Tea Therapy: The Great Chasen Hunt and Matcha Latte

I am the type of person who learns to like the most random things at the most random times. And when I become invested (or so I think) on something, there is just no forgetting it unless, of course, something more interesting grabs my attention. In other words, I am very impulsive. But it's never an issue as long as I become productive at or with it. I try my best..

Yesterday, I bought 50g of Matcha (green tea) powder from David's Tea when we were at Metrotown in Burnaby. David's Tea has nice, cheap teas; the friendliest staff; and the prettiest merchandise. The interest sparked last Thursday when my uncle and I were at Teavana looking for a secret santa gift and I came across a small tin can of the green powdery goodness that is Matcha. But, I've always liked green tea or just tea in general. Anyway, my problem was- I didn't have a chasen (bamboo matcha whisk) to do the ritual with. I'd use an ordinary whisk or a frother, but I can be very meticulous. Plus, it's part of the Japanese culture and it's just right to respect that. PLUS, my uncle (we have the same, exact personality type: INFJ) is also big on culture and detail and wants me to use the real thing. We went to Daiso at Aberdeen Mall in Richmond but they phased it out. Imagine my disappointment missing out on a $2 chasen! But I guess buying a cheap chasen isn't 'the real thing' (?) Izumi-Ya, also in Richmond, doesn't carry it either. I called several small Japanese retailers this morning and not one of them has it. Nikaido in Steveston, Ming Wo in Lansdowne has it for around $15. I decided to go with the one Teavana sells, which costs $12.95. I went to Daiso to purchase a cheap frother ($2) because I wanted to make pretty latte. The frother doesn't look nor feel cheap.

I failed to create latte art.

Textured bowl w/ Matcha & Teavana's bamboo whisk

 Finished product! Not bad for a first timer, eh?

Yes, the green motif was intentional. No, flax milk does not froth. I used 2% milk. Yes, I will most probably make another one tonight because I gave the first one to my dad.

Yay.

Tea is my therapy. Preparing it relaxes me, drinking it relaxes me. Tea is the best thing ever...next to a lot of best-thing-evers.

On Nikaido and Tea

(Photo from the Steveston Insider)

On a lovely Saturday afternoon in sunny Steveston, my cousin dragged me to this specialty boutique along No. 1 Road. Nikaido is a quiant, cozy store that sells cards, stationery, and many other things you would want to splurge money on - ehem, cutest of all the cute in the world. This is one side of its interior:

(Photo from the Steveston Insider)

They also sell tea, and A LOT of it. I wish I could tell you about each and every kind, but I can only tell you about one since well, I only purchased one kind that day - the Nikaido Mango Ceylon black tea ($7.95).



I was never a fan of fruity tea until I had this particular one and I was blown away in delight. This black tea has a tangy-ness to it that is just perfect. The pieces that make up the loose leaf are authentic (there isn't much of it out there) and have a wonderful aroma. Whenever I steep this tea at night, or in the late afternoon, its aroma fills the whole place with calm, and it's nice. Also, you can use a batch several times without worrying about your next one being too bland. I also bought my tea filter (around $5) from them.

Nikaido also carries a variety of tea of different brands, some made for cough, weight loss, energy boost, or whatever you need. Name it, they probably have it. My cousin got a double matcha and milk oolong. She loves them too.

This was a really good buy. I can't wait to go back and get some more of a different kind! The lovely couple who owns the place are very nice too. They make you feel welcome to take your time and look at what they have in store.

I wish I had known about Nikaido a long time ago. Then I wouldn't have gone back to grocery stores to buy boxed tea. But hey, we learn, we learn.