory
This group is comprised of plants that release soothing compounds into the body to reduce inflammation. Examples include circumen (found in turmeric), zingerone (ginger), flavonoids (tea, chili peppers), cinnamaldehyde...
Guest Post: Chamomile Lemon Shortbread May 24 2018
Today's guest post comes to us from Ben, who we hope will share more of his fabulous recipes in future! -FridayI’m a bit of a tea obsessive. What started as an (unhealthy) addiction to coffee, has now seen me
change lanes to tea. And with this change, I’ve always tried to get creative with my tea use. From
putting together therapeutic cups of turmeric tea, to using tea bags as a way to battle my...
How much caffeine is too much? May 23 2018
Espresso, matcha, yerba mate, hot cocoa...even some soaps and lotions contain caffeine! We encounter the stuff every day, and as a society, we love it. But how much caffeine is too much?
For starters, why do we even need to moderate caffeine? What's the big deal?
Caffeine is a highly addictive substance, like sugar or cocaine, according to studiesby many institutions. It doesn't take a lot to...
Cold Brew Season! May 17 2018
It's that time of year, friends! All the coffee shops here in Seattle are bragging about their cold brews again, and we refuse to sit out on the fun. Did you know you can cold brew your tea for the same smooth, delicious, lightly sweet results that have people obsessing over their summer coffees? Totally true and totally easy. |
| Feel free to download this infographic! |
Cold brewing is fab. Just throw...
Our new tea tasting series! May 11 2018
Hello!
This month we are pleased to announce our first educational tasting series here at the tea room. Join us Thursday evenings at 5:30pm for a guided journey through the world of tea! I will personally be serving teas from various categories and regions and leading a discussion on the science, history and culture behind different teas. These are free events, though of course we encourage you to...
Mental Health Awareness Month May 07 2018
Hello, friends.I'd like to take a moment to remind you that May is Mental Health Awareness Month. We generally keep things pretty light and fun here at Friday Afternoon Tea, but today I'd like to chat on a more serious note. Just about everyone I know struggles with their mental health to some degree. I've lost my best friend to suicide and seen others I love battle Bipolar Disorder, depression,...
Top Ten Uses For Your French Press May 04 2018
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| The french press in its natural habitat |
10. Squeeze excess water out of veggies. Thawing out frozen spinach for a lasagna recipe? Just put it in your french press and let the plunger...