Nilgir Tea, Koradundah Estate

This week we have introduced an organic orthodox leaf (whole leaf) of Nilgiri, a tea growing region of Southern India. It is fairly unusual to come across single estate, orthodox tea leaf from Nilgiri because over fifty percent of their tea leaf is Cut Tear Curl leaf (CTC) and then used in teabag blends. The Nilgiri Planters Association works with their member tea gardens and factories in order to maintain a high quality product while following conscientious social and environmental practices. Growers and producers are being encouraged to bring new types of fancy, single estate teas to the growing specialty tea market.
Nilgiri teas exhibit body and finesse without tannins or astringency in the cup. The Korakundah Estate tea leaf offers a full body with a slight lemony aroma, and a crisp finish. Can be enjoyed with or without milk.
FYI- The updated tea list is finally in the store for review or can easily be mailed out.

An Autumn Afternoon In the Vosges Mountains.

Antique Tour de France Posters

We have a series of antique Tour de France posters that range from the 1930's to the 1990's at very reasonable prices. I can't think of a more fitting present for the favorite cyclists in your family, even if it's youself! The advertisements and graphics of each poster are unique and inspiring.

Stop by and have a look soon.

Civia Bicycles the stylish Urban Transportation Bike

Michelle & Ethan at Urbanistic Tea & Bike Shop

We are excited about our new line of urban transportation bicycles at Urbanistic Tea & Bike Shop, Civia Bicycles.  Now Denverites can check out the two best commuter bicycle lines out there, Civia and Breezer, all in one storefront.
 http://www.civiacycles.com/
//www.breezerbikes.com/about.cfm
Of course any bicycle can be an urban transportation bike but there should be something said for owning a bike with fenders, lights, racks, and baskets in order to complete everyday errands. This is where the Civia and Breezer bicycle lines come in, these companies have devoted their energy and design teams to develop comfortable and safe bicycles for such a purpose.

Joe Breeze, the founder of Breezer, has been a advocate for bicyclists and bicycle rights nationwide. The Breezer philosophy fits perfectly with our store in promoting cycling for everyday pleasure and transportation.  Look for bells, light systems, and oversized rear racks.

The Civia bicycles range from the sturdy cruiser style to the steel roadbike frame. Look for bamboo fenders, cargo baskets, and Shimano Alfine 8-speed internally geared hubs.


Nothing can beat the feeling that your car is a 2nd source of transportation. One of the joys of living in the city is that it is possible to be car-free.  Our bikes have been our primary source of transportation for 24 years, since living in Denver.  Just imagine if everyone in Denver drove less and rode their bikes 20% more, how much better the air quality would be!  I think bicyclists would get a lot more respect too.

Caffeine, Tea, and Musings

With the temperatures dropping ever so gradually we have been stocking our tea shelves vigorously.  The most frequently asked question I receive daily is regarding the caffeine content of tea leaf.
I am going to review an article I wrote for out Tea-of-the-Month Club members earlier this year:
  Different types of tea contain varying amounts of caffeine. Typically an oxidized tea, or black tea, is considered to be more caffeinated than other categories of tea leaf. But many factors play into each batch of tea's caffeine content ranging from it's growing conditions, geographical location, harvest techniques, and processing. These variables may explain why a certain batch of tea has a noticeable kick to it. Generally (but not always) the lighter the tea is the less caffeine it contains therefore:
              White tea has less than Green
               Green tea has less than Oolong
               Oolong tea has less than black and
               Black tea has 1/3 of the amount than a cup of coffee.
   Tea leaves contain more than 500 compounds, this complex beverage is absorbed by the human body very differently than a cup of coffee. It takes the body 20 minutes to feel the caffeine boost from a cup of tea whereas the caffeine from coffee instantly hits the bloodstream.  The slower effect tea has on the body is gentler and healthier than other highly caffeinated beverages.
  Interestingly brewing technique greatly affects the amount of caffeine in the tea liquor. When tea leaves are steeped longer than 5 minutes there may be a reduction in the stimulating effect of the brewed tea. The long steeping time allows the tea leaf to release more soluble solids into the brewed liquor than it does for a short steeping time. These soluble solids act as calmatives by binding to caffeine and preventing caffeine absorption by the body. Whereas a quick infusion can prove to have extra caffeine because caffeine is extracted quicker than the soluble solids.

Tea List
Chinese White Tea (range from $3-13/oz)
Moonlight White    
Pai Mu Tan            
Mandarin White      
Plum Berry            
Jasmine Silver Needle
Silver Needle            
Wild Rose                  
Green Tea (range from 1.50-5.50/oz)
Bancha
Citron
Citrus Blossom
Dragon Well
Earl Envy
GenMaiCha
Green Apple
Gunpowder
Huo Qing
Morrocan Green
Hojicha
Jade Cloud
Jakarta Clove
Japanese Mint
Chinese Jasmine
Kashmiri Green Chai
Kukicha Japanese
Little Bird's Beak
Pan Fired Green
Peach  green tea
Sencha Superior
Summer Breeze
Tongyu Shan Quing
WuYi Green
Yellow Flower
Pu-Erh/Organic (range from $4.50-13/oz)
Antique Leaf
Camel's Breath
Green tea pu-erh
Orange pu-erh
Horse Brick
Presentation Teas range from $5-9/oz
Flower never fades
Forever yours
Green pagoda
Green pearl
Green rosette
Jasmine pearl
Lily fairy
Osmathus pearl
Snow lotus
1000 days
Oolong (range from $2.00-6.50/oz)
Amber Dragon
Hairy Crab
Imperial Gold
Iron Goddess
Se Chung
Orange Blossom
WuYi Oolong
Black Tea (range from $1.20-5.50/oz)
Arise
Assam  2nd flush
Assam  1st flush
Ceylon Supreme
Ceylon  whole leaf
Chinese Breakfast
Chinese Pearls
Darjeeling, Badamtam
Darjeeling  first flush
Darjeeling  organic
Decaf Darjeeling
Earl Grey
Decaf Earl Grey
Earl Grey Supreme
Lemongrass Earl Grey
Earl Formal
English Breakfast
Guang Dong
Irish Breakfast
Iyerpadi
Keemun
Kenya Milima
Lapsang Souchong
Monk's Blend
Mt. Everest Blend
Queen Victoria
Russian Caravan
Very Strong Tea
Yunnan
Yunnan Golden Halo
Also available: flavored black teas and tisanes...

bicycling for fun

Fall Hours:

Mon-Frid: 9-6

Saturday: 9-5

Sunday: 12-5

3215 Lowell Blvd (W 32nd Ave)

Denver CO

303-561-3025

tea.bike@yahoo.com

After joy riding for 2 weeks in Southwestern France and Catalonia it's surprisingly good to be home as I started missing some of the great aspects of riding here in the US of A.

First of all Denverites have really taken to commuting by bicycles, not so in the rural areas of France and Spain. Within the areas we were touring Peter and I were often the only cyclists on the rode, save for an old Frenchman riding with his dog into town for his bread in the morning. The Europeans love their cars, they love to drive and to drive fast! But the motorists always give bicyclists the right-of-way. Not once did we get buzzed by a vehicle.

Our selection of bicycle shops, bicycle frames, and accessories is awesome in Denver beating out the tired old Decathalon bikes that frequent the French roadways. If one were to judge their city by the number of neighborhood bicycle shops open, Denver would be a winner.

Where are the women riders in Europe? We saw a total of two women bicyclists in France and none in Spain during our 2 week holiday.

What I miss already:

Bicyclists have rights in Europe, Cars and Pedestrians give bicyclists the right-of-way throughout France and Catalonia. (This attitude makes common sense since a takes a bicyclist a lot more energy to stop-and-go than a pedestrian.)

We had a wonderful time cycling through medieval villages of the Pyrennes and it's good to be home again.

Bicycle Meditation

Meditation is often recommended as a healthful lifestyle choice, aiding with emotional health and stress control. We hear about sitting meditation, walking meditation, yoga meditation, dance meditation but what about Bicycling Meditation!

What better way to experience your daily environment than by cycling? I find a comforting rythym in spinning those cranks daily to and from work. First I check to make sure my tire pressure is correct before each ride and I will occasionally check my chain to see if it needs lube or cleaned from excess grit. Then I slip onto the saddle, check for traffic and am off to my destination. I enjoy the smooth sound of the derrailleur responding to my gear choices, my legs punching up hills, then relishing the easy speed of the downhill turns. Along the way I watch the road for debris and potholes, I constantly observe the motorized vehicles around me. In my meditation I am listening to the bicycle and how it responds to me. Are my shoulders back, my stomach in, am I inhaling and exhaling efficiently, are my legs making circles as I turn the cranks? Then suddenly on the way home at night I realize summer is closing in because there is a chorus of crickets announcing the hour, the sun has dipped to the horizon, and I smell dinner from different houses on each block. Self observation, community observation, and world observation all from the saddle of my bicycle.

Note: bicycling meditation is a lot easier if your bicycle is properly tuned and you are prepared to fix an unexpected flat, please carry a pump, patch kit, and tire levers.

Store Hours:

Monday-Friday: 9-7

Saturday: 9-5

Sunday: 12-5

Happy Neighborhood Bicycle Shop

Top reasons why the neighborhood bicycle shop owners at Urbanistic Tea & Bike Shop are happy:

1- We ride to work every day.

2- See neighbors & customers riding to work on bicycles.

3- Customer has Ethan refurbish their vintage Schwinn for daily commute.

4- Just ate a chocolate bar.

5- Customer decides to retrofit a garage-sale bicycle find with NITTO handlebars, a Brooks saddle, and Wald baskets.

6- Our work promotes a healthy lifestyle for the bicyclist and for the environment.

7- Saturday Morning and someone drops off a plate of sweets/pastries.

8- A child comes in to buy a lock because they plan to ride to school every day.

9- We sold out of the bike-dog leashes again because so many dog owners are riding with their hounds.

10- Unlimited glasses of really good tea are consumed all day long.

the unhappy list is availble in-store only.