Tea with Tiffany - Grey's Kelly Tea Review

Delicate lavender packs a punch with flavor

During my time in San Francisco, there were many places I came to love. When it came to enjoying a pot of tea and a scone smothered in Devonshire cream, there was no place quite like the Leland Tea Company. If you don't recall the post I wrote about Leland's awhile back, you can find it here. It will give a more detailed description about why I loved being a regular at this neighborhood spot on Polk Street.

As often as I could be found at Leland's, it only made sense to incorporate their teas into the Tea with Tiffany videos. That being said, this review will take a look at the Grey's Kelly Black Tea, an Earl Grey tea with hints of Lavender. It's suiting that this tea creates a play on words of the famous Grace Kelly herself. Just like the classic and graceful actress, Grey's Kelly is a combination of flavors that is both soothing and irresistible. 

Enjoy the video review below and be sure to check out the Leland Tea Company site for more delicious flavors or to order your own custom blend! 

So Long, Farewell...Until We Meet Again

San Francisco...you will be missed

When I was younger, I used to believe that the best stories began with 'Once Upon a Time' and ended with a 'Happily Ever After'. I can't blame Disney or the Grimm Brothers for that either--I was naturally predisposed to happy endings and fairytales. As I've learned over the years, though, the best fairytales are the ones of our own making. There may be no prince or princess or magic spell, but like a fairytale, there are lessons to be learned.

My time in San Francisco has been one such fairytale, filled with laughter, tears and far too many cups of tea. Every person I've met has only added to the experience, making it bittersweet to say goodbye. Just as this chapter ends, however, a new one is about to begin.

California Dreamin...

Somewhere over the rainbow? I think so...

So I wanted to take a moment and let everyone know why there was such a lack of activity on my part lately. I'll be posting more details verrrrrrry soon about all the big changes going on in my life, but for now, let's just say that my time in California is starting to come to an end. 

I've decided there is better way to take advantage of my last few days in San Francisco than by walking around and soaking up all the sights, sounds and smells of this amazing city. It may be known for being 7 x 7 in size, but San Francisco sure knows how to pack a punch.

Tea Meets Travel: Introducing Five Mountains Tea Company

Simplicity....the secret ingredient

Imagine for a moment that two twenty-something travelers, residing as Buddhist monks in Asia, happen to both be tea fanatics. Now imagine that these two individuals cross paths in San Francisco ten years later and decide to create a business opportunity out of their passions.

So began the story behind Five Mountains -- a small, recent upstart tea company located in the heart of San Francisco. As a city renowned for big name tea importers like Mighty Leaf, The Republic of Tea and Numi, San Francisco certainly knows its way around the tea market. With the addition of Five Mountains to the scene, though, the Bay Area is in for something new. Let's just say that this tea company is redefining the idea of tea purity and simplicity. Are you itching to try them out yet?

Social Media Week Kickoff in SF!

Beginning next week on February 7th, the official Social Media Week will commence in nine cities around the world--and of course San Francisco is on that list! I know I'm not the only social media junkie out there, which is why I wanted to share the details of an upcoming event with you all.

The e2 Launch Event will be streaming live on Tuesday, February 8th, at 10am PST from the Phyllis Wattis Theater at SFMOMA and will include presentations from major media companies like NBC, Reuters and The Washington Post. If you've ever found yourself wondering how major companies (like those named) engage online users, this is an event NOT to be missed. It's a live stream, so you don't have to actually be in San Francisco to take part in it.

You can check out further details and RSVP for the event (it's free!) by clicking here: http://e2launchstream.eventbrite.com/

I will also be streaming the event on Tuesday, so stay tuned for more exciting updates!

One is NOT Always the Loneliest Number

Embrace every solo moment

Sometimes it's a blessing in disguise when you don't yet know very many people after moving to a new place. It gives you the opportunity to blend seamlessly into a crowd, observe what's going on around you and enjoy the pleasure of your own company.

Living in a busy city can make for a busy person and it's easy to get wrapped up in the constant stream of activity. I'd almost forgotten what it felt like to wander aimlessly, alone except for my thoughts, until a few recent experiences. They were well-timed reminders that having time to oneself can be just as memorable and necessary an adventure. Whether you're caught up in work or simply need some downtime from school, consider putting aside your reservations and striking out on your own. As I was reminded, you never really know what it might teach you about yourself.

The Search That Never Ends (Or So it Seemed)

The question now, is where to start looking?

House hunting as post-grad (or apartment hunting, as the case may be) is not like any TV show I've ever seen. There is no sweeping introduction music, perfectly-timed transitions from one location to another and DEFINITELY no expert with all the answers to your questions. House Hunters International is one my favorite lazy-Saturday morning shows but did it teach me anything about the amount of hard work and stress involved in finding a place to live as a recent college graduate? That would be a no.

I still often daydream of an overseas location to someday call home, but moving to and working in San Francisco has required an amount of hard work not usually found in daydreams (my apologies to any extreme-daydreamers that may unintentionally offend).  The last couple of months have been comprised of a housing search I never thought would end. My journey is far from over, but these recent challenges have reminded me that what you're looking for is usually right in front of you.

Leland Tea Company: A Labor of Love

Leland Tea Company: A Teaholic's Haven

This is the first Tea with Tiffany post featuring a local tea company here in San Francisco. Feel free to leave your thoughts about the tea house, or better yet, plan a trip to experience it for yourself!

The wind had a bite to it and I was bundled in my scarf, gloves and peacoat when I arrived at the Leland Tea Company for my scheduled interview. A jazzy music number played in the background while the warm overhead lighting  lured in cold-numbed passerbys like myself from the street. I had yet to have any tea, but already the atmosphere assured me that this was a teaholic's haven.

I had been to Leland's a few times before, and was thus greeted with an easy familiarity by Ronnie--an employee with a ready smile and talent for recommending winning tea combinations. As I stood at the loose leaf tea bar deliberating over what flavor would sufficiently warm me up, Ronnie suggested a Chai blended with "Kisses" - a black tea with distinct infusions of rich chocolate. If I didn't already believe that a girl's heart could be won over by a cup of tea, this brew would've had me declaring my infatuation for who knows how long.