Great Escape: Sip a Cup of Tea

A seemingly endless variety of teas is available in the market today, and many of them are reputed to provide health benefits.

For this week’s “Great Escape,” a visit to Green Teahouse in Blue Back Square might help you discover a new variety of tea to delight your taste buds and improve your well-being at the same time.

Green Teahouse sells more than 100 different kinds of organic tea. While many may be familiar with the beneficial qualities of White, Green, Black, and Oolong Teas, Green Teahouse also offers less familiar varieties of Rooibos and Pu-erh, as well as a selection of Herbal, Chai, Maté, and Fruit Teas.

Free samples of selected teas are always available. You can purchase a cup to go, and sip it as you stroll the streets of Blue Back Square. If weather permits, you can drink your tea while people-watching at one of Green Teahouse’s outdoor tables.

Green Teahouse also offers the opportunity to schedule your own Chinese Tea Ceremony. Designed for between four and 10 people, the ceremony includes three different teas served in a traditional and elegant Chinese manner. The experience is intended to invoke all five senses, as the leader discusses the background of the tea, its traditions, and the proper serving etiquette.

The Green Teahouse is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Extended evening hours are provided in the summer. Prices for a cup of tea vary. The Chinese Tea Ceremony, which is available by appointment only, is approximately one hour in duration, includes a question and answer period, and is $25 per person. Call 860-232-6666 or visit www.thegreenteahouse.com for additional information.