When I see a space spruced up with lush greenery, I think of this next person I have joining me at the tea table and her self proclaimed “plant hoarder” status. Aside from being a plant mama and cat mama to one of the cutest cats ever, Sarah Gray is also a professional photographer and the creator behind Splitleaf. While she may not have any Camellia sinensis (the tea plant) in her collection today, she is a lover of the beverage that the plant produces. At the tea table, we talked about how Canada’s favourite coffee shop, Tim Horton’s, is responsible for her tea love, what her ideal tea + plant space would look like, and some of her local spots for a good cup of tea.
The kettle is on and I can hear it about to sing. What tea are you going to steep for us today?
Simple, my go-to classic peppermint! I usually add some blueberry honey from a local beekeeper in majority of my daily cups.
That local blueberry honey sounds like a nice addition to the steep! Do you recall your first sip that started your tea journey?
I was never into tea, I think because I was introduced via milk & sugar soaked orange pekoe. So, I boycotted tea until college. At that point I remember I was finishing up a project and it was maybe 11pm and I wasn’t feeling good, needed a bit of a pick-me-up. The school’s Tim Hortons was still open but they had just dumped the last off the coffee since they were closing, so I ordered a peppermint tea and I’ve been addicted ever since!
As someone who loves plants (especially the tea plant!), but doesn’t have the best of luck with them, what’s one of your biggest plant caring tips for beginners?
My number one tip is to learn the scientific name and then do some research, followed up – Get to know them! Learning about the natural environment your plant would be in out in nature can tell you a lot about what it needs to survive indoors.
Take us on a tour of your city’s tea shops and cafes. What are your favourites and what would you typically order?
There are a couple of cute cafe’s but they’re open at very bizarre times so I rarely have a chance to visit! When I do, I always go out of my way to try a cafe’s matcha latte, I feel like you can tell a lot about a cafe based on how they make those. There is a cafe called Grosche and they makes these incredible Matcha Tea Lemonade shakers, they’re filled with fruit and are blended with a homemade lemonade and a flavoured matcha, served on ice.
That’s probably one of my go-to’s locally, our city also opened the province’s first Kitty Cafe! They make a great matcha latte and majority of the proceeds go to helping rescue more. So I think just from the fact I get to snuggle with a bunch of cats, the Kitty Cafe is my favourite.
I like your way of thinking. How matcha is prepared can definitely tell you a lot about the cafe! If you could have a space devoted just for tea, tell me how it would look and, of course, the plants you would include.
I would love to have a beautiful little greenhouse, with an white iron table and chairs, and a small swinging chair. A little wind chime that makes the prettiest sounds and I’d surround myself in vining plants like epheriuman, philodendrons and ivy with maybe a bit of stain glass. It would be a complete dream if it had a tiny pond with flowing water, too. My mum has built ponds my entire life and sitting beside one is honestly one of the most tranquil experiences ever. The photo below really captures what I’d go for! Haha, you can tell I daydream a lot.
Speed Round:
Black, Green, Yellow, White, Oolong or Puerh?
White!
Hot, Iced or Cold?
Iced!
Teapot, Infuser or Gaiwan?
Teapot!
Straight, Sweetened or Latte?
Straight!
Cheese or Chocolate pairing?
Chocolate!
Choose one person, living or passed, celebrity of family, that you would like to have tea with?
I think Hayao Miyazaki, he’s the creator of Ghibli. An honest legend and he has quiet the interesting points of view. I grew up in love with his work and now I’m fascinated by his character so I’d love a chance to sit and talk with him.
Find Sarah Gray:
Website | Instagram | YouTube | Pinterest
ABOUT THIS SERIES: Tea tells stories and when connected with humans, more are created. That’s where the idea for this blog series, At the Tea Table, originated. With this series, The Cup of Life asks tea lovers around the world to take us inside their tea lives to share their favourite steeps, spaces, routines and more. Meet some of your fellow tea drinkers here.