Tea: Exotic Leisure

Published by SamovarLife on July 30, 2009 under Tea Blog, The Culture of Tea, What's New

A tea escape... right in the center of down town San Francisco. Tea travelin' on the patio of Samovar Yerba Buena.

A tea escape... right in the center of down town San Francisco. Tea leisure on the patio of Samovar Yerba Buena Garden.

For centuries and across the globe, tea has been a catalyst to leisure, mindfulness, relaxation. It has also long been considered as an exotic “silk road” luxury. If you don’t have ten days for a meditation retreat, $1200 for a plane ticket to Bali, or $500 for a spa day, you can still enjoy some of the same benefits by planting yourself in a quiet beautiful corner of any of Samovar’s tea lounges for a sip of luxury and a few hours of leisure in an exotic setting.

Gravely in need of a mental health day, but conserving resources, you will find great value by lounging with tea, and can enjoy it as much (or more) in solitude as with a friend.

If you want a little taste of quiet time and peace you can find a quiet corner, perhaps beneath a Hindu statue or beside the new fireplace at the “Zen Valley” location on Page & Laguna Streets.

If you are in need of a new friend, the same location has three 8-foot-long redwood tea bars where you can deliberate over the new economy (or reminisce over the old) while sipping a silken Gyokuro or an exotic Maiden’s Ecstasy. (Are you feeling the spa vibe yet?).

Tea also has a reputation for enlisting the passions of intellectuals, poets, and artists, so if you long for a rendezvous to discuss and share your passion for art and culture, you will very likely find kindred spirits here who would like to join you for tea.

Don’t let the economy get the best of you. Relax your mind and body, and come sip a little luxury.

~ Jennifer for Samovarlife

©2009 Jennifer Leigh Sauer
Jennifer Leigh Sauer, is a freelance photographer, award-winning video journalist, and author based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is the author of The Way to Tea: Your Adventure Guide to San Francisco Tea Culture (2007). Reach her by email.

Share:

2 Comments


  • I truly agree that all loose leaf teas contribute to a healthy mind…the more financially efficient way. Would love to try your tea bars. Sounds like a great date place too.


  • Preparing the tea ceremony for your friends, experience great taste and chatting at the same time will relax your mind… Tea: a social drink. Besides this.. tea is one of the most healthy drinks in the world.

Leave a comment

Name*
Email* (will not be shown)
Website
Message

Comments

  • Jamie Budesky: Is there anyway to get a list of the Wines and Tea’s posted on what was in this tasting video...
  • Stephen Nguyen: Can you upload more high definition photos? Very interesting Series of Blog!
  • Stephen Nguyen: I love this video. Tastings are such a great way to bring together people and have a great social...
  • Rodney Keeling: This is great! I was wondering how to brew tea cold in the summer. Thanks!
  • surbhi: nice one

Archives