Serendip > wrote:
>It looks like I may be outside of Boston in a couple of weeks, with
>precious little time for tea searching. Sniffle.
>
>Quick review shows there are two Tealuxe shops, and one or the other may
>be a possibility (especially if I give up on the idea of hitting Whole
>Foods or Trader Joes)... googling shows nothing much posted about them,
>and nothing at all in the past couple of years.

Tealuxe has a decent selection, but their prices are generally insane.
I was in Boston in February and picked up a puttabong first flush darjeeling
that was quite good, but about five times the price it should have been.
Even so, I like the place because you can go in and have a cup of tea
and try before buying anything.

>Any other places to recommend? I'm not interested in a place to sit and
>sip tea, but rather a place to gawk and drool and buy loose tea (and
>toys?) to take home.

Timeless Teas on Newbury street is only a block or so away from Tealuxe,
and it's worth visiting them. Some decent commodity-grade Ceylon teas,
mostly from Tang Tea. They don't sell any real high grade stuff, but you
might ask them if they'd start carrying it. In the meantime, try the
Dimbula BOP which is quite respectable.

Upton's is up in Hopkinton... and absolutely worth the trip to see their
facility if you have an afternoon where you can get oout of town.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."