Pekoe Sip House, located in Boulder, Colo., has a thoroughly modern, blonde-wood, high feel with low tables and walls, accent mirrors and mellow music. It offers a first impression of cool jazz -- smooth with a bit of improvisation. Early in the day, business people stop in for their morning cup to go with a pastry or muffin, or settling in with their laptop to access the free Wi-Fi. When school’s in session, soccer moms gather for their morning get together. Retired people stop in after their mid-day workout at the nearby recreation center. Pekoe has a loyal following of an eclectic group of tea and coffee drinkers that take the Pekoe tag line to heart: Sip, relax, enjoy.
Pekoe, as it’s called by locals, is located in a strip mall and has been around since 2003. It seats 40-60 in the 1,200-square-foot indoor space and even more on the outdoor patio in nice weather. Customers are drawn in by the large tea selection that includes more than 100 hand-picked bulk tea choices offered in infuser pots for sipping in the store, by the pound or to go. This includes 30 black teas, 30 oolong teas, 5 white, 20 green and 20 more that include rooibos (red), herbal and mate. The hot water for the tea comes from a standard Bunn machine.
Unique frozen drinks such as the Green Buddha, frozen matcha with milk, agave and white chocolate, and Wellness drinks, both hot and cold, round out the menu along with iced and bubble tea. Chai is brewed fresh throughout the day, and comes as black, maté, rooibos or green tea varieties ranging in price from $2.90 for a small to $3.55 for a large. Most signature drinks include steamed milk and include lattes and mochas with black tea as the base ($2.80 to $3.55).
Co-owner and manager Paul Cattin says, “The foundation of the business is that everyone is happy and well taken care of, from employees to customers. Whatever we do, we want to be sure that the product speaks for itself.” Cattin also says that they’ve taken the time to educate employees and customers about the finer points of tea and the experience that comes with it. He goes on to say, “It’s why we are successful.”
Also likely adding to the success is that Cattin personally sources most of the tea on bi-annual trips to the Far East where he builds relationships. In part, he attributes Pekoe’s success to the attention put on tea selection. A sign hanging from the menuboard clearly states the Pekoe Sip House purpose: “Tea revives, replenishes and heals.”
Fact box:
Hours of operation 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, except 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day. Closed Christmas Day.
Jill Nussinow, MS, RD, aka The Veggie Queen™, has been an avid tea drinker for years. In addition to writing about it, she speaks about tea and its beneficial effects. To learn more about her visit her Web site at http://www.theveggiequeen.com. |
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