Let me begin with two important caveats.
First, that I could ever consider myself enough of an authority to write a tea latte guide. Truth told, I only discovered them on my recent trip to The Faith & Writing Festival at Calvin College.
Second, that what I discovered at the campus Fish House coffee shop is the ultimate of the tea latte world. But if it’s not, then there is a universe of delectable drinks I need to hunt down like a Captain Ahab in pursuit of Moby Dick.
A small diversion—I love coffee shops. From the time I started graduate school I immersed myself in their atmosphere. The sharp, earthy smells of the coffee beans, best experience in a place that roasted them to their own specifications. Murmured conversations that rise to a humming white noise. A tendency for coffee culture to attract writers and readers. My people. My kind of place.
Problem is, coffee now despises me. Some of you know what I’m talking about. For others, you don’t want the details. I’m paying the price of previous overindulgence.
So for years I’ve been flirting with abandoning the coffee shop culture. I’ve yet to stay completely away, from a shop or the delectable dark liquid. I figured one day it would kill me. But if not that, then something else. Stoic of me.
Now I have a whole new chance at life, or at least the part that finds me in a comfortable corner table sipping from a big, ceramic mug. But now the mug exudes the wonderful, flower and spice scented aromas of tea, milk, and various accoutrements.
So, without further delay, here are the recipes I had the pleasure of trying during my stay in Grand Rapids, Michigan. To say they made it easier to handle the cold, snowy mid-April weather is a gross understatement. Watch out Louisiana coffee shops—here I come with my list.
Spanish Infusion—mint verbena tea, vanilla, peppermint, a dash of cinnamon
Le The Paris—Paris tea, caramel
Japanese Sencha—Japanese green tea, honey
South African Medley—Rooibos chai, vanilla, cinnamon
London Fog—Earl Grey supreme tea, vanilla
Moroccan Spice—hot cinnamon spice tea, vanilla, a dash of cinnamon
Hello My Darling—Darjeeling tea, English toffee, nutmeg
My Indulgence—tropical green tea, coconut, a splash of chai
I Love Lucy—chamomile tea, honey, cinnamon, cardamom
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