Tea time in Philadelphia

My Secrect Tea House , Howard Fox

To most of you, and I was once once like you, tea is your last choice for a beverage. Of course, there has always been Lipton’s ™ and lately Snapple flavored beverage teas , but they are more sugar water than real tea. Often, we have our tea at our favorite Chinese restaurant where the tea is respectable black or green tea but frequently just lightly flavored hot water without subtance or complexity.

That all changed for me one day a couple years ago. I was walking down Sansom Street in Center Ciity. I used to hang out at the How To Do It Book Store, a store that has sadly gone away. I bought many books there, including one on how to start your own country. The idea seems even better now than it did then.

Anyway, while meandering down Sansom Street, I came across a tea shop where the Joseph Fox (no relation) Bookstore used to be (it has since moved upstairs). It is called Great Tea International (www.great-tea.net) Great Tea seemed like a different world. The decor was definitely Asian, but not pretentious like an Asian Ffusion restaurant. The music was soothing, soft strings from China.

Not being a drinker of softdrinks, or alcohol, I decided to try a cup of tea, the Jasmine Tea. One sip of this changed my life forever. It has such a delicious complex taste. Sweet and yet not like a softdrink, a hint of fruit, but not like a juice. I felt like I was tasting a garden. The aroma was intoxicating. I was hooked for life.

The selection of regular teas and bubble teas from China, Taiwan and Japan is extraordinary and the teacakes are great too.

Since then, I have made Great Tea International my usual stop after the bookstores on Saturday. Get a nice book and enjoy it with some tea and tea cakes. This has given me something very nice and relaxing to look forward to each week. It does not hurt that Charlotte, the owner, is incredibly nice, speaks at least three languages, and knows more about Asian tea than anyone in the city. Having attended one of her tea tasting events, I can say that I have not even tasted the tip of the iceberg when it comes to tea. If you are lucky enough to catch her professor husband Ben, speaker of five languages, talented artist and all round Bon Vivant, you are in for a fascinating conversation on many topics if you choose.

So now the secret is out. I hope that not too many discover the pleasures of tea at Great Tea International since I am protective of with my favorite retreat and hope to continue to find an empty seat when I arrive with my latest book.

Relax, and have a Happy Tea Time !

Howard Fox

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