A new teahouse is bringing traditional Asian-inspired tea services to St. Pete. Noisy Crane Tea just opened inside In Between Days at 2340 1st Ave S. They are currently open 10(ish) am to 3pm every Thursday through Sunday. Enjoy a fantastic cup of tea in the cozy bungalow set to an impeccable vinyl selection.
A tea journey that started right here in St. Pete
KC Cavanaugh’s love for tea started over ten years ago at a local tea ceremony hosted at Pillar of Light. The ceremony helped her feel connected to nature again and sparked something bigger. Cavanaugh went on to learn about traditional methods of serving tea when she worked at Blue Willow Tea Spot in California. She returned to the Tampa Bay region selling high-quality natural teas as “Tea Me” at local markets. Now, as Noisy Crane Tea, she is excited to bring a traditional Asian-inspired teahouse to In Between Days.
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Think of these teas like you would wine
Cavanaugh, a self-proclaimed tea nerd, says she wants to highlight the natural flavors of these artisanal and carefully crafted teas. She sources farm-direct teas without fragrances or flavors. You’ll go on a journey as Cavanaugh teaches you about the different regions each tea comes from. In Between Days aims to be a “culture house”. What Noisy Crane Tea brings to the table only furthers this. 
The art of serving tea: Gongfu Cha and Kyusu
Fellow tea nerds will be excited to hear you can now experience Gongfu Cha and Kyusu tea preparation in St. Pete. Gongfu Cha (or Kungfu Tea) is a Chinese method of preparing tea. I chose the Green Dragon Oolong and watched as Cavanaugh started by warming or “waking up” the teaware. The tea leaves are placed in a “gai wan”, a lidded cup. The first steep of tea is called “the rinse” it helps to awaken the tea. This first steep of tea is typically poured out or “fed” to the tea pet. Ours was a little round cat and it was darling. Each steep after is brief before it’s poured into the glass container and then the small teacup without any sweetener. 
Noisy Crane Tea also serves tea in the Japanese Kyusu, a small side-handled teapot. This method is for delicate fresher teas. You can also order matcha in a traditional chawan bowl. In addition, guests can also just get a simple pot or cup of tea. 
Enjoy a rotating selection of local Asian pastries
Guests can add a “wagashi” or sweets to accompany their tea choice. Cavanaugh is excited to feature rotating Asian bakeries from the Tampa Bay region to bring these sweets to the teahouse. When we visited, there were two treat box options from Ngot Baked Goods. Inside the first box is a Peach Nerikiri Mochi, a Lavender Almond Shortbread, and specialty chocolates. The second box, a gluten-free option, contains chocolates as well as a Saffron Glazed Donut (vegan) and Mochi Sesame rolls. Previously featured pastries have included sweets from other bakeries including Japanese cream puffs by Zephani Mizuki Funes.
Don’t miss any of the fun!
Be sure to follow Noisy Crane Tea on Instagram and on Facebook. You’ll get updates on current wagashi options, events, and more.
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