Silk Road Develops Tea Tribute to City
May 22, 2012
(News Release) VICTORIA — As Victoria gets ready to mark its 150th anniversary later this summer, party-goers now have the option to raise a tea cocktail in celebration.
Silk Road, a local tea shop and natural spa located in Victoria’s historic Chinatown district, has just launched a new tribute tea, the Victoria Tribute Blend, to celebrate of the city’s upcoming sesquicentennial.
“Tribute teas are a time-honoured tradition,” says Daniela Cubelic, a tea master and the owner of Silk Road. “In ancient China, they were created as a way for tea makers to give respects to the Emperor and Imperial Court. What makes the Victoria Tribute Blend extra special is that in honour of the city’s culinary commitment to local ingredients, it has been blended with some locally grown tea leaves, a first for Victoria as growing tea on the island is still very , very new.”
The new tribute blend is made from rose petals, lavender blossoms and black teas from around the world, including leaves grown in Victoria. With notes of beguiling honey, fruit and floral, Cubelic designed the tea to evoke the city’s natural environments, lush gardens and year-round blooms.
“My goal in creating the Victoria Tribute Blend was to capture the subtle nuances and personality of this beautiful West Coast paradise,” says Cubelic. “With a strong British heritage and the country’s oldest Chinatown, Victoria is a place steeped in tradition. And to show there’s lots of life here, too, the Victoria Tribute Blend’s flavour profile is elegant and graceful, with just a dash of cheekiness to surprise tea lovers — much like the way our city delights many newcomers and visitors.”
Victoria Tribute Blend cocktail recipes:
- Royal-Tea Punch: To create a cocktail suitable for the queen herself, pour four cups of brewed, Victoria Tribute Blend tea over four teaspoons of honey, stirring until dissolved. Next, refrigerate the brew until cold, taking time to polish your crown and sceptre. Finally, pour the mixture into glasses and serve with lemon and orange slices (for the grownup version, add eight ounces of Victoria Gin before serving).
- Victoria Teacup Cocktail: Finally, a hot, after-dinner bevvie designed especially for tea, not coffee, lovers. To create this cocktail, scoop one teaspoon of jam (blackberry or raspberry) into a teacup. Resting the jam-filled spoon inside the cup, pour hot Victoria Tribute Blend tea over the preserves and stir in two ounces of Victoria Gin. Pinkies up!
The new Victoria Tribute Blend is available for purchase at Silk Road (1624 Government Street) or online. The city’s tribute tea will also be available for tasting at a number of 150th events set to take place throughout the summer.