Saturday, January 16, 2016

My Country, 'Tis of Tea — Alaska


When I was researching tea room cookbooks a few years ago, one of the few states I could not find had ever produced such a cookbook was Alaska. Perhaps some tea room there had a cookbook years ago, but if they did, I haven't been able to find it. That made me a little nervous that I wouldn't be able to discover much of anything about tea in Alaska at all, but I needn't have worried …


• I like to learn about herbal teas, or "tisanes," across our fair country, and I just discovered a unique one I’d never heard of before, chaga tea made from chaga mushrooms found in Alaska. According to this website, "Wild Alaska Chaga from Fairbanks is the northernmost chaga you can buy in the Western Hemisphere." I’m quite intrigued by this tea that’s said to be so packed with antioxidants and vitamins and minerals. As you can see above from this screen grab on my computer, one company, Wild Alaska Chaga, is dedicated to this wildcrafted chaga and sells it in tea bags, ground tea, blueberry chaga tea bags, and more. Click here if you'd like to learn more. (Chaga tea is now on my bucket list of new "teas" to try!)


• When I looked on Tea Map, I found only two tea rooms in Alaska listed there, and the second one on the list is now closed. The currently-in-operation tea room has a lovely name, Sipping Streams Tea Company. It's in Fairbanks, and when I went to Facebook and clicked on the Sipping Streams menu, I was delighted to find that they offer various afternoon teas, and appropriately enough, an Alaskan Salmon Tea Sandwich is one of the offerings. Anyone going to Fairbanks anytime soon? Take me, and we'll go to tea!


• Have you been on an Alaskan cruise? I haven't, but those who have tell me it's a wonderful experience. I've been on a cruise (to Mexico) only once and haven't really considered cruising again. Then I came across this YouTube video of afternoon tea on the Oceana Regatta, posted by a gentleman named Dennis Champion, and I think I may just reconsider! Have any of you enjoyed tea on a cruise, any cruise? Recommendations would be nice!

Next week's featured state: Arizona

15 comments:

  1. My mother-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, and I had a lovely afternoon tea on a Carnival cruise in the western Caribbean a few years ago.

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  2. We had afternoon tea on Princess Cruise Lines on our Alaska cruise 11 years ago.

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  3. Angela, my husband and I have cruised quite a bit. The most elegant tea on any ship has to be the Queen Mary II. Last May we enjoyed afternoon tea every day on our transatlantic crossing to England. We came back to the US on the Queen Mary II in June and still went to afternoon tea every day! ♥

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  4. Although I have not cruised to Alaska (or anywhere, for that matter), I am happy to say that I was fortunate to travel to Alaska for a week or so many years ago. It is such a beautiful country with amazing scenery and wildlife galore. It would be amazing to return! An older sister was there last year and discovered a small tea room that was associated with the local church. They offered tea and scones to anyone that stopped in!

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  5. An Alaskan cruise is on my bucket list. And yes, I have had afternoon tea on Carnival Cruise line. Interesting that later I found out their was another member of ATAA on the same cruise having tea too, wish I had known at the time. Not sure any kind of mushroom tea would be my cup of tea. The tearoom in Fairbanks would definitely be on my list if I ever found myself in Fairbanks.

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  6. I've never been on a cruise to Alaska or anywhere, but my son's been to Cordova, Alaska twice. A small store in the community where he stayed is named SerendipiTea - after a New York based tea company with the same name. Steve brought me back a sampler of Alaska Wild herbal teas.

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  7. That was fun! I have a nephew who's a state trooper in Kodiak, Alaska. I'll have to ask him about Chaga tea!! By the way...I made a special trip to our Kroger to see if they had the peppermint bark tea. No go. I'm so disappointed! I may try The Fresh Market and see if they've got it. Or go to amazon! :)

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    1. Denise, if you'll send me your snail mail address, I can at least plop a sample in the mail to you! :)

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  8. I've never been on a cruise but an Alaskan cruise would be fun.

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  9. We do 2 cruises a year...and always have tea! Holland America serves an afternoon tea each afternoon, Princes Ships have a Tea Parlor with tea sommelier, Celebrity does an Elegant Afternoon Tea during each voyage, and most have wonderful specialty tea available in the coffee shops most have on board...like Tazo, Forte' or Two Leaves. Alaska is our destination of choice, as it's close by. There is a tea room at the top of Mt Roberts via the tramway...that's the only one I remember. Have sailed on Queen Mary 2 several times and their daily afternoon tea is the most traditional. Have blogged about it and other teas on cruises I have had.
    Ruth

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    1. Should have said...Mt. Roberts is in Juneau...

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    2. Princess Cruise Lines always have a wonderfully proper traditional English afternoon tea as well.

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  10. Enjoying this series, Angela - so interesting. Went on several 'day cruises' in South Florida, no tea service but lots of cocktails and wine spritzers.

    Watching Downton Abbey tonight, I sure am going to miss this series, it's so well written, so well done. One of the show's sponsors is Viking River Cruises: now that is a cruise I'd like to go on, someday. Hope you have a great week, Joanie

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    1. My daughter took a wonderful Viking Cruise as her part 2 honeymoon (first was beaches of Caribbean, second was in Europe and she loved Viking River Cruises!

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    2. So good to hear, Michele! Here's to a future visit, thank you, Joanie

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