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Hours of Operation
Monday through Sunday
6:30am - 10:00pm
WHAT IS LOOSE LEAF TEA?
Exploring a tradition over 5,000 years, tea was discovered accidentally by a wondrous Chinese Emperor, when
some tea leaves blew into his pot of boiling water. He claimed its wonder and the rest is history. All tea comes from
an evergreen plant known as Camellia Sinensis, which thrives in highland tropics and sub tropic regions. There are
hundreds of varieties of the tea plant grown with 4 main types: China, Assam, and Cambodia and sub varietals of
China and Assam types.
After picking the newest leaf on the branch (known as the bud) the process of making tea involves four steps:
- Withering: leaves are picked when they are laid out on tables or factory floors to slightly dry and become soft. The
leaves become limp after picking.
- Rolling: either by machine or by hand, this is done to break open the soften leaves to expose their juices and
enzymes to the air.
- Oxidation: is done in controlled rooms (low temperature/high humidity) to naturally “cook” the leaves from green to
red then brown and finally black. The amount of oxidation is a major factor in determine the type of tea
being made. Think of when you take a bite out of an apple, the longer it sits on the counter with a bite
out of it the more it changes!
- Firing: this is done to stop the oxidation process at the point where the tea master wants it to end
Why loose leaf tea?
Anyone wanting to enjoy a cup of tea should definitely consider going the loose leaf tea route. It is after all the way
people have prepared and enjoyed tea since the beginning and throughout the ages. Loose leaf tea offers a full
flavor and selection is extensive. Curious Thyme’s Bistro has chosen over 30 varieties of loose leaf teas to tempt
our guests. Loose leaf teas not only provide many health benefits but can be re-steeped more times than a single
tea bag and holds onto their flavour longer.
Storage: Store tea in air-tight containers away from heat and moisture (no strong exposure to light). Fine teas are
fragile and can easily be damaged and changed if they come in contact with strong neighboring spices and aromas.
Storing of the tea is all about flavor control and ensuring value long after production.
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THYME FOR TEA
Tea is positively impacting our lives through better health & increased vitality.
- The antioxidants in tea help prevent cancers
- 1 cup of tea is equal to the antioxidants in 1 serving of vegetables (U.S.D.A reports)
- The chemical components of tea prevent the growth of bacteria in the mouth
- Some people have reported when they drank 5-6 cups of black tea for 2 weeks they were better able
to fight off bacterial infections (study by the National Academy of Science)
- Flavanoids in tea help prevent heart disease by reducing blood clotting, lowering blood pressure &
cholesterol
- Tea is fat free & calorie free
Browse through our tea menu below & discover the wonders of loose leaf tea. Please ask for advice on character,
complexity, strength & flavor. Combine tea, cocktail and exquisite food samplings to experience our curious
high tea.
White Tea
Our organic white tea is only
harvested for a few weeks each
year in the northern district of
Fujian, China. White tea is the
rarest and goes through the
least amount of processing. It
retains the natural color along
with most of the antioxidants
and enzymes. You can refer to
white tea as “raw tea”.
• Beach flower
• Halo
• Blueberry Pomegranate
• White Peony
• White Coconut Crème |
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Green Tea
There are 2 main styles of
green tea; Chinese & Japanese.
The leaves are plucked then
immediately cooked (firing
stage) to prevent oxidization.
Chinese Green teas are pan fried
while Japanese are steamed.
The difference is similar to wok
cooking vs. steaming asparagus
in a steamer. Both are equally
good just two different methods.
• Green Earl Grey
• Jasmine Pearls
• Japanese Cherry
• Passion Fruit Jasmine |
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Oolong Tea
Oo- and long are two words
translated from Chinese
characters which stand for
“black” and “dragon”. The shape
of the leaves resembles a
dragon often. The art of crafting
this leaf is through controlled
massaging or basket tossing
the leaves. Oolongs are often
processed over charcoal or
wood which gives an authentic
taste and results in the various finishing styles.
• Plum Oolong
• Peach Oolong |
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Fusions
These are based on any type of
tea that is blended with select
herbs, flowers, fruits or oils.
Fusions are a creative outlet
to flavor teas and create a
broader range of drinks, these
supplements only enhance the
drink not overwhelm the leaf.
• Apricot Escape
• French Lemon Ginger
• Chamomile Clementine
• Welcome
• Moroccan Mint
• Ginger Ginseng |
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Tisames
Tisames are generally a mix
of different botanicals such
as fruits, flowers, herbs, nuts,
spices… A Tisame (a French
word) and a Fusion are very
close but the Tisame does not
have “tea in it”. Instead Rooibos
is used as a base.
• Blueberry Cheesecake
• Caramelized Pear
• Chocolate Monkey*
• Vanilla Berry Truffle
• Italian Blood Orange
• Cinnamon Fig
• Santiago Strawberry
*(traces of caffeine) |
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Botanical
Is any flower or herb that is
not Camellia Sinensis. These
are not Fusion or Tisames
as they are not blended with
other ingredients it is just 1
single item. The term “herbal
tea” to describe a caffeine free
beverage was made popular in
the 1970”s; however there is no
such thing really as a herbal tea.
None of these products have
any tea in them.
• Lotus Flower
• Royal Chrysanthemum |
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