If you only plan on visiting the city of Boulder, CO, once, besides heading to Celestial Seasonings, you must go to the Dushanbe Teahouse. It is a place of beauty and pure joy. You will enjoy it even if you don’t drink tea, but if you do, you will be in heaven. The place is so beautiful that I was inspired to write a poem. I try to keep my travel poetry separate from my travel blog. Yet the part of me that still daydreams cannot help but think if the poet Rumi were still alive today, he would be there writing as he drank tea. In honor of all the writers and poets, I have included it here.
Dushanbe
Listen in spirit to my stories
Of artisans who created me
With their very souls
An act of friendship
Between sister cities
Strangers fast to become friends
Walk through my gates as I beg you to venture in
Sit stay a while drink a cup of tea
View my beauty with your spirit
Be enchanted by the bubbling creek
As you pause to smell my roses
Taste the crisp mountain air
Admire my blue painted exterior which rivals the sky
Inlaid ceramic tiles are my jewelry
Don’t let curiosity stop you there
Walk through my doors
Gaze upon the hand-painted ceiling
Enjoy my intricately carved wood beams
Seven maidens take center stage
Surrounded by a jungle of plants
They dance around a fountain
Listen to their voices and laughter
Look into their eyes
Feel their spirit and the myth they tell
Tradition steeped in ancient times
Exotic journey to the imagination
Of poets and dreamers
Enticed by sensory bliss
I live and breathe creativity
Come visit drink a cup of tea and make a memory
As you can see, I find the place inspiring. It is a truly sensory experience. The food is organic and often includes tea or a tisane infusion, like their whole wheat chai pancakes. They are also allergy and diet restriction conscience, so offer various substitutions for traditional items. Make sure you take time to study their extensive tea menu. They feature teas from China and Japan and herbal Rooibos from South Africa. While they have an amazing tea menu, and I have been known to enjoy their Silver Needle and Mystic Mountain teas, I almost always have their chai tea. I never knew how much I enjoyed a combination of cinnamon, clove, cardamom, ginger, and a hint of pepper till I drank it. I am very much a chai addict now, and while I enjoy many blends, theirs is by far superior to any other I have ever found. If you are looking for a more adult type of beverage, they even have tea-infused cocktails to please the palate. In short, it is just a place you need to experience.
Tea List
House Chai Latte: I think it is impossible to go to the Dushanbe Teahouse without at least having their Chai Latte. It is so luscious you could have it as dessert. For vegans and people with dairy allergies, they offer soy or oat milk as a substitute.
Silver Needle: I love this blend of white tea. It is so light, fragrant, and smooth. White tea is very rare and is only harvested in the early spring. It is reminiscent of stepping outside after a warm rain when the first fragrant flowers begin to bloom.
Sencha: Another spring tea, but this one is from Japan. It reminds me of fresh cut grass—the first after the earth has just awoken after a long winter’s nap. The flavor, while grassy, is very mild and pleasant.
Mango Chili Pineapple: I can’t help but be drawn to something unique. This is it. Who would think of blending chili in a tea with tropical mango and pineapple? It is spicy but sweet. Part of me wants a little coconut milk to go with it.
7 Chakra Tea: While medicinal, it is just plain good and enjoyable to sip. The blackberry has immunity boosting properties, along with the nettle, which helps inflammation and aides digestion.
Tea,Travel & Spirits 