Archives for posts with tag: tea

Preparing for a big adventure

May 13, 2018 //

I’m planning something big for the autumn and I couldn’t be more excited. This adventure will involve a lot of walking and so much drinking of tea. To prepare I am walking – taking little mini-adventures through the beautiful spring days in Victoria BC.

02_Abkhazi2

02_Abkhazi1

Back in March I walked about 12 kilometres to Oak Bay and Fairfield. I collected our friend Annie along the way and we made a few stops in Oak Bay before ending up at Abkhazi Garden for tea. We enjoyed a delicious repast in the teahouse, seated in the window overlooking the garden.

02_Abkhazi3

02_Abkhazi4

02_Abkhazi5

02_Abkhazi6

The garden was not quite at its peak of colour and vibrancy, but still beautiful. We enjoyed walking along the winding paths and meeting a feline visitor.

02_Abkhazi8

02_Abkhazi7

02_Abkhazi9

Abkhazi Garden is owned and managed by The Land Conservancy (TLC). Read the story of “the garden that love built” here. Check out the teahouse here.

Tags Abkhazi Garden, adventure, afternoon tea, conservation, garden cat, gardens, spring, Spring flowers, tea, tea house, Victoria BC, walking

Categories Food, Travel, Uncategorized

Time for tea… and toast

January 15, 2016 //

I’ve been taking lots of early morning walks with a friend lately. Afterwards, we usually end up at the new Fol Epi location on Yates Street. They have very nice, perfectly brewed tea, and the coffee is good too.

Toast made from the bakery’s organic wood oven bread is available weekdays, and comes with maple cinnamon butter, or butter and house-made current jam.

The last little bit of Festive decor with early morning light.

View from the window seats, onto bustling Yates Street, Victoria BC.

Tags bakery, Fol Epi Bakery Victoria BC, morning walks, tea, toast, Victoria BC, walks, winter

Categories Food, Travel, Uncategorized

Time for tea

December 4, 2015 //

It’s always time for tea when I’m out with Annie, so last week we stopped by JagaSilk on our way to a craft fair…

JagaSilk Teabar is a gem tucked away in Nootka Court, just off Courtney Street.

Instead of my favourite maccha latte, we mixed it up with a London Fog and a Masala Chai; plus house-made vanilla bean shortbread cookies.

Peeking through the window at teaware… and Annie.

Tags chai, JagaSilk, London Fog, maccha tea, tea, tea house, Victoria BC

Categories Food, Travel, Uncategorized

Time for tea

November 28, 2015 //

Victoria’s newest offering in the realm of tea is Terroir Tea Merchant on Fort Street. In one of a row of my favourite retail spaces in Victoria, Terroir has created a calm retreat of tea experience. Their passion for their product is immediately evident. We enjoyed Black Ruby from Taiwan, and Ceylon Chai blended in house with spices and tea leaves from Sri Lanka, both infused with their interesting method. A wonderful addition to the increasingly fabulous 800 block of Fort Street.

03_dkn_Terroir1

03_dkn_Terroir2

03_dkn_Terroir3

03_dkn_Terroir4

03_dkn_Terroir5

03_dkn_Terroir6

03_dkn_Terroir7

Tags tea, tea house, tea merchant, Terroir, Terroir Tea Merchant, Victoria BC

Categories Food, Travel, Uncategorized

Time for tea

November 26, 2015 //

Tea is big in Victoria again. We’ve never lacked places to purchase high-quality tea – Special Teas, Silk Road, Murchies. But now, there are increasing options for sitting down for a fine cuppa. Recently, a friend and I stopped at one of our favourite Oak Bay haunts, Just Matcha. They will be opening a new location in our neighbourhood soon. My latte was very pretty, as well as delicious. Like so much of Victoria’s food culture, tea inspires a passionate dedication to quality and preparation.

Before I am fully involved in seeking out new venues for my seasonal hot chocolate obsession, I will be visiting some of the fine tea purveyors in the city.

02_dkn_JustMaccha1

02_dkn_JustMaccha2

Tags Just Matcha, maccha, matcha, tea, tea time, Victoria BC

Categories Food, Travel, Uncategorized

Afternoon tea at Abkhazi Garden

October 1, 2014 //

As part of our friend Annie’s birthday celebrations, she and I went to the beautiful Abkhazi Garden Teahouse last friday. The weather was exactly as I had hoped – the rain held off until we were cozy at our table beside the window, then poured down and cleared away again for our walk downtown. Somehow rain outside the window makes nice hot tea even more delicious. An account of the history of the Peggy and Nicholas Abkhazi, their life together and the home and garden they built can be found here. Such appreciation for The Land Conservancy who recognized the importance of this place and made it into something the whole world could share.

Built by and with love, Abkhazi Garden in the Fairfield neighbourhood of Victoria BC.

A river of green lawn and the path which leads to the summer house, the first building constructed on the property in 1946. In the spring and summer months, this view would be exploding with every colour of flower.

This lovely mossy rock dominates the upper garden around the house with the rest of the garden seemingly cascading from it creating a pool of green all around.

Tiny autumn cyclamen were in abundance.

This plant, Billardiera, was so spectacular.

From beside the house, looking out over Fairfield.

Delicate little fuchsias in the most pretty pink.

Afternoon Tea for two: tea sandwiches – cucumber plus egg salad – tiny quiches, smoked salmon profiteroles, ham and cheese croissants, savoury cheese scones, currant scones with clotted cream and jam, eccles cakes, lavender shortbread cookies, lemon tarts and Philosopher’s Blend tea-infused crème brulées. We chose Royal Abkahzi Black Tea, blended especially for the Teahouse by Silk Road Tea.

The rain comes down, all cool and refreshing, as we sip our tea and take our time over the wonderful delectables.

The lovely Annie as we both take photos of our towering treats.

Tags Abkhazi Garden, Abkhazi Garden Teahouse, afternoon tea, autumn, gardens, rainy day, Silk Road Tea, tea, The Land Conservancy, Victoria BC

Categories Travel, Uncategorized

Lunch at Uchida

January 24, 2014 //

Our friends from Tofino are in town right now. We had all been wanting to try this little Japanese place, Uchida, in Nootka Court. It’s right beside my other new favourite, JagaSilk, which we also visited for maccha and dessert. The lunch was sublime; delicate, intricate flavours and textures. The small menu features organic produce and local meats as well as the freshest seafood. The daily specials are posted on their facebook page which will make you drool. Get there before noon to beat the rush.

Uchida at Nootka Court, Victoria BC (just inside the Courtney Street entrance).

Simple decor in a beautiful space. There are only a few tables. Best to be there before noon if possible.

Duece waits patiently for us to enjoy our lunch. We could watch her as she visited with the passers by with whom she made friends.

Our lunches: Two of us tried the Teriyaki Chicken Don (left) and the other two had the daily special, Rockfish Ankake. Both were amazing.

I’m loving the Maple Maccha Latte at JagaSilk, and yesterday we tried Daifuku: a traditional Japanese dessert of glutinous rice cake filled with sweet azuki bean paste. Delicious!

The lovely walkway through Nootka Court, connecting Courtney Street with Humboldt Street.

Tags daifuku, dining, JagaSilk, Japanese food, local seafood, maccha tea, Nootka Court, tea, teriyaki, Uchida Eatery, Victoria BC, Victoria BC dining

Categories Food, Travel, Uncategorized

My new favourite place

December 18, 2013 //

There is a little delightful tea bar called JagaSilk which is tucked away at Nootka Court in downtown Victoria. It is run by the sweetest people who are very passionate about tea, especially maccha. We’re blessed in Victoria to have many passionate people providing an abundance of venues in which to enjoy the highest quality teas and freshly roasted coffees. JagaSilk is so cozy and comfortable, and our teas and snacks were delicious. This will be a regular haunt for us. They also have an excellent on-line store. Here are some pics of our adventure:

The entrance to JagaSilk, warm and inviting.

Enter from Courtney Street and it’s just past the bug zoo.

Our order being prepared. We must go again soon and try the chocolate cake!

Our order being filled. We must go again soon and try the chocolate cake!

My black tea being prepared at our table.

Our final snack, two maccha lattes, one black tea, some little chocolate snowball cookies and a crème caramel.

Delicious!

Tags JagaSilk, maccha, Nootka Court, tea, tea bar, Victoria BC

Categories Food, Travel, Uncategorized

A lovely day for Tweed Ride 2012

May 14, 2012 //

What a day it was! Perfect weather, lovely route, delicious nosh, wonderful folk to share it with. Another incredibly well organized Tweed Ride for a great cause. Thanks to the organizers, the sponsors and all who participated. Also a special thanks to Tula Teas who provided the delicious beverages and Maggie French for her passion for tweed.

Our gracious hosts for the day, Simon and Libby. We can’t thank them enough!

GJ and Jim ham it up for the camera.

Here I am with GJ at the start of the ride. Thanks to The Empress Hotel for letting us gather on their lovely lawn.

This well kitted classic bicycle pulls a secret delight: The large basket trailer holds a sound system which gave us lovely tweedy tunes!

Adorable riders.

All the gents pose for a photo on the steps of the Empress Hotel.

A quick stop at The Fairfield Market on Oscar Street who provided the riders with some delicious scones. Our bicycles were judged for superbness by Fairfield Bicycle Shop, and we had a bit of time for a quick look around the Moss Street Market and the Vintage Fair.

Our mid-ride break included delicious tea from Tula Teas and cucumber sandwiches from Red Fish Blue Fish.

Milling about on the lawn at Craigdarroch Castle Historical House Museum.

There were a couple little pooch riders as well. This little darling had a great view from a basket on the front of his human’s bicycle.

Tweedy accouterment for the day: my Maggie French bobby pins and tweed bow which I attached to my vintage Willoughby hat, and a brooch I made from the scraps of hemming my riding shorts.