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MARKET BASKET MARKETPLACE
Shop fits owners to a tea
By Barbara Revsine
Special to
the Tribune
Published May 12,
2004
Dream About Tea
in Evanston combines the serenity of a Chinese tearoom with the
comfortable ambiance of a Midwest coffeehouse. Owners Hong Wu and
her husband, Daquan Yao, emigrated to the United States from
Shanghai five years ago. Convinced that tea is where coffee was
pre-Starbucks, they decided to open a teahouse and retail
shop.
Wu is intent on selecting the perfect tea for every
situation and palate, and with dozens of varieties to choose from,
she's rarely at a loss. Dragon Well, a green tea, and White Peony, a
white tea, for example, can fuel busy mornings, while rooibos, a
soothing, caffeine-free red tea, is perfect for late afternoon or
evening.
When
customers purchase tea to take home, Wu explains how to brew it to
maximize flavor. Green teas, for example, should be brewed with
water that's just below the boiling point, while oolongs, black teas
and herbals taste better when brewed with boiling water. She also
recommends using filtered water.
The shop carries an
interesting selection of teapots and cups. Equally distinctive
lidded porcelain bowls called gaiwan are ideal for green and oolong
tea.
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Dream About Tea, 1011 Davis St.,
Evanston, 847-864-7464. Teas average $2.25 per 20-ounce cup; bulk
teas are $1-$11 per ounce.
Copyright © 2004, Chicago Tribune
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