Friday Knows Tea

March in Seattle heralds the last gasp of winter. While I'm as eager as the next Californian transplant to return to the sunshine and flowers of spring, I'm not above finding an excuse to enjoy decadent, spicy, rich, silky winter flavors. For a super quick and easy "treat yo'self" moment, check out this creamy chai-tini. Tea and booze lovers delight! Note: If alcohol isn't your thing, replace the vodka/rum with a strong-brewed gingery light tea (like our Warrior Princess or Bard's Blend ), just be sure not to pick something with a high citrus content or your creamy cocktail will curdle.   Creamy Chai-tini (makes one) 2 oz. Ginger vodka (or spiced rum, if you prefer) 1 oz. Heavy cream (or almond milk, hemp milk, etc.) 1 oz. Strong-brewed Masala Chai 1/4 tsp Ground cinnamon  Throw all ingredients into a pint glass full of ice. Stir until the mix is well-chilled and strain into a chilled martini glass. Short and sweet, just like this week's...

Dry January, a social movement in which tons of people worldwide take a month off drinking alcohol in the name of health, clarity, or even just to keep self-discipline sharp. Easy enough to let yourself have one big last hurrah of a New Year's Eve before taking benching your liver for a month, but for those getting a head start by choosing not to make use of spirits to get into the NYE spirit, we've got you covered! Check out some of these recipe ideas: Classic Toddy 6 oz strong, hot black tea (we like our Rwanda FBOP ) 1 tablespoon honey 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice 1 lemon wedge 1 cinnamon stick 1 star anise This one is simple! Just grab a mug and stir together your hot tea with lemon and honey, then garnish with the lemon wedge and spices. Tea & T 4 oz chilled bright and citrusy green tea (like our glitter-packed Freddie Mercury tribute blend) 4 oz tonic water (our favorite is anything by Fever Tree ) twist of lime to garnish In an ice-filled Coll...

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 playing Cocktail and shaking that sucker up. Brew a strong pot of your favorite white, green or black tea (or tisane, if caffeine isn't your game) and throw a hefty pour into a cocktail shaker with a handful of those yummy berries you scored at the farmer's market and a handful of ice. Shake it up for a solid 30 seconds, then pour into your favorite iced tea glass. A whole new level to the simple classic iced tea. #2: Tea-Infused Sangria My personal favorite part of hot weather season: an excuse to drink sangria! Next time you make a batch at home, try infusing your...

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 Beca, owner and creator behind The Shrubbery , was way into the idea of coming over for a cocktail tutorial afternoon. Mixed drinks are not my area of expertise, so I was really amped to get some education on the subject. I infused the booze, picked up some assorted citrus at the store and eagerly awaited the arrival of my dear friend. Ok, at this point I'm going to hit pause on the story of a delightful afternoon for those of you who don't know how to infuse spirits with tea. It's seriously easy, instantly makes cocktail hour more interesting and will absolutel...