I love tea samples!!!! It could be a slight addiction. I love how samples allow me to try teas that I would normally think —ummmm— I’m not sure about that one. Sampler sets are one of my favorite things when trying different teas and are friendlier on the budget. On a trip to Chicago recently, I was so excited as I found another Argo Tea shop and what do I do when I find a new tea shop? Stop in for a quick cup of tea and maybe a sample or 2.
Chicago
After riding the L (public train) all over the city we stopped in downtown Chicago- we are tourists after all. We visited The Bean, Millennium park, Chicago River walk and the Theatre District. When we were in the Theatre District my non hot tea drinker saw it tucked away next to the Nederlander Theatre-Argo Tea. I had been to an Argo Tea cafe on my last Chicago trip and loved it so I could not wait to go inside.
CATS!
I’m like a kid in a candy shop when I hit a tea shop. First stop we tried the tea on display called the Kit-TEA-Cat tea. A super yummy iced mint tea prepared for the musical Cats. The store even offered a discount to patrons with Cats tickets. There were directions with the display on how to prepare this particular tea. It was so good! Cats patrons-make sure and try some.
The order
We ordered iced chais that were so yummy and I eyed the tea selections. The tea shop itself is very cute, multiple seating areas and work areas. A great spot for a croissant and tea.
Argo Tea Shop products
After we were done I headed over to check out the products they sell. They have their packaged products, matcha sets, mugs and kettles but the most exciting part were the containers in the shelving of loose tea. Each container is labeled below with what type of tea, the cost of the tea canister and cost of an ounce of tea. Samples!!
Tea Samples-yes please!
Here’s my kid in the candy shop moment-I pulled out multiple selections of loose tea. Don’t worry only 1 or 2 at a time-it did not become that much of a madhouse. I looked at and smelled at least 15 teas. It was hard but I finally narrowed down my tea sample selections to 4 teas. It was so fun, you weigh your own tea and bag it yourself. So I bounced from tea to tea. We labeled the bottom of each bag so we could remember what each tea was. We prepared an ounce of Earl Grey, Charitea, rooibos goji berry and ginger peach. I was so excited to go back to Texas and try them.
Another section of tea
On another wall there was another selection of tea. There was nothing to indicate you could use these as samples just the canisters. My choices had been made and I had already hit David’s tea so I decided to stop there. I loved the look of the tea display with tea in corked containers, this gave me a thought for my new tea.
Back to Texas
When I returned to Texas I made a quick stop in Michaels and I was able to find glass, corked containers that I wanted for my new tea. After washing them I used a funnel to pour the tea in and labeled them. I put the glass corked containers of tea in my tea storage area so they did not stay in full light. I kept one of the original paper bags from my Argo tea samples as it has their recommended preparation for their tea.
Final thoughts on Other Tea Shop Samples
I have been lucky enough to go to Tea Shops where you get tea samples prepared for you by the ounce. I feel a little more restricted and ask for 2 or 3 to see/smell etc. I had never prepared the samples by myself- it was so much fun. It was a lot more mad scientist working on a tea experiment, enjoying the tea journey.
Have you ever bagged your own tea? I recommend it if you get the chance.