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More than a drink with jam and bread

By Chris Horn

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Axah McCalla studies in the ultra-modern, Asian-inspired sitting area at House of Cha, 21 W. 9th St. Melodic, synthesized ballads chime in the background while she sips on her refreshing bubble tea.

“I come here a little too often,” the Lawrence senior says with a chuckle.

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Photo by Sarah Leonard

The American Beverage Association says there is an increasing trend of tea consumption. Globally, tea is the second-most consumed beverage, according to the ABA.

Typically, McCalla goes to House of Cha three to four times per week, but sometimes she goes every day, especially when school is in session. She only drinks tea; coffee is not a part of her diet. She doesn’t frequent coffee shops, but when she does choose to go, she finds it hard to get good quality tea. She also enjoys the serenity that the teashop provides.

“The teashop offers a relaxing atmosphere that helps me concentrate,” she says, “but not to the point that I want to fall asleep.”

According to the American Beverage Association, tea ranks second in global beverage consumption behind water, but is the seventh-most consumed beverage in the United States. The ABA and its market research company now notice an increasing trend in tea consumption that accompanies a growing number of teashops and tea retailers.

More and more people in Lawrence have caught on to the national shift toward high-quality tea consumption and the ever-growing tea scene in the city is indicative of its increasing popularity.

Gary Patterson, co-owner of House of Cha, says his business has increased at least 15 percent every year since the teahouse opened in 2003. The idea for House of Cha grew from Patterson’s online venture as a wholesaler of Taiwanese oolong tea, which tea connoisseurs consider to be the world’s best. Patterson and his wife, Fanny, whose family has a history in the Taiwanese tea industry, decided to open the teahouse in hopes of educating Lawrence residents about the perks of high-quality tea.

Varieties of tea

With the exception of herbal tea, all tea is made from a plant called Camellia sinensis. The type of tea varies based on the cultivation region, the time of year picked and the method of processing. Here are some fun tea facts:

■ White teas have the highest antioxidant levels of all teas. They have a low amount of caffeine and they’re the least processed.

■ Green teas boost the immune system, reduce the risk of cancer and help prevent cavities and tooth decay. They have 5-10 percent of the caffeine found in coffee and they naturally burn calories.

■ Oolong teas increase metabolism and aid in digestion, making them perfect for a weight-loss regimen.

■ Black teas are the most commonly served teas in America. Black tea helps blood flow to the brain and increases concentration and mental focus. Black tea also prevents the absorption of cholesterol into the bloodstream, which helps lower the risk of heart disease.

■ Rooibos or Red teas come from a South African red bush. They have higher antioxidant levels than green tea and rooibos/red tea has no caffeine. Rooibos teas have high levels of vitamins and minerals and are excellent in aiding with digestion.

■ Herbal teas consist of herbs, and can also include flowers and fruits. Their healthiness varies from tea to tea.

■ Bubble teas typically have four components: a flavor, a creamer, a sweetener and a liquid. Flavors range from chai to honeydew and you can choose from tea or milk as your liquid. Bubble-tea lovers also have the option of adding boba, or large balls of sweet tapioca, which adds a fun twist.

Source: www.teavana.com, www.bubbleteasupply.com and www.teagarden.com

Patterson says the teahouse’s bubble-tea drinkers range from international students to Lawrence residents, and from toddlers to senior citizens.

“Once somebody tries it,” he says, “they keep coming back for more.”

Mark Ukra, a tea connoisseur known as Dr. Tea, discusses the healthful benefits and increasing popularity of tea in his book The Ultimate Tea Diet, which is set for release in December. Ukra’s Los Angeles teahouse, the Tea Garden & Herbal Emporium, offers its wide range of clientele an abundance of tea knowledge and quirky ways to incorporate tea into daily routines.

Ukra says stereotypical tea drinkers, which he describes as “the pinkies-up crowd” or “little old ladies,” are a thing of the past and the increasing number of teahouses and retailers is a sign of progress.

“Teahouses are starting to pop up in more mainstream locations instead of off the beaten path,” Ukra says. “The fact that there are coffeehouses on every corner is not adequate anymore for health-conscious individuals.”

Increasing popularity and a lucrative Lawrence market have spawned Teapouro Tea & Espresso, a new tea-inspired concept café at 712 Massachusetts St.

Teapouro plans to open in December and will be downtown’s third teahouse, joining House of Cha and Indo, 125 E. 10th St. Larry Shaus, the business manager of Teapouro, says the espresso business has done well in Lawrence, which is why he and owner Denise James have included the drink in Teapouro’s menu. Shaus adds that tea is where espresso was 15 years ago and the tea culture is spreading eastward from California.

“We don’t want to be on the tail end of the trend,” Shaus says. “We want to be on the beginning end. We’re trying to convert espresso drinkers to tea drinkers.”

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