Volume 13 Issue 1 » 97
THE URBAN TEA MERCHANT
“The right way to have tea is just
the way you like to have it.”
Reza Nasooti, Urban Tea Merchant’s
Tea Sommelier and Director of
Business Development
If there was one word to perfectly describe
the Urban Tea Merchant, that word would
no doubt be “experience.” The olfactory
experience begins with an inviting aroma
as you enter their lavish tea salon and
boutique. That comes as no surprise, as
the Urban Tea Merchant is the exclusive
Canadian distributor of TWG Tea, one of
the world’s finest luxury tea brands.
Tea is most definitely at the centre of
everyday business at the Urban Tea
Merchant. The quality of their teas is
second to none, and every little detail
matters. Even the tea bags are hand sewn
one by one – yes, hand sewn – and made
with 100% natural cotton to ensure that
flavour isn’t altered in any way.
Photo courtesy of TWG Tea
And if you’re looking to enjoy more than
just tea, the Urban Tea Merchant is also
one of the best places in Vancouver to
have afternoon tea. Offered daily, their tea
service features a selection of menus – from
seasonal menus like Sakura Tea Service or
Festive Tea Service to recurring signature
menus like the Pacific Route Tea Set or
Traditional Tea Set.
AFTERNOON TEA VS. HIGH
TEA - THE DIFFERENCE
Did you know that afternoon
tea and high tea are not
s y no ny mou s ? I n m a ny pl ac e s
around the world, the terms
“ a fte r no o n te a” a nd “ h i g h te a”
have b e e n u s e d i nte rc ha nge ably,
when in fact the two refer to
ve r y d i ffe r e nt t h i ng s . Af te r no o n
tea was originally conceptualized
a n d e nj o y e d b y t h e w e a l t h y c l a s s
i n E ngland . It was me ant to be
s erved between 4:00 and 6:00 pm
as a l ight a fte r noon me al . High
tea, however, was traditionally
served between 5:00 and 7:00
pm as the evening supper for the
working class, often consisting
o f me at i f av a i l abl e , ve ge t abl e
dishes, bread, and a simple
dessert.
One thing that speaks to the significance
of tea at the Urban Tea Merchant is their
effort to incorporate tea into their food
menus. What results is a unique “tea
gastronomy experience” – handcrafted,
scrumptious tea-infused cuisine paired with
your choice of a premium TWG Tea. So
how about some freshly baked scones with
1837 Black Tea Jelly, made with TWG
Tea’s renowned signature 1837 Black Tea,
or a savoury chicken cone infused with
their TWG Tea’s smoky Imperial Lapsang
Souchong tea? I say yes, please!
Urban Tea Merchant
1070 West Georgia Street,
Vancouver
(604) 692-0071
urbantea.com