News
Shop Update February 07 2018
First of all, a HUUUUGE thank you to all our friends who have contributed to our GoFundMeand bought truly obscene quantities of bulk tea on our site. Thanks to you all, we've made a lot of progress toward resolving our construction debt crisis. We managed to negotiate a couple extra weeks of time with the contractors, so our new immediate debt deadline is February 23rd. We're now only short by...Trouble in Paradise February 01 2018
A little over a year ago, we ran a super successful Kickstarter campaign to open up our nerdy tea shop in Wallingford, Seattle. Everything went great and we have indeed opened a fantastic spot that is rapidly becoming a favorite source of tea and community in the neighborhood. Our revenues are right on track with projections and things look sunny for our future.Unfortunately...
Due to a series...
Spotlight: Golden Yunnan January 25 2018
We talk a lot about blends here, due to my unique process and how fun they are. Today I'd like to focus on my realpassion: beautiful single-origin leaf. If you've ever chatted with me about tea, you no doubt know how worked up I get about ethical sourcing and ingredient quality. I'm sure you wouldn't be following my blog if you didn't have at least a passing interest in drinking The Good Stuff, so...Versatile Medicinal Herbs January 24 2018
With planting season coming up (we typically get our first round of seeds planted mid-February), now is the time to start planning what to do with your garden space. TeaChild and I live in a small apartment with super limited growing space for fresh herbs and limited kitchen space for dried herbs, so prioritizing the most efficient and low-maintenance crops is always important for us. Today I have...
How Does it Taste? (Ambition) January 20 2018
So a bit over a year ago I published a post on my synesthetic experience with the feeling of passionate, romantic love. You all seemed to really dig that one, so I guess we'll make it a series! Today's flavor concept is Ambition. I refer to that determined, deep-gut desire to make something happen for yourself. In my world, it's typically career-based, but has also applied to my personal life and...Behind the Blend: Dorian Gray January 11 2018
So here's a Fun Friday Fact for ya: I absolutely LOVE Oscar Wilde. His snappy witticisms and unique turns of phrase delight and enchant me. I know I'm not remotely alone on this one. Oscar has been a long-time favorite of so many people. My particular favorite work is one I would classify as his second-most chilling and macabre piece: The Picture of Dorian Gray. This novel inspired a tea blend...Weekly events, flash sale, and blends back in stock! December 28 2017
Things are rolling along nicely here at the tea shop. We've settled into our new retail space and already have made so many new friends! Regular events have been scheduled and we are in the process of adding more all the time. Check out our event calendar or drop by the shop to find out what's happening!In celebration of our escape from 2017, we're throwing a flash sale! Friday, December 29th...
Shop construction update! October 26 2017
Our permits finally came in, and after a year of planning and working hard we will at last be opening our doors in Wallingford to you all mid-November! Keep your eyes open for the official grand opening date and come visit us at 4228 Stone Way N!Much love,
Friday
FA is opening a retail location in Seattle! August 22 2016
You read that correctly, friends. Our small tea shop has been growing and evolving steadily for six years now, and we have outgrown our manufacturing space! We will not be able to sustain our level of operation, nor expand enough to meet growing demand, without moving into a new space. Rather than sell the company, we are trying to raise funding to move into a brick-and-mortar shop in Seattle's...
Tea cocktails with special guest Beca of The Shrubbery! June 28 2016
Summer is such a good excuse for shaking, stirring, and otherwise mixing up tasty cocktails to cool you down. While I'm generally an "Irish whiskey, neat" kinda gal, the sunshine tends to make me super feisty. During the hot months I find myself craving salsa (both the food and the music), grilling with friends, hanging outside with my kiddo, and DEFINITELY a parade of fun cocktails.The lovely...
How does it taste? (Love) June 22 2016
As you probably know, I perceive the world with my taste buds. My dominant form of synesthesia is Lexical-Gustatory. This means I literally taste words, ideas, feelings, personalities, etc. The overwhelming majority of my blends are direct translations to leaf of the flavors my brain-mouth is experiencing. Today, I wanted to share with you the way I experience one particular flavor profile: Love.T...
Making time for tea June 08 2016
Let's talk stress.
Chai-ce Cream! May 20 2016
Well, we took a vote. You guys all really REALLY needed to know how to make delicious chai ice cream at home, so Allyn and I made you a video! It turns out homemade ice cream is totally NBD. We don't even own an ice cream maker, and it still came out great!
Ready? Let's go!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 3/4 cup whole milk
- 5 egg yolks
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons loose leaf Masala Chai
- 1/2...
It's Spring...ish! March 07 2016
Here in the PNW, early Spring has most definitely arrived. I'm constantly craving high mountain (high caffeine) black teas and walks outside with the fragrant flowers, the sunshine and my maniac dog and child. Erik is craving steamed green teas, quiet afternoons in coffee shops and art museum exploration. Let's take a look at our favorites for the season!Friday wants...
Darjeelingsare known as "the...
How will you be remembered? January 14 2016
2016 has barely gotten its sea legs, and already we find ourselves in seemingly perpetual mourning over great artists, inspirational figures and beautiful friends both personal and widely shared. I can barely look at social media this month without seeing people collectively weeping over the loss of those who have touched our lives and transformed us.
Recently, a friend told me he lost three people...
Friday's Earl Grey Cran-Apple Chutney December 27 2015
Heya!
Over the course of my 12ish years as a professional chef, I've seriously developed and honed my skills in the arena of bullshitting recipes. Today's fun twist on a super easy favorite is for lazy tea nerds who love to entertain. Here ya go!
Earl Grey Cran-Apple Chutney
Ingredients:
12 oz. Cranberries, fresh or frozen
4 Large Fuji apples, diced
3/4 cup Water
3 Star anise pods
1/4 tsp Ground cardamom
2...
Friday's guide to shopping small business (at the last minute) December 11 2015
So it's two weeks until Christmas. Less than two weeks until Solstice. Hannukah...sorry. Too late. You're the slacker who still has barely put any thought into gifts, but you still super want to find something unique and thoughtful for your family and assorted loved ones. Aaaaaat the very last second. Might I throw some recommendations your way?
First of all, always try to support small businesses...
And now, on a more personal note... December 08 2015
A few weeks ago, my fourth-grader came into the living room and announced,"Mom. Erik. I'm not a girl. I'm a boy. I'd like everyone to call me Allyn and use male pronouns."
Erik and I paused in our tea work, looked at each other, and just said "Okay, cool."
This is not the first time my son has come out as transgender. In first grade he went by Benjamin for a couple weeks before deciding the...
Wonderful news, friends! December 08 2015
You may have all noticed some positive changes on our social media lately. More frequent postings, better use of tags, gorgeous photography? It is my delight and total pleasure to introduce you to the man responsible for making us look good:
Say hello to Erik Petersen. You may have seen him classing up our booth at assorted events, or perhaps haunting your local coffee shop or attractive tree-lined...
Welcome to our new home! September 08 2014
Enjoy our shiny new website. We are always striving to improve, so please feel free to contact us with your feedback!A zillion teas back in stock! June 04 2013
Friends! Thank you so much for your patience during the awkward adolescent phase of FA's development. I just got a massive shipment of leaf in today, so all your favorites are back in stock! This means you can now order all the following popular teas again! Yaaaaaaaaaaaaay!- All our Firefly inspired teas, including The Box Set!
- The Goblin King
- The Pirate King
- Snow White
- Audrey's Spring Tea
- Friday's...
Really good iced tea is not as difficult as you think. April 29 2013
Ok you guys, it's totally iced tea season!
First of all, I would like to state that we have a rockin' deal on our iced tea packover on the website. Everything you need to brew a TON of delicious iced tea for only $25. Score! Included in the pack is a sheet of my instructions for perfect iced tea, so you can be sure it will be super delicious every time. All your friends will be very impressed with...Synesthesia And Blending As Sensory Art April 18 2013
I am frequently asked how I get ideas for my blends. Where does my inspiration come from? Which comes first, the blend or its name?I'm proud of how original my blends are, and how different from blends you'll find by any other company. This is largely due to the fact that I have synesthesia(meaning my senses are cross-wired and abstract concepts, personalities, colors, weather, etc. all translate...
We survived March! April 03 2013
Hello hello, friends, fans and family! March was the craziest of months for us, but mostly in really great ways. Here's the breakdown:Consonance (March 1st-3rd)
I started out the month in sunny San Jose, California, selling tea to a bunch of filkers at Consonance. It was a pretty good show for sales, and an awesome show for meeting wonderful new friends. It was lovely to be back in my home state,...