iN-TEA
Adventure in a Cup !
iN-TEA
Jefferson Marketplace
8174 S. Kipling Parkway, #170
Littleton, CO 80127
720.981.2512
iN-TEA
& Carole Alvarez
Tea is an underestimated beverage, and often consumed without the
realization of the vast and wildly complex, colorful world that it
represents. It is deceptively subtle, enough to be mistaken as bland
and unexciting, and therefore treated with casual indifference.
In one of her articles, the renowned food writer M.F.K Fischer quoted a
waiter who despaired, "People don't dine anymore. They just eat." The
lamentation was for the loss of the experience to the rush of
consumption. Wine drinkers are well aware of the gap between an
experience and simple consumption, they hold wine tastings and make the
wine itself the event, rather than the accompaniment.
If one were to resolve to treat themselves to the experience
of tea, they would be well served to meet Carole Alvarez. Tea is her
passion and through a few minutes of conversation, revelations would
come to light; not only the variety of tastes and experiences tea has
to offer, but of undiscovered elements of our own "tea culture."
Carole's plan for iN TEA was written ten years ago, while
living on the East Coast; a place where she jokes the Boston Tea Party
is still alive and well. Her natural affinity for the beverage comes
from her Mother, who hails from the Isle of Man, a small island
northwest of Liverpool with a largely celtic population. She has
researched the subject extensively since, living in England, where tea
is quite possibly a national obsession, traveling to Asia, where the
Camellia Sinensis plant originates, and to the Caribbean, where teas
are used frequently for medicinal purposes.
In 2005, her research and plans were put aside temporarily
with the devastating loss of her niece, Sumer Nicole Alvarez, in whose
memory the Sumer Nicole Foundation was started. Carole hopes to support
and educate about the foundation and plans to keep Sumer's legacy a
vital, living part of iN-TEA.
About iN-TEA
With iN TEA, Carole wanted to step away from the feminine concept of
the "tea parlor," and create a contemporary, gender friendly
environment where men and women both can feel comfortable. Her desire
is to educate, and open newcomer's eyes to the incredible array of
choices available to them, the colorful history of tea, and about the
beverage itself, its flavors and complexities.
She plans to offer classes at the store on the basics of tea,
tea history, cooking with tea, tea cocktails, food and meal pairings,
and even the mysterious art of reading tea leaves.
iN TEA is a family owned and operated tea cafe. Carole's
husband, Ralph, is a silent partner; his craftsmanship is all over the
store, from the floor tiles to an innovative and interactive tea
display, to the famous "Wall of Tea" behind the counter. Their
daughters, Jenna and Alex, work in the store with Carole, and the walls
are graced with her Mother's beautiful original paintings. Carole's
close friends Michelle and Davina have offered their support and help
out with the business, friends Debbie and Jennifer work in the shop on
a weekly basis to help keep things running smoothly.
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