Tavalon Tea Bar
Dave Sidhu - April 12, 2006
This month, a good friend of mine opened up Tavalon Tea Bar in New York City -- a lounge that sells gourmet loose-leaf tea along with tea accessories. I invite you all to visit Tavalon, not only because of its tea products and the cultural importance of tea to many of us, but also because of the spirit and vision that led to the birth of Tavalon.
My friend, Sonny Caberwal, opened Tavalon with a simple, but novel concept: "to create a premium, exciting brand of tea aimed at a mainstream, younger demographic."
Coffee, as we all know, is an integral part of the American lifestyle - people drink it while working in the office, studying for class, or reading the paper at home. The "coffee break" itself is a term that signifies the popularity and familiarity of coffee to the average American worker. Anyone doubting the significance of coffee in America need only step outside, where he or she will see a Starbucks or similar chain on practically every corner. Indians, on the other hand, recognize tea as holding a special place in their daily lives. Drinking tea in India is like breathing air or eating to sustain one's self; it is such a habitual practice as to be almost essential. To drink tea in a friend or relative's house is an unspoken necessity; there is no question that tea will be served and enjoyed. While tea is culturally significant to Indians, it is not nearly as commercially popular in the United States in comparison to coffee.
Tavalon responds not only to the need to offer quality tea to the American consumer, but to the cultural gap that exists between regions of the world in which tea is treasured (e.g., England and India) and the United States, whose palate welcomes burgers and Cokes, but also has an interest in exotic and different tastes. Not surprisingly, Tavalon has already received favorable reviews from publications as well as bloggers because of its tea, warm atmosphere, and DJs, who play eclectic and ambient music while customers sip away.
Tea aside, Tavalon exists as a glowing testament to the human spirit and the strength of human motivation despite nagging and traditional notions of a proper life. As Sonny writes in his own words:
For the longest time, my goal was similar to that of many of my peers- to find a good, stable job that's respectable, impressive, and challenging. It must pay well, and provide me with a "good learning experience". In my environment at least, these jobs were generally being a doctor, investment banker, or lawyer- something similar would do....Tavalon was born out of this process of self-assessment and realization. I encourage you all to visit Tavalon and support both the emergence of tea in the United States and the drive to live for one's dreams (not in a world that is limited by conventions or other people's notions of "what is right"). I have nothing but respect for that spirit, and Sonny's display of it in particular.We live in a country that is built upon a simple premise- freedom. that freedom means the freedom to do nearly anything you want.... Many people are denied that freedom throughout the world, but we here in the united states are afforded that luxury.... Yet the greatest irony is that many people, including myself, get up every morning and go to a job they find less than satisfying. If given the option to spend their days practically doing something to make a living to sustain themselves, few people would choose their current jobs....
I did a job because it seemed like the right thing to do, to other people.... Given the fact that we never know how long we have to live, and one bad day could be your last, I decided that before its too late, I need to focus on finding what it is I was passionate about, something that would be both fulfilling to me as a person, and hopefully afford me a lifestyle that I can accept....
I decided that what I was really passionate about was the idea of starting something- taking an idea, and breathing life into it. Its fulfilling, exciting, and uplifting, if its the right concept. Plus, you dictate how things will go- no one's forcing you to do anything- you're making the choice to work hard, to work late, or to take time off to spend time with people you care about- not someone else.
Tavalon is located near Union Square on 22 E 14th Street, New York, NY 10003-3101.
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Posted by Dave Sidhu at April 12, 2006 08:25 AM
Comments
Thanks dave, I'll be sure to check it out!!
Here's a review I found through Google: "It's a tiny place but the subtle and warm decor is fresh and the aromas of all kinds of wonderful teas were welcoming. There is a DJ booth perched up high that plays translike music and if you are lucky you can hear live tablas played up front.
The staff was helpful and the selection of teas for a tea lover like me was superb. This ain't your Starbucks Chai Tea bullsh*t [sorry to Mallika and her daughter!]. This is the real stuff. You can have it in three sizes and hot or cold. I had the Tropical Peony. It was delish. They serve yummy morals as well to accompany your tea but I prefer my tea experience alone.
Go check out Tavalon, it's fantastic."
As I mentioned to Dave when he told me about Tavalon Tea Bar, I am a total tea addict. I have at least 6 cups of Darjeeling tea a day -- I need the caffeine! I cant wait to visit Tavalon.
And, two of our closest friends recently launched two lines of high end organic teas, packaging teas from their organic tea estate in Assam. Ineeka can be found in some Whole Foods and Wild Oats, and Treleela (based on Tara Leela) will soon be found in Target. Their packaging is the classiest I have seen and they have innovative tea bags.
I sincerely believe tea is the next frontier in the beverage category -- look at me, I gave up Coke for tea!
Mallika
In South India, Coffee is more preferred than Tea.
Great, I'll check it out right this week.
mmm tea! I'm drinking some right now. I'll definitely check Tavalon out the next time I'm in NYC. Toronto is still a big tea-drinking city so I think something like that would work here - especially with our large south asian population.
Mallika that is SO COOL that Tara and Leela have a tea named after them. I'll see if I can find Ineeka in my local WF.
BTW, I'm totally addicted to green tea... hot or iced, especially the jasmine variety. I drool even thinking about it.
In southern India, coffee is integral to living. There's small cups of coffee all day long! And I practice that here too. But tea is something of a change in my home and others' in South India. It is had only if someone requests it, or gets a longing for it. I have started liking tea also lately because of my husband who hails from Gujarat, where coffee, to my utter shock, is made only from the instant coffee powder!
There is a tea cafe called Tealuxe in Boston and also NYC, I think. It is a nice place to relax and have some tea and munchies to go with it.
Tavalon will be my next target spot when I am in NYC. Kudos to the human spirit that drives one to start something from scratch and make it into something so beautiful and successful.
What an introspective post!
Tavalon is just not a business venture - it is a dream. I find more pleasure in reading this piece because Sonny's dilemma is very relatable.
I wish him all the best and thank you Dave for sharing.
This is nice, I'll check it out too :)
Mallika,
just curious... what is it about Coke in your family?! Deepak Chopra mentioned in one of his books talking about his college time in India that Indians went in search for parties where they had Coke (something like that)...And then Kavita I think mentioned about her mother guzzling Coke in US, then someone else mentioned Coke in a blog posting too!
I mean its one of the unhealthiest cheap carbonated drinks, why is it such a big sacrifice to give it up?
Dear Dave
Thanks for this inspiring post -- I will definitely drop by Tavalon sometime soon. It's good to hear of someone living their dream, and offering good tea to NYC on top of it.
love, Heather
Oh! Wish there was something like this in TX too. Would have loved to have a sip or two.
Btw, there is this special trademark coffee served by south indians, its called filter coffee (I believe they brew it at home or something). I had the good fortune to have some at a south indian acquaintance's and the taste still lingers in my mouth. :)
Does anyone out there know the recipe to this delicious coffee?
Dave, interesting blog.
Sonny, I love tea. I grew up drinking tea. I like the lipton green label better since it is milder.I will have mine with some cream and splenda please. I love the music. I wish you luck Sonny.
Geeta, perhaps you could help me. I am looking out for the recipe of filter coffee. Do you know how it is prepared, by any chance?
(The very thought of filter coffee is so stimulating, I cant wait to make some!):)
"I invite you all to visit Tavalon,..."
Plugging in?
The NY TImes gave Tavalon a write-up -- http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/12/dining/12east.html -- the second item down -- this was in the print version, too, with two photos of Tavalon's interior.
Hi,
All the Best!
Neat Site, needs some usability to be improved.
I couldn't watch the Video!
Sonny, looking forward to visiting.
Love to all
awesome....teabag action
Hi swear aam not spiritual, here is the recipe.
You need the contraption, that has two chambers, top chamber has holes in it, it sits on the bottom chamber.you need coarse coffee powder. put 2 teaspoons of the coffee powder in the top chamber. boil 1/4 cup of water and pour into the top chamber.this is very strong coffee. boil 1 cup of milk with sugar, add as much of the filtered coffee as you like, and enjoy. you can buy this coffee filter in indian stores. if this coffee is too strong add more milk or water, if not strong enough add more coffee powder next time.
you can just boil 1/2 cup water in a sauce pan and add 1 or 2 or 3 tsp of coffee powder, boil for a min longer then turn it off wait for a few minutes, use, cheese cloth to strain, add 1/2 cup of boiled , hot milk and sugar to taste.
God bless you dear.
Hey Geeta! Thanks soooooo much!!!
God bless you! Will work on thid right away!!
Thanks again!!
By the way, Geeta, may I use Nescafe Classic instead of coarse powder?
I got stuck. Only Nescafe Classic on the house!!
If no, what is the brand of the coarse coffee powder available in HEB/ Walmart?
And Thanks Dave for the post. I got this recipe I have been dying for!! Thanks a million to Geeta!
Slurp!!!! :)
Swear aam not spiritual, If you have a coffee grinder, buy the coffee beans, warm slightly in oven or microwave, and grind coarsely. Indian stores have coffee powder from Mangalore, Mysore etc. I am not sure what brand to suggest at Wal Mart. If you want that authentic taste of South Indian Coffee, you should buy coffee powder at an Indian store.
You are thanking me too soon. Enjoy the coffee first. You are very sweet. God bless
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Recent Comments
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geeta jayaram commented on Tavalon Tea Bar
Swear aam not spiritual, If you have a coffee g
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Swear aam not spiritual! commented on Tavalon Tea Bar
By the way, Geeta, may I use Nescafe Classic in
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Swear aam not spiritual! commented on Tavalon Tea Bar
Hey Geeta! Thanks soooooo much!!!
God b
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geeta jayaram commented on Tavalon Tea Bar
Hi swear aam not spiritual, here is the recipe.
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sunnylicious commented on Tavalon Tea Bar
awesome....teabag action
a good read..
as cliched as it might sound, the only thing that the most content and successful people have always sworn by is 'follow your heart'...
and it happens to be the toughest thing to do!
cheers