Tea's Me Cafe and Gifts

I spent some time in a tea bar in St. Louis a few months ago called Cha Yoon. They served a drink called a 'Tower of Zen'. It is made with a type of tea from South America, Yerba Mate. Yerba Mate is not traditional tea (camellia sinensis) but is from a different plant (Ilex paraguarensis). Yerba mate contains little caffeine, but another stimulant "mateine". Anyway, they put a shot of saki and some apple flavor in it. Very good stuff.

Here's a list of other tea establishments in Indiana:

http://www.teamap.com/states/state_IN_Name.html

"Tea Bars"? Why does this sound like something you'd find in Amsterdam in some side alley? I can see it now... a smokey room burrowed into the front of a crumbling 19th century building...

The rays of sunlight are obscured through oily windows as they cut a bright path through the shadowy recesses. In the back of the room, there is a small counter, its wood smooth from decades of use. The bin next to the counter, and above the display caase of one-hitter infusers, holds slots, stuffed with dark dried leaves. Labels, so worn by time, are difficult to read, but offer strange hints to the contents of the bins...

"Nirobian Nestea" reads one; "Lyberian Lipton" proclaims another. In an almost emptied container is the sought after "Golden Sun Ginsing".

An old man sits over a set of scales, carefully grinding down several leaves with a mortar and pestle, and then funneling the powder into a small translucent baggie. Adjusting the scales with tiny bronze weights, he measures off a quantity and seals the bag with a press of his fingers and a drop of water.

Handing the baggie over to a customer, the old man quickly palms a five dollar bill in the exchange. A nickle bag. A nickle for the hit. A nickle for the caffeine - that natural rush - mother nature's speed. Or so that's what the customer told themselves to justify another leaf-blower - another dip - another brew. That's all they needed for the day, the evening... that minute.

Clearly, you are mocking my caffeine dependancy (as I divert your attention from the six bags of imported teas in my cabinet).

I once heard a theory that Americans do not drink tea like they do coffee because of the Boston Tea party. After that incident, drinking coffee was viewed as being patriotic. As the theory goes, this view has filtered down from generation to generation so that we now have Starbucks on every corner rather than tea bars.

Me? Guilty of mockery? NEVER!

I stumbled upon Tea's Me in Indy thanks to my girlfriend who had been brought there by her mentor from work. I was very pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere, staff, and most importantly the food and tea. The staff was very friendly and so passionate about tea that they were able to get me very excited about it even though I'm a born cynic. In an age of countless poser chic establishments, Tea's Me is an absolute gem.