Alliance Award

The Teahouse was honored by the Santa Fe Human Rights Alliance with a 2012 Alliance Award for “Family” Friendly Coffee House. Nancy, our manager, was on hand to accept the award on behalf of all of us at a ceremony held on April 14. We are so thrilled to receive this award. Thank you to the Human Rights Alliance for the award and for all the important work that you do.

Now that the weather is lovely and the fruit trees and flowers are blooming, stop by The Teahouse for a glass of fresh and flavorful iced tea. We brew a different flavor every day, from vanilla and black rose to honeydew melon, mango, black apricot and black ginger, Vietnamese black te and more. Each glass is a delicious blend of exotic and fragrant flavors.

We’re also serving 100 percent gluten-free baked goods from our sister restaurant, Revolution Bakery, to celebrate spring. Try our blueberry muffins, mini pies, coffee cake, artisanal breads and more. Get some to go or relax in one of our cozy dining rooms with a cup of Metropolis Coffee, made by an acclaimed Chicago artisan roaster.

If you haven’t yet visited Revolution Bakery, you’re in for a treat. Located at 1291 San Felipe Ave., the bakery is a spacious, light-filled environment where we serve our famous gluten-free goods, made fresh daily.  We’ve got cookies, cakes, brownies, muffins, scones, pies, artisan breads and more, all baked right here in our kitchen with as many organic and locally sourced ingredients as possible.

Happy Spring! Hope to see you soon!

Now that the weather is lovely and the fruit trees and flowers are blooming, stop by The Teahouse for a refreshing glass of iced tea. It’s the perfect way to quench your thirst on these hot sunny days.

At The Teahouse, we brew a different flavor of iced tea every day. From black apricot and black ginger to Vietnamese black tea, vanilla, black rose, honeydew melon, mango, taro taro and more, our iced teas are a delicious blend of exotic and fragrant flavors.

Iced tea is a popular drink around the country, especially in the Southern states. Recipes for the beverage appear in two cookbooks published in the 1870s. By the early 19th century, iced tea was served in hotels, restaurants and railroad stations around the country. Senators in their Washington offices ordered large coolers of it to help beat the hot weather. But iced tea became an even bigger hit after it was introduced at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis.

The story goes that the day was hot at the World’s Fair when the staff in the Far East House was handing out free samples of hot tea. No one was interested, so Richard Blechynden, India Tea Commissioner and director of the East Indian Pavilion, decided to chill the tea, and it became the hit of the fair. Blechynden then took his free iced tea samples to Bloomingdale’s Department Store for shoppers to enjoy.

Iced tea was also popular in Russia, where the Russians stored their winter ice in cellars so it would last through the summer, and they put ice in their water, wine, beer and tea. By the 1870s, Americans were drinking “tea la Russe,” or Russian iced tea with sugar and lemon slices.

American and English cookbooks show that iced tea was popular in the early 19th century, when cold punches made of green tea were liberally spiked with alcohol, including champagne. The punch was known as Regent’s Punch, named after George IV, the English King from 1820 to 1830. An American version of this punch was known as Charleston’s St. Cecilia Punch, named after the musical society that served it during its annual ball, and Chatham Artillery Punch, a Savannah specialty.

Iced tea was even popular among the Civil War soldiers. According to a newspaper article from 1890, an encampment at Camp Jackson received 880 gallons of iced tea as part of its provisions. During Prohibition, iced tea became even more popular as an alternative to illegal beer, wine and liquor.

Iced tea traditionally is served with a slice of lemon, but lime is also popular. A recipe from a 1908 cookbook calls for serving iced tea with a whole clove, a “bit of pineapple, a sprig of mint or a peppermint cream.”

However you like it prepared, iced tea is a deliciously refreshing drink for a warm spring day, best enjoyed on our garden patio. Stop by and try one of our blends!

Americans have a longstanding love affair with coffee. It’s how many of us wake up, start our day, find the steam to get through work and end our meals. A cup of coffee can give us a jolt, a burst of energy that amps up the mind and the body.

More than 100 million Americans drink coffee daily, and that’s a good thing now that we know about some of the health benefits coffee can provide. An array of studies indicate that coffee can decrease your risk of cancer, type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, heart attack, stroke, depression and more. It can also improve your short-term memory, alertness and mood.

A Harvard School of Public Health study shows that men who drink six cups of coffee a day have a 60 percent lower chance of developing a dangerous form of prostate cancer. Women who drink three or more cups of coffee a day have a 20 percent lower risk of skin cancer, while men who drink the same amount lower their skin cancer risk by nine percent. That’s because the antioxidants in coffee reduce inflammation and prevent cellular tumor growth and damage by oxygen-free radical molecules.

The antioxidants in coffee may also help prevent liver disease. High coffee consumption results in a lower chance of liver cancer and liver cirrhosis.

Coffee can also decrease the risk factors for heart attack and stroke. It’s been linked to lower risks for heart rhythm problems that can cause heart attacks and strokes. A 10-year study of nearly 35,000 participants found that drinking one to five cups of coffee every day can significantly lower your risk of having a stroke by as much as 24 percent.

Each cup of coffee you drink daily reduces your risk of type 2 diabetes by seven percent. Coffee also contains minerals, including magnesium and chromium, which help the body use insulin to control blood sugar. Those who drink decaf coffee may also have a reduced chance of getting diabetes.

The caffeine in coffee lowers the risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, because it boosts the levels of GCSF (granulocyte colony stimulating factor), a growth factor that fights off Alzheimer’s in mice. The caffeine seems to protect brain cells from damage that also causes Parkinson’s disease.

Coffee can promote weight loss, as the caffeine accelerates your metabolism and the rate at which your body burns fat. Drinking plain black coffee is one of the lowest-calorie beverages you can find.

For students, drinking coffee right before an exam can keep you alert and sharpen your memory.

Even the way we prepare coffee can have a positive impact on our health. Coffee made with paper filters removes kahweol and cafestol, two kinds of diterpenes, or oily components, linked to heart disease caused by the elevation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels in blood.

In addition to our selection of fine teas from around the world, The Teahouse offers an array of coffee drinks, including lattes, espressos, Americanos, cappuccinos, mochas and more. Stop by today for a healthy shot of coffee. Your body will be glad you did.

For nearly 10 years, The Teahouse has been a favorite spot for tea lovers as well as fans of great food. From our famous oatmeal and jumbo scones served with clotted cream, to our more than 150 varieties of fine tea from around the world, our menu has kept customers coming back for more.

We’ve been getting some great reviews and we thought you might enjoy reading some of them. Please feel free to post your own review on Yelp, TripAdvisor, Urbanspoon, Google Places and other review sites. Read the rest of this entry »

The oatmeal we serve at The Teahouse makes a warm, healthy breakfast that’s perfect on a cold winter morning. It’s based on a recipe created by Dionne’s grandmother, and loaded with nutritious ingredients, including steel cut oats, black sticky rice and winter wheat berries.  Read the rest of this entry »

At The Teahouse we serve more than 150 exotic teas from around the world, lovingly displayed in glass jars so our customers can see their beautiful colors and textures. These teas are rooted in ancient traditions, part of timeless tea ceremonies that have endured across the ages. These ceremonies pay tribute to everything from the harmony of nature to the cultivation of inner knowledge, the power of transformation and the hierarchy of class. Read the rest of this entry »

The Canyon Road Farolito Walk on Christmas Eve has been a hallowed tradition in Santa Fe since it started in the late 1970s. Today, the event draws thousands of locals and visitors, who stroll the mile-long street that is illuminated by glowing farolitos, made of paper bags filled with sand and votive candles that brightly burn through the dark night.

Luminarios, or bonfires, are placed along Canyon Road, where walkers gather to sing Christmas carols and warm up beside the bonfires. The side streets are also decorated with farolitos and bonfires, and strolling musicians play holiday hits of the season as people sing along. One resident on a side street sets up a holiday train, and from another side street, an artist sends up flying farolitos – paper kites of a sort with candles that float high in the sky before they burn up and disappear.

Many galleries and shops stay open on this night, and some serve hot chocolate and other refreshments. At The Teahouse, we’ll be open, hosting the biggest bonfire on Canyon Road in our parking lot until 11 p.m. Enjoy the music of a mariachi band and warm up with chai served both inside the restaurant and outside

This is one of Santa Fe’s most treasured traditions and it’s a wonderful way to celebrate this sacred night. Here are a couple short videos from YouTube taken on a recent Farolito Walk.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrskC4LFAHo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEJLNPDBRkc

The Teahouse’s spicy Mexican wedding cookies are a perfect treat for the holiday season. Made with ground pecans, cinnamon, vanilla and the finest butter and sugars, they are covered with confectioner’s sugar, resulting in a delicious and beautiful cookie that’s steeped in history.

The cookies originated in Medieval Arabia and became popular in Europe and Spain. Americans discovered them in the 1950s, and have been making them ever since. And over the years, they’ve become a popular cookie to serve at Christmastime.

Here’s our recipe for delicious, decadent Mexican wedding cookies. Enjoy!

Spicy Mexican Wedding Cookies (Makes about 24 cookies)

2 cups of finely ground pecans

4 tablespoons dark brown sugar

1 cup butter

2 cups flour

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 teaspoons cinnamon

Pinch of salt

Confectioner’s sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream butter, sugar and cinnamon, using electric mixer, until mixture turns fluffy.

Combine flour, pecans, vanilla and salt and mix well. Mix flour mixture with butter mixture. Shape mixture into balls.

Bake for 20 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes, then roll balls in confectioner’s sugar four or five times.

Holiday gift giving can be found as close as your morning stop for tea. The Teahouse offers a range of items that are suitable for all the recipients on your holiday gift list. From our signature teas, to baked goods to gift certificates everybody on your list will be thrilled with a gift from The Teahouse. Below is a list of the Top 10 of our favorite holiday gifts.

1. Our holiday teas make the perfect gifts. From pumpkin and holiday rooibos, made with caffeine-free tea that is native to the mountains of South Africa, to candied pomegranate tisanes, our unique holiday teas will lift the hearts and spirits of those who receive them.

2.  A gift certificate to one of our hands-on Teahouse Workshops provides an exciting experience in taste and aroma. Choose from Tea Lattes For Lovers, Tea Blending, Teas for the Revolution, Tea Tastings and more. Or design your own tea-loving event. Each workshop lasts 90 minutes and will leave a lasting impression on participants.

3. We offer an array of unique, aromatic tea blends for the tea-lovers on your list. From classic blends such as English Coronation, a black tea blend with hints of muscatel and honey chamomile, to Green Mist, a green blend with lemon grass, lime peel and seaweed, our tea blends make beautiful gifts.

4. For those passionate about Chai, our Cowboy Chai tea line blends the local flavors of the highland region with the spices of Asia to create a blend new blend of Chai. Every blend is handcrafted at The Teahouse, and can be mixed with milk, soy milk or rice milk and served hot or cold. Choices include Coyote Chocolate, fiery and spicy with chocolate overtones, Whitesage Mint, a blend of white sage and mint mixed with pan-roasted green tea, and more.

5. A gift certificate to The Teahouse makes a great holiday present, and can either be used at The Teahouse or to purchase our tea and food online. You choose the amount, and we’ll send out the gift certificate.

6. A box full of Mexican wedding cookies, made with ground pecans and powdered sugar, make a wonderful holiday gift. They look and taste delicious and are guaranteed to be a hit at any holiday party or feast.

7. We started serving Metropolis Coffee this year, amazing coffee made by an artisan roasting company based in Chicago. If you’ve got serious coffee lovers on your list, give them a pound of Metropolis Coffee and it’s sure to be a big hit!

8. We just opened a new business, Revolution Bakery, which offers delicious gluten-free and traditional baked goods, from artisan breads, muffins and rolls to cakes, pies, cookies and more. Why not give a gift certificate to Revolution Bakery, and let your recipient choose their favorite treat? We ship everywhere, and are happy to take special requests.

9. The Teahouse is justly famous for its jumbo scones, served with clotted cream. You can order scones in an array of flavors and we will be happy to ship them to the person on your gift list.

10. Our new line of wellness teas make perfect holiday gifts for the winter season. Offering well-being and fitness, these teas provide the perfect balance for energy and health in Ayurvedic blends and they also taste delicious!

The Teahouse is excited to announce the opening of Revolution Bakery, serving alternative gluten-free and traditional baked goods made by hand in Santa Fe.

Revolution Bakery offers decadently delicious loaves of artisan gluten-free and traditional breads, brioche, baguettes, challah, biscotti, chocolate-dipped macaroons and assorted cookies, from ginger snaps to mint lavender and spicy Mexican wedding cookies. We also bake fragrant scones, made with ginger, blueberries, chocolate or pumpkin.

Our irresistible cakes include coconut, red velvet and flourless chocolate cake made with Belgian Côte d’Or dark chocolate. We serve heavenly bundt cakes made with coffee, lemon, butter, maple or chai, sour cream coffee cake, cinnamon rolls and brownies. Our English toffee is made with pecans or almonds, and we have decadent marshmallows with cardamom, vanilla or cocoa that are perfect for dunking in hot chocolate.

Revolution Bakery offers baked goods to go, or you can enjoy them fresh from the oven in our relaxing, inviting restaurant. Try a slice of red velvet cake, flourless chocolate cake or a scone with clotted cream and a cup of Metropolis Coffee, from the acclaimed artisan roaster in Chicago.

Revolution Bakery has launched a Take n’ Bake at Home gluten-free line featuring cookie dough, rolls, granola and other products. We can create vegan and dairy-free baked goods, by request. We also sell wholesale products. Visit our website to view our full menu: www.revolutionbakery.com

We’re the perfect source for all your holiday needs, from Thanksgiving breads and pies to Christmas cookies, cakes and other sweet treats. You can also order any of our teas from The Teahouse online at www.teahousesantafe.com. (We ship goods via UPS Priority Mail, which takes three to five business days.) Please call or e-mail us to place your order: (505) 988.2100 or contact@revolutionbakery.com

Revolution Bakery is located at 1291 San Felipe Ave., in the Santa Fe Railyard District, a bustling area of shops, galleries, restaurants and more. We are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.

The Teahouse will also be carrying Revolution Bakery’s baked goods, freshly made and available for takeout as well. And we’re serving Metropolis Coffee, the perfect pairing for a slice of whoopee cake or a crystallized ginger muffin.

We’re thrilled to launch Revolution Bakery, which is a perfect pairing with The Teahouse. After nearly a decade in business in Santa Fe, The Teahouse is ready to expand, bringing to Revolution Bakery the same quality of fine food and service The Teahouse offers. And our baked goods are ideal for enjoying with one of the 150 exotic teas on The Teahouse menu, from fall flavors to wellness teas, tisanes, blends, chai and delicious coffee, more.

Stop by The Teahouse to try our new line of wellness teas and our holiday teas, including pumpkin rooibis, candied pomegranate tisanes, holiday rooibos and cold weather teas. And visit Revolution Bakery, where we are committed to making the best gluten-free baked goods in town!

We look forward to seeing you soon!