Tea Zaanti's Fall Tea Guide

As the leaves start changing in the canyons and our tall cigar tree out front begins to shed its summer leaves, we get ready for the fall season ahead. Our tea cake smells just a bit sweeter as it warms in the oven and our pumpkin shaped sugar cookies look just a bit cuter as I think about dunking them in a hot beverage. There are fewer ice cubes melting on the counter from shaken iced teas. The sound of our milk frother becomes more frequent as hot drinks become popular again. My favorite time of the year at Tea Zaanti is autumn.

Our fall tea selection holds some of my all-time favorite tea. I begin to gravitate towards those flavors that are richer, sweeter and a little bit spicier. These teas work great on their own, as a latte or with just a hint of soy, oat or whole milk to take the edge off the tannins. I find the black tea, Pu-erh tea, and rooibos tea are all great contenders for the fall season because of their robust and warm flavors. 

If you are a fan of black tea, there are some classics as well as blends I would recommend. I’d start with Autumn Crescendo. Like the name says, this fall tea is made up of a Darjeeling blend that has a slight undertone of malt that gives a smooth and rich flavor. This tea stands great on its own but also does well if you like your breakfast tea with milk and honey. For those who love spicy cinnamon candy or pastries, you would enjoy our Cinnamon Toast black tea. Chunks of cinnamon chips are blended with black tea leaves to warm you up on a rainy day. Also, cinnamon is reputed to help with any inflammation that comes with the sick season ahead. This tea mixes great with a dash of milk or cream.

Pu'erh tea has a smooth and thick texture similar to coffee while giving you long-lasting continual energy. Our Pumpkin Spice Pu'erh tea wins against any Pumpkin Spice Latte. Rich and warm pu’er tea mingles with all the classic chai spices plus cloves to remind you of that autumn pumpkin pie in a cup. This tea pairs well as a latte or with a splash of cold milk mixed in.

You can't talk about fall teas without mentioning Rooibos tea. Rooibos is a caffeine-free tea from South Africa that has a sweet finish and deep flavor. Our Apple Pie has dried apple, cinnamon chips, and clove to wrap up the apple harvesting season into a cup of deliciousness. This tea pairs great with a drizzle of honey mixed in or standing alone. Scott and Becky have been known to enjoy it as a hot toddy with spiced rum as well.

While we are talking about rooibos, the final fall tea I would recommend is a favorite year-round but really shines in the autumn season. Our Coconut Chai provides spice not just from cinnamon but with a hint of dried ginger and chili. The coconut flakes help sweeten and balance out the entire cup. It tastes like a warm autumn day wrapped up in your favorite thick sweater.

I hope you’ll find comfort in some of our classic fall teas as we transition seasons and head towards the shorter, colder and snowy days of winter. 

Now Hiring - Tea-rista

Tea-rista Job Description

We are searching for an engaging, courteous Tea-rista who is passionate about food and beverage preparation and education. The Tea-rista will greet customers, answer their questions, take orders and accept payments, and prepare and serve food and drinks. You will also maintain a clean and well-stocked workspace and dining area, update displays, and continuously expand your knowledge of food and beverage quality controls, preparation methods, and presentation.

To succeed as a tea-rista, you should be committed to providing customers with excellent service. You should be positive, friendly, knowledgeable, and polite.

Tea-rista Responsibilities:

• Welcoming customers, informing them about specials or new items, answering questions, and accepting orders and payments.

• Preparing foods, such as sandwiches or baked goods, and grinding and blending coffee beans, brewing coffee and tea, and serving items to customers.

• Packaging food and beverages for sale.

• Selling tea blends and steeping equipment, highlighting the differences between items and educating customers about steeping methods.

• Cleaning and restocking work and dining areas, emptying trash, and sanitizing equipment and utensils.

• Learning about steeping methods, beverage blends, food preparation, and presentation techniques to improve food quality.

• Updating signage and displays to attract customers.

• Taking inventory and replenishing items in display cases, at tables, or behind the counter.

• Working in as part of a fun, high-energy team.

• Adhering to all food safety regulations and quality controls established by Salt Lake Co Health Department and the CDC

Tea-rista Requirements:

• Legal alcohol serving age in Utah (we have a wine and beer license).

• Experience in food and beverage preparation or customer service preferred.

• Training and willingness to continue learning about food and beverage preparation.

• Exceptional listening and communication skills.

• Ability to walk, bend, and stand for extended periods.

• Availability to work around peak hours, including nights, early mornings, weekends, and holidays.

• A polite, engaging personality.

• Commitment to customer satisfaction and service excellence.

• Willingness to work as part of a high-energy, efficient team in a fast-paced environment.

Email scott@teazaanti.com your resume and why you want to work with Tea Zaanti. Thanks.

Staff Favorite from Stu

Of all of the delicious teas that we sell, one of my all time favorites is the Dark Rose: “a smooth, medium-bodied dark tea with a floral aroma in a beautiful compressed heart shape.” A simple blend of Chinese dark tea and rose petals, this tea is perfect any time of day (I usually drink mine in the afternoon). The rose adds a subtly to both the taste and aroma of the tea and makes a classic black tea feel more light and vegetal. While you can steep the tea anywhere from 1-3 minutes, I usually prefer to steep mine on the longer end to bring more flavor and richness to the taste and color of the tea—which brews to be a beautiful deep red amber color. This tea is deeply comforting, and in my opinion has more nuance than just an herbal blend. As someone who is not always the biggest fan of fruity/floral blended teas, the Dark Rose has the perfect balance of floral notes without feeling like you are drinking a bouquet. The tea is rich enough that you can add milk and honey if you want more of a treat, but it is also lovely as is! 

When I am in a sharing mood, this tea is one of my favorites to give as a gift because it is easy to distribute in individual servings and is a sweet gesture no matter the occasion. Because the tea is already compressed and portioned into hearts, it simplifies the process of measuring or weighing out the right ratio of tea to water; just pop a heart into a tea pot and watch it slowly unfurl! 

A single heart cake!

The Perfect Iced Tea in Minutes!

Seven Steps to the Perfect Iced Tea

Step 1: Measure out your loose tea to create your concentrate. For a 24oz iced tea we typically use 2 tbsps of tea.

Sep 2: Begin Steeping your tea with the ideal water temperature for the tea you are using. 208 for a black tea. (Different teas steep at different temps, more on that in a later post!)

Step 3: Set your timer. We normally steep black teas for 3 to 4 minutes.

Step 4: Prepare a cocktail shaker and a glass with ice. If you want to add a touch of honey, I suggest pouring the honey over the ice in the cocktail shaker.

Step 5: Once the tea is properly steeped, pour the concentrate into the cocktail shaker and do you best impression of Tom Cruise from the movie Cocktail.

Step 6: Pour your iced tea over the ice in your glass.

Step 7: Find a comfortable spot to enjoy your perfect iced tea!

That perfect spot is whatever works for you, is it a view of the mountains, sitting on the porch with a friend, or at home as a nice afternoon treat. Thanks.