Ch.ai

Brits are famed for their love of a good brew and yet just 57% of British workers get to enjoy a free cup of tea or coffee at work, according to new research from uSwitchforbusiness.com. In fact, a quarter of workers have seen companies cut back on refreshments over the last year – leaving a bitter taste in the mouth for many:

The press release goes on to talk about how not having the perk of complimentary tea and coffee hurts morale and the ability to attract employees, but it doesn’t complete the thought and discuss how that could hurt productivity. If employees have to purchase it off premise or bring it from home and then heat it up, that’s time away from work. Also, there are productive conversations that naturally occur around the tea kettle between employees who work in different departments – conversations that lead to good ideas that otherwise wouldn’t happen (or at least not in an as-speedy timeframe).

So how would you feel if your tea perk was taken away? Would it hurt your productivity?

What’s the best shape for a tea infuser? And what’s the weirdest shape for a tea infuser that you’ve seen?  Well , the good designers at Ototo and Monkey Business tackled those two for you with the TeaSub. Now I’m not sure how good of an infuser this would be since there doesn’t seem to be too many holes in the sub for the water to circulate through the tea properly. But it sure is cute. And it would make a lovely gift for a Beatles fan who loves tea.

It looks like the only place to get it will be from Gift Lab in the UK at this point. I’ve searched high and low on the internet and can’t find it anywhere else.

(via CNET)

With the Olympics just a few days away, there will be an influx of visitors to our little city. And many may not be prepared for the cold and rain that can chill you to the bone. But the best remedy for that is a good cuppa tea.  Here are my picks for a quick cuppa, no sit-down required, tea on the go in Vancouver (in no particular order):

• Tim Hortons – various locations – Most people think coffee. But not many people know they make a good tea. Be sure to ask for the “steeped tea” and how much milk in sugar you want in it.
• Murchies -825 W. Pender St (North side between Hornby & Howe) – This is a B.C. institution. You can do the sit-down tea, but they do take out with any of their teas. They also have a location in Oakridge Mall on the Canada Line. (Prince Charles tea is my fav, but I’m still campaigning for a Prince William or Harry blend).
• Urban Tea Merchant -1070 West Georgia St. @ Thurlow (also on the North Shore in the West Vancouver Mall Village) – Another place that’s better known for it’s lovely high tea and lunches. But they do spectacular tea lattes made with their premium teas. Also, they have macarons and chocolates from France. I strongly recommend the Tribute tea latte in tribute to the games – an almond & marzipan flavored tea that’s even more yummy with almond syrup.
• Granville Island Tea Company – Granville Island Market – They recently did a well-needed expansion to accommodate the line-ups. If you’re exploring Granville Island, they’re inside the market, on the east side, next to Stuarts Bakery.
• Muzi Tea Bar -  870 west cordova street (by Canada Place) – This very sleek tea bar has some seating, but makes lovely traditional japanese teas as well as those with a modern twist. There’s a lovely milk/rose tea latte.
• Pekoe Tea Lounge (formally Steeps) – 895 W Broadway -  What’s great about this place is it’s homey atmosphere and the fact there’s a tea sniffing station from which you can choose your tea. You may find the Shitty Weather Tea apropos.
  
• T – 1568 West Broadway – This is the tea that the Fairmont uses for their high teas, as do several other high-end hotels and restaurants around the world. It’s austere atmosphere looks like it’s only a shop, but you can order tea to stay or go. And you can also sniff the teas at your leisure before ordering. My fav here is the Mad Hatter tea.
  
• David’s Tea – 2199 West 4th Avenue – Okay, so I haven’t been here yet. But so many people have recommended it to me that I’d be remiss for not including it. And supposedly it’s take away only.
  
• Starbucks – one on nearly every corner – Vancouver embraced Starbucks as if it were a long lost child. And you can’t go 2 blocks in this city without coming across one. Their tea mistos (don’t call them lattes) are pretty good. And it’s the only non-Canadian tea shop on this list.
  

I stumbled on this British WWII propaganda film. Were the troops complaining that the tea maids weren’t making good tea? It seems like it if they needed to teach people how to make tea en masse. But it ends with the 6 Golden Rules for Making Tea, which if more people knew today, it would be easier to find a well-brewed tea.

I want the “Tea Revives the World” poster that’s hanging behind the male instructor.

Enjoy your cuppa tea while opening your presents Christmas morning.

Merry Christmas Teapot