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 It’s the civilized way to start your day. A proper cup of tea. But on Boston’s swanky Newbury Street, a hip spot called Tealuxe is giving tea a whole new attitude.
Blended, iced, or hot from the pot, -- even brewed in the food! -- it’s always tea time at Tealuxe. And with over eighty varieties of tea to choose from, there’s something to please every palate.
Jim Duffy – Tea Manager, Tealuxe: “It’s an incredible variety. There’s so many different kinds of tea. Most people are just familiar with black and green, we also have an incredible selection of herbal and oolong, and even white teas now which are getting very popular.”
Tea lovers are in heaven here, but even if you don’t know your teapot from your toaster you’re still guaranteed a great cup.
Jim Duffy – Tea Manager, Tealuxe: “Most people will come in and say ‘I’d like a tea.’ Once they take a look at the menu they get overwhelmed. But that’s why we have an educated staff. They’re going to make sure you get something that you like.”
Tealuxe imports teas from around the globe, and brews up cups like Dragon Pearl Jasmine, Kir Royal, and Blueberry White.
Jim Duffy – Tea Manager, Tealuxe: “Our most popular tea might be our Crème de la Earl Grey, which has a hint of natural vanilla infused in it and some cream. It’s also called the birthday cake tea, because it has an aroma like a birthday cake with lots of frosting and kids love that. Adults do too, I shouldn’t exclude myself from it actually.”
While much of the tea at Tealuxe is served to go, customers looking to linger can grab a seat at the street-side patio or downstairs café. The light menu just might be the best deal on Newbury Street, offering over a dozen grilled sandwiches, served with a side salad, for less than seven bucks. The Plymouth is packed with smoked salmon, fresh dill, tomato, cucumber and cream cheese. But true tea lovers should order the Masala. This grilled chicken sandwich is coated in a sauce made from tea.
Jim Duffy – Tea Manager, Tealuxe: “One of our most popular sandwiches that we have is our Masala, which we make with our Masala Chai sauce which actually involves steeping our Masala Chai and infusing it with some other sauces and some curry to put onto our Masala. It’s great with the grilled chicken, if you wanted to you could even marinate in it."
For a lighter bite, there’s the oh-so-British mid-day classic, tea and crumpets. But what exactly is a crumpet?
Jim Duffy – Tea Manager, Tealuxe: “Crumpets are like a light and airy English muffin. They’re perfect for breakfast or lunch, it’s a light snack, fat free, and we can also add Devon cream which is like an English style butter, or raspberry or strawberry jam with them here.”
That may sound a little old fashioned, but the appeal of Tealuxe crosses all generations, and hairstyles.
Jim Duffy – Tea Manager, Tealuxe: “The story about Tealuxe’s success is that one day we spotted an older woman with blue hair sitting down for a cup of Earl Grey and a younger woman with blue hair sitting down full of tattoos and piercings also enjoying a cup of Earl Grey, and from that point we knew it would be a success.”
While you will find all kinds of people enjoying all kinds of tea, there is one thing you won’t find at Tealuxe.
Jim Duffy – Tea Manager, Tealuxe: “No coffee here. We’re strictly tea snobs.”
And around here, that’s considered a compliment. Tealuxe, a Phantom Gourmet… Hidden Jewel.
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Review Date:
11/6/2005 |
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