Had a brief Chicago visit and spendt quite a while at "I Dream of Tea" in Evanston, owned by a charming, knowlegeable young couple. Had a wonderful ben shan and bought some delicious golden silk keemun which was rich, thick and lingering, even after several infusions and a soft, woodsy spring buds puerh. Their prices seem reasonable and it was certainly worth the trip. Also stopped by the a-bit-too-corporate-for-me TeaGschwender and bought Formosa Fancy Superior Oolong Taifu which was light, snappy, floral and crisp and a fragrant Darjeeling FTGFOP1 Steinthal (1st Flush) with complex flowery overtones. The place is very slick - bistro and bar in the front of the shop, tea in bins in the rear. The sales help are extremly knowlegeable. The prices for "real" teas are reasonable. The only thing I personally found offensive, and this is a personal thing, is the oodles of artificially flavoured black teas that scent the air as you make your way into the shop. They even sell a "gummy-bear flavoured" tea. Uck! I did buy a blood orange fruit tisane that is very comforting as the weather changes - nothing artificial in this one. Shen
- posted
17 years ago