Madame Askew and The Grand Arbiter

Originally posted to our Patreon

The Grand Arbiter and I are avowed dedicants of the leaf, famously so some might say. We have enjoyed many a fine cuppa in tea rooms across North America, but naturally, we make most of our tea at our enchanted Peryton Manor or at our respective hideaways. In honour of International Tea Day, I want to share a few of my favourite tea purveyors and teas.

After multiple tea collaborations and a very long friendship, no one is surprised by our love of Tea Punk Teas. We shall always encourage you to indulge in our special collaboration teas–Madame Askew’s Elixir d’Amour, The Grand Arbiter’s Existential Despair and Décret Superbe–there are many delightful teas to enjoy from our dear Tea Punks. I can never say no to a cup of Deep Blue Abyss Oolong–the Madame Gail Carriger collaboration–but I also adore their delightful Scottish Tea (more malty, less regicide), Rot Gut Assam (perfect for rainy days and dashing reads), and Alchemy (a marvelous daily drinker and afternoon pick-me-up). As an added bonus, should you stop by their aetherweb shop, consider bringing home their new tea duelling inspired card game.

When I am not enjoying delightful tea blends from our dear friends, I tend to indulge in single leaf teas. I am a notorious fan of Darjeeling, that most taboo of teas, whilst the Grand Arbiter adores Assam above all things, except Magic the Gathering. My newest favourite, thanks to Elizabeth Bear, is Upton Teas and I must exuberantly proclaim the brilliance of their Darjeeling. They have a marvelous selection of single leaf teas, including many other Darjeeling options, and some exquisite Assam and a decadent Nilgiri. Given the excellent quality of their tea, I would certainly try out some of their blends, including this charming Christmas Tea, in the future.

We have our dear friend, the Tea Tzar, to thank for the introduction to the Ohio Tea Company. They have collaborated with the Tea Tzar and several other beloved Steampunk chums, including ASGARD and Lady Wheelsworth and Steampunk Xena. Their Campfire S’mores is a decadent cuppa perfect for long winter nights and after dinner dessert. 

If we haven’t yet introduced you to the delightful Friday Afternoon Teas, then truly, I must apologize! The purveyor and blender, Friday, brings her own brand of tea nerdery and kindness to this project. With a host of charming seasonal blends, there are treasures to discover all year but I particularly love Second Breakfast for a lovely mid-morning cup when I need something cosy or fall into love with the bold, enticing flavour of Constant Craving. For some holiday cheer, I discovered their Hot Buttered Yum was smashing on its own or with just a tiny tipple. Even though I rarely indulge in tisanes, this is a sweet little seasonal charmer for the holidays. 

A long time favourite that we visit any time we have the joy of being in San Diego, the Britannia Tea Room (formerly Shakespeare’s Corner) has many delightful treats for the Anglophile or expat, but they also have a splendid selection of tea blends, very much in the British style. I have long been obsessed with their Scottish Caramel Pu-erh. Their Baroness Grey is a lovely interpretation of the more typical Earl Grey, and it can come as no surprise that I very much enjoy their Mr Darcy with its charming balance of Darjeeling and Assam. 

Finally, I would be deeply remiss if I didn’t share a few of my most beloved teas from Seven Cups Teas. Not only is Seven Cups one of the best Chinese Tea Houses in North America, they are also one of the principle suppliers for many excellent Chinese teas. Even if you haven’t been to the shop in Tucson, you may have already enjoyed their tea elsewhere. (One of my favourite tea memories was discovering their tea in a tiny tea room in Durango, Colorado many years ago.) This is where I go to indulge in my love for Pu-erh teas, which are admittedly an acquired taste, but if you wish to give it a try or happen to already love Pu-erh, I highly recommend my frist Pu-erh love, Ma Guo Tou, a balanced, earthy cup, or the somewhat more sophisticated, that is much less earthy, Zijuan Gongting. For a sweet introduction to Pu-erh, I heartily recommend this Nuomi Xiang. If Pu-erh is not your thing–yet!–may I recommend delving into the Wulong. This is considered to be the pinnacle of the Chinese tea making art and I personally find that Wulong is a tea that most requires me to be in the moment with each sip. These teas are nothing if not subtle and complex. I usually indulge in Woolong for special celebrations with dear friends. My most beloved tea for these special occasions is Shui Jin Gui but I also favour Chuantong Tieguanyin for particularly auspicious moments. For those who wish to celebrate someone very dear or to bring legendary tea into your own collection, Seven Cups has a lovely collection of 4 famous Rock Wulongs. Each of the teas in this collection has a deep cultural importance as well as utterly glorious flavour.

As always, my darling sparkle glitter unicorns, I have far more to say on the topic of tea than I ever realize! I hope, however, that my array of recommendations give you some new teas to try, a few delightful gift ideas, and maybe a happy reminder to go indulge in a cuppa.

Cheers!

~Madame