Drink Tea – support MS research
My daughter, Anna Meyer is riding, and leading a team, in the MS Express Scripts Gateway Getaway Ride on Sept 11 & 12, 2010
Anna Riding Bike
In support of her efforts, this Saturday, Sept 4 2010, Traveling Tea will donate 10% of sales to her fund raising campaign. We will also have a donation jar out for your contributions.
For more information, or if you are unable to come to the market this week and want to make a donation directly, follow the link at the right to “Donate to MS Gateway Ride”, or click on this photo.
If you want a record of your tax deductible donation, you can drop off a check made payable to: National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and Anna will see that you get credit (please make sure your address is on the check).
Open House – Save the Date 7/11/2010
Open House at the new shop location (3006 S. Jefferson, Ste 104 St. Louis, MO 63118) You are welcome to drop in any time from: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
I learned and saw a lot at the World Tea Expo earlier in June. This is an opportunity to share it all with You.
New teas from Japan, India, and Hawaii
New tea brewing accessories
We need YOUR Help as well – Sample new teas (new flavors, and teas from the Amazon!). Help decide what new teas will be brought in over the next few months.
Shop News
Apologies for my delay in keeping you all up to date. As some of you have already noticed, the shop in Maplewood is no longer open.
This was a decision arrived at somewhat spontaneously. I enjoyed the shop environment for the more leisurely pace of interacting and sometimes chatting with some of you for quite some time over a cup of tea.
Yet, economic realities had to be faced; and then, as I contemplated working at the Summer Farmers’ Markets again, I realized how much joy and vitality I experience interacting with you in that medium.
I remembered how inspired the name “Traveling Tea” and the teapot logo with its hobo bag, just “came to me”, almost unbidden…..and even the slogan “Sharing Good Times – Sharing Good Tea”. (”Traveling Tea”, not “Sitting in a Shop” Tea)
Though it was originally a teashop in Kansas City that generated the idea of a tea business in St. Louis for me, what I was “given” to create is something different.
Bringing tea to you, where you are in your lives and activities; to get quality tea on the menus at venues and events in the area where tea-lovers currently have limited choice. This is my mission. So tea lovers throughout the St. Louis area can truly enjoy healthy, tasty, properly brewed tea while they are sharing good times with friends and family.
Help me spread the word. Tell me where you want to see Traveling Tea. Tell the owners and managers of those places you want to be able to buy/drink Traveling Tea product there.
Together, we can take St. Louis beverage enjoyment to the next level!
Happy Summer 2010
I look forward to seeing you at the Markets
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“Traveling Tea”, “Sharing Good Times – Sharing Good Tea”, and the hobo bag red teapot logo are copyrighted by Nature’s Notions, LLC and Traveling Tea.
Custom Tea Flavors
This is becoming a most satisfying part of my job as the “tea lady”. When a customer asks about something they are looking for, in particular, I set about seeing if I have ready access to it through my distributors. If they don’t have it I start thinking about what I can create that will meet your taste. You get small samples to try before I finalize the blend, though sometimes I will go ahead and order or blend it up if I’ve fallen in love with it myself.
So far I’ve created the “WellBody Ginger Green” for a local acupuncturist who wanted a decaf ginger and green tea blend. Adding pineapple and mulberries to the mix takes the bite out of the ginger with a natural hint of sweetness. I was recently asked to make a caffeinated version which has become the “Travelers Ginger Green”.
Another favorite is the Organic Honey “Show-Me” Rose, made with rose petals from a local farmer. Sweet, delicate, and lovely.
Custom blends are made in small batches and will sometimes only be available seasonally, depending upon the ingredients. Right now I’ve got some strawberries and mint calling for blending to create a taste of summer for a mid-winter pick-me-up.
As of Feb 2010, finally got Pumpkin Ginger Spice tea made from the pumpkins that I got from “Our Garden” farm in New Florence, MO. Have had lots of compliments on it, and a few customers have made it their favorite. It will only be around for as long as I have pumpkin to make it; then you will have to wait till next Fall to get more.
Winter White Promotion Winners!
Apologies for the delay in posting this and notifying the winners. I’ve been tech challenged over the past couple weeks.
I made out the entire posting last Sunday and then it disappeared in cyberspace when I lost my internet connection. For some reason, this sort of thing has a tendency to dishearten me and I have to rebuild momentum to try again.
So, the first somewhat significant snow we had was on Sunday 12/27, though I don’t think it was quite an inch when it finished. Then we had slightly more snow on the following Wednesday 12/30. Since it was a Wednesday, I could not get by the shop to actually measure it, as I said I was going to do. Someone had guessed that day as the “snow day”.
Since no one guessed any days in the week of Jan 4, when we got really measurable snow – I am awarding the prize of ½ oz of white tea of choice to April D., and the sampler of whites goes to Tom K.
Come by the shop during our regular hours and pick up your tea! (I will be emailing notices to you)
Winter White Promotion for Traveling Tea Customers and Shop Visitors
General Guidelines:
- Starting this weekend – Come in to the shop and tell us the day you think our shop in Maplewood will receive the first snowfall of at least 1”. We will record your name and phone #/email address on a calendar in the shop.
- The person (or persons, in case of a tie) with the correct guess will win 1/2 oz of a White Tea of their choice (limited to varieties on hand – as of this posting we have 5 luscious choices – and will probably have more by the 1st snowfall!)
- All entrants will have their names entered into a drawing for a White Tea Sampler (Value of $15-20)
Clarifications:
In lieu of official measurement by a local meteorologist, snowfall measurement will be made in our front yard, using a standard ruler.
The cut-off for opportunities to record your prediction and win will be retroactive to the actual snowfall by 7 days.
A Gift of Tea
Traveling Tea Gift Cards are NOW in (and they are so cute and colorful!). You can purchase for any amount from $10 and up. They have NO expiration date and are re-loadable.
Special bonus offers (until 12/31/09):
- For $50 you get a card loaded with $60 value
- Purchase at least 3 cards with values of $30 or more and get a bonus card for yourself worth $10 or 10% of your purchase (whichever is more)
AND
BE the FIRST Customer to PURCHASE a Gift Card ($20 or more) and you will receive your choice of FREE TEA or a coupon good for at least $5 off your next Traveling Tea purchase.
Sunshine and Tea and CATS
First – I want to send out a BIG Thank you to all who braved the sunshine last weekend to stop by, say “Hello”, purchase tea – and especially those who explored the unknown realm of Tea Leaf Readings. You raised more than $140 for Tenth Life Cats (including what went into the donation jar as well).
Thanks to Kristin for bringing the trio of 8 week old kittens looking for a home. Wish I had a photo, but I think Elizabeth was going to post one on the Tenth Life site.
I wish I’d even thought to bring a camera so I could document all the comings and goings. It was so much fun – meeting new people, catching up with old friends.
I will take some photos of the shop this weekend, to show you how it’s filled in. We took a count at one point and found we have more than 68 different varieties and blends of teas and tisanes (and I’ve got more coming in next week).
The selection changes based on your requests, so keep your ideas and suggestions coming. It makes the shop more interesting for everyone. Look for another upcoming post for a new service – (thanks to Doug).
signs & shelving & tea – Oh My!
I’ve never been a long-range planner – which is why I’m not good at chess. Probably a good thing right now. If I’d realized all the big and little things I have to make decisions on, I don’t know if this tea shop would ever have gotten off the ground!
I had to get a temporary permit (30 days only) so I could put up a banner at least – so you can find us this weekend. Then, if I’m understanding correctly, I have to have a sign idea ready for city council meeting in less than 2 wks. All while I have to figure out shelving and best use of space, AND keep on top of my tea orders.
Of course, other seasoned business owners realize all of this. I’m VERY green – like my sencha!
So, we’re not doing fancy. It will be a lot like my booth at the market – but we’ll be dry and warm; and the best part is – I don’t have to wait till next Summer to see my regular customers.
Opening Kick-Off Celebration
3134 Sutton Blvd in Maplewood
The Kettle is on in Maplewood!!!
Come help us celebrate the Opening of Traveling Tea at the Wellness Center of Maplewood, 3134 Sutton Blvd. on October 31 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm and November 1st from Noon to 4:00 pm.
Come Celebrate All Hallows Eve with us!
Join us to sample the wonderful teas and treats available from Traveling Tea. And for a special treat, satisfy that brewing curiosity with a tea leaf reading by local psychic, Loving Rose.
The Schedule:
From Noon-4 on both Saturday and Sunday we will have local psychic Loving Rose in to do Tea Leaf Readings. The charge is $20 for a 15 minute reading. Purchase of a cup of tea is not required to get a reading. If you’d like a cup of one of our tasty offerings for your Reading, you will get it for half the usual price.
We will be limited to 12 readings per day, so please call Kateri at 314-477-8516 for a pre-paid reservations to ensure your chance at a Reading. Complimentary package of tea with your advance reservation!
A portion of the $20 fee for the tea reading will be donated to tenthlifecats.org, a local cat rescue organization that provides for special needs feline recovery and adoption. Hopefully, a representative of Tenth Life will be on hand to share about the wonderful work they are doing. We will at least have information available of some sort.
How did we choose Tenth Life? Anita, who works with me in the Tower Grove Farmers Market booth on Saturdays, has been fostering one of their kitties until he finds a permanent home; and I love cats too.
Hope to see you there!