It鈥檚 the world鈥檚 most consumed drink, not counting water. Worldwide, we drink six billion cups of tea a day, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. Many, many of those cups are being consumed in Vancouver, which has taken in a big way to the Camellia sinensis plant that produces black, green, oolong, white and pu鈥檈rh teas. Maybe it鈥檚 our healthy lifestyle; tea has long been revered for its medicinal qualities. Maybe it鈥檚 the intersection of tea-loving cultures from the UK and Asia. Or maybe it鈥檚 just because tea is delicious.
Whatever the reason, we love a decent cuppa, and Westender readers have decided that the best cuppa in town comes from 顿础痴滨顿鈥檚罢贰础. 鈥淲e put a lot of love into our tea,鈥� explains Meghan Duffy, the assistant manager at the West 4th Avenue location. 鈥淎nd we try to make every experience a personal one.鈥�
The original 顿础痴滨顿鈥檚罢贰础 opened in 2008 on Toronto鈥檚 lively Queen Street. There are now more than 200 stores across Canada and the United States, known for their friendly services and quality product. The stores also carry a wide variety of teas 鈥� some 150 of them, including traditional teas, seasonal teas, organic teas and herbal infusions from around the world 鈥� ensuring there is a tea for every taste.
At the West 4th store, its biggest sellers are the Cream of Earl Grey, a vanilla-scented tea that鈥檚 especially popular in lattes, and Forever Nuts, an herbal tea of apples, cinnamon and beetroot. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so tasty. It鈥檚 like apple crumble in a cup,鈥� Duffy says. 鈥淎nd with Christmas coming up, we have people coming in for cosy teas, so we鈥檙e seeing a lot of chai teas, things with a lot of spice.鈥�
Tea is simple 鈥� just hot water and tea leaves 鈥� but that doesn鈥檛 mean it鈥檚 easy. The key to a good cup of tea, Duffy says, is patience. 鈥淭here are some teas you have to be very careful with the amount of time you steep them. Pay attention to your tea.鈥�
That鈥檚 something that 顿础痴滨顿鈥檚罢贰础 has clearly mastered.
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Gold 鈥� Best Cup of Tea
