It’s about that time again. Mutha fuxin’ tea party time.

I’m sorry, I don’t know why I said that. I don’t think that the caffeine has kicked in yet.

Today is a Chai kind of day. In actuality, most days are.

Townshend’s Tea is one of my favorites. Founded in 2002 as a college project coming out of the University of Oregon, they now boast 5 teahouses scattered throughout Oregon (and one in Montana?). The atmosphere at their shops is much what you would expect, slow paced and hip as shit. As you may imagine, I was hooked instantly. I love that I can visit them in my 3 favorite towns: Eugene, Portland, and Bend.

Townshend offers a vast array of loose leaf teas, including a lovely selection of Chai. I like several of them, but a few years back I developed an affinity for their Alberta Street Chai. It’s named for their original store in NE Portland and it’s crafted out of Lapsang Souchong black tea with both unroasted and roasted máte, vanilla bean, rooibos, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. It’s smokey and delicious. I also like to boost it with dried ginger root, it adds a nice bright touch and some added anti-inflammatory benefit.

Finish it with some unsweetened coconut milk (So Delicious, duh)…

And some local honey. Bear Mountain is king.

Until next time,

Dretta