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| - A trip. Neat corner space in an up-and-coming location with a very Portlandia vibe. Bar stools along window to gaze at pilates and yoga-goers as you sip your tea from those cool Danish Bodum glasses. On some days, there is a friendly little doggie to pet that belongs to the owners. This is the type of place that you wish you lived in the loft above, so that you could become a daily customer and eventually get your name on a plaque on the wall.
Quick side note, both times I've been to the Tea Revival, the owner has been involved in long and amusing conversations with regulars about their respective travels to the West Coast and other hip places. Isn't it such a telling signature of Midwest hipster culture when you hear the phrase "The last time I was in Seattle..." as a conversation starter? Hopefully some day Midwesterners and Rust Belters will gain a little bit more confidence about their own backyards and stop feeling the urge to show their cultural capital through mentioning their travels to the over-idealized West.
As for the product, the owners are super knowledgable and helpful to those new to the boutique tea world. The list is extensive and the prices are shockingly low. In addition to the teas, they also came up with the idea to offer different kinds of "toasts" as snacks, with spreads such as freshly mashed avocado. Delicious. For the record, I swear I thought of this concept myself many years ago, and always figured that one day I'd open a coffee shop specializing in toasts on fresh-baked bread. I'm too lazy to ever be an entrepreneur, though, so I'm glad the idea is in good hands with someone else.
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