T
ea is certainly not the new kid on the block. Often referred to as the world’s oldest prepared beverage, tea originated in China in 2737 B.C. It’s said, like many great discoveries, that the first cup of tea was an accident. According to legend, tea was first brewed when leaves fell from a nearby tree into a pot of boiling water. Fast–forward several millennia, and the first iced tea in the U.S. was also served by accident, at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, where a purveyor was offering free samples of his hot drink when soaring temperatures forced him to improvise. Iced tea is now ubiquitous, and the drink of choice in the South. It cannot be denied that Americans have a love affair with coffee. The average consumer downs roughtly three cups per day, or 23 gallons a year. But just as there are “dog people” and “cat people” among animal lovers, there are “coffee people” and “tea people” among beverage consumers (or like some of us, equal opportunity lovers). While coffee has always been in the forefront, tea has quietly staged a coup for the American beverage palate. And,
crucially, tea is gaining ground with a key demo—according to Forbes, younger Americans are ditching coffee in favor of tea, with the most recent statistics showing a dead heat (42% tea, 42% coffee) among 18–29 year olds. Tea is also closing in on the 30–44 demographic, with a 35% tea, to 50% coffee split. While coffee is still the beverage of choice for the 45–and– over set, tea consumption has grown by 20% since the turn of the century. The bump in tea consumption is apparent right here in West Chester, home to multiple tea rooms and purveyors. So, we thought it was fitting that, for the Fresh Brew issue, we explore the state of the oldest brewed beverage in the borough. Tranquilitea Temple on Church Street also found its place by chance. The tea shop, which opened for business in June, is run by Tracey Wang Stuligross. “We had a gift shop in the King of Prussia Mall for eight years, but a few years ago, the health department regulations changed, and we could no longer sell loose–leaf tea without a three–bin sink, which would have been impossible at our location,” she says.
“We were able to find an ideal home in West Chester, where we can not only sell loose–leaf teas, but also prepare hot, iced, or bubble tea drinks” says Tracey Wang Stuligross, owner of Tranquilitea Temple, pictured with her husband John. Tranquilitea Temple currently offers more than 40 varieties of loose–leaf teas, including black, green, and herbal tea blends, along with tea–related accessories and gift items. “We were able to find an ideal home in West Chester, where we can not only sell loose–leaf teas, but also prepare hot, iced, or bubble tea drinks, and we still offer many of the Feng Shui and Zen gift items we had at King of Prussia.” Tracey has noticed that coffee shops are getting on the tea bandwagon, but she’s confident they can’t compete. “We have a much greater selection, and much higher quality loose–leaf teas than you can get at a coffee shop, and everything is brewed fresh,” she says. An added benefit? “At a tea house, you can also get much more information from the knowledgeable staff.”
NOVEMBER 2017 THEWCPRESS.COM
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