Friday Knows Tea

     Have you been harboring a curiosity over the small statues in Chinese tea shops? Do your friends, with their fancy slatted trays and rare oolongs, have a little friend who frequently graces their tea table? Are you super super into tiny cute animal figurines and delicious teas? You, my friend, are ready to get hooked on tea pets.     These little buddies date back to the Yuan Dynasty (1206-1368 AD) when pottery artists began playing with teapot scraps, fashioning whimsical figures out of the spare clay to entertain themselves and their clients. The practice caught on and soon there was demand for intentionally fashioned statues designed to represent household spirits and mythological guardians such as dragons, great turtles and luck-bearing dogs. A bed of coins under the pet (or one in the mouth as pictured below) represents a pet that will bring financial prosperity to a household. Birds are thought to bring wisdom and happiness. Some are fashioned to...

  '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 gifts. Treat the myriad characters that doubtless surround you this season, and don't forget to pick up something tasty for yourself! Happy sipping! Ok, potty mouth. This one's for you. Clean it up with this rich and creamy dessert tea. White tea with toffee and fudge will chill your vulgar tongue and convert your "What the F*ck" to a more socially-acceptable " WTF !" No more side-eye from Grandma. You're welcome. Got a wild one in your life? This spicy-sweet black tea bites back and is sure to delight the daring gourmands. The war...

 Lemon Pound Cake with Death's Flower Glaze Death's Flower Hello, darlings! A few months back our house teen, Teacup, designed for us a whole collection of teas inspired by the hit D&D actual play show Critical Role. The blend featured in today's recipe post immediately became a fan favorite, and we drink it frequently in our house as well! Death's Flower is inspired by Caduceus Clay , a kind-hearted and loyal Firbolg cleric. The tea itself is a humusy, rich, dark earthy blend of fifteen year cave aged puerh tea with dry grapefruit peel and perky hibiscus. Our friend Celeste Conowitch mentioned in passing that this tea would be fantastic in a glaze of some sort, and while she may have meant a savory glaze for roasts (which would also be delicious for sure), I immediately  decided we were talking about cake. Because as the tea house's Executive Fae, it's my job to be sure we are always talking about cake. On the spot, in that moment, I promised y'all a ...

Friday Afternoon Tea turns 10 today! It has been my heart's joy and pleasure to serve and help cultivate this wonderful communitea over the past decade. From a single bookshelf of tea in my apartment's dining room to a full-fledged store in Seattle's darling Wallingford neighborhood, we have a lot of growth to celebrate! Ten years of scrapping and stubborning-out has paid off for us in a big way. We have built a third place for all Thirsty Nerds. We have actively contributed to our community and facilitated a fantastic work environment for our staff to grow and be supported as individuals as well as team members. We have taught, learned and been inspired by all of you. On a personal level, this tea company has served as a fertile field for my own inspiration and drive. It has allowed me to pursue my tea dreams while raising a kiddo on my own. Teacup (now fully a teen) and I love our family business with all our hearts and are grateful to see the love on all of your faces as...