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When she reached the first hills of the Italic Mountains, she had a last view back on the skyline of her hometown.
Middle Eastern Music and Dance Eric LaPerna, Dorothy Barker and Dorothea Saturday, Nov 12, 6:30-8PM $10 suggested donation www.ericlaperna.org
The Seyir Duo Saturday, Sept 10, 6:30-8PM The Seyir Duo performs music which spans from the mystic world of the Sufis to the classical music of ancient Persia. Both Eric and Nathan are multi-instrumentalists, allowing the duo to explore an extensive array of timbres and traditions. Whether it is Egyptian dance music or Armenian folk songs, the duo always strives for an authentic and sensitive approach to the repertoire they perform. www.nathankolosko.com www.ericlaperna.org
Saturday November 6, 2021, 10AM – 12PM – Virtual Tea Tasting Workshop What about those teas we never get to taste? Greener oolongs, dark earthy pu-ers and wild tea buds, to name a few. Perhaps the green stems of Kukicha or the roasted version of Hojicha? We’ll explore and brew 5 teas and there will be one extra for you to try on your own. Tasting will be 1 1/2 hrs with room for questions at the end. If you’ve […]
We’ve been asked many times, “When will you be offering a tea trip for customers?” Well, the time has come! We are offering a tour to the Azores of Portugal to include tea, food, wine, some walking, potentially some hiking, some geothermal hot springs and of course, culture! UPDATED FOR 2022: Six nights total, 2 islands — 4 nights in São Miguel and 1 night in Terceira. Includes international airfare, accommodations with breakfast daily, inter-island flight, daily guided tours, and […]
Join us and tea producer Buddika Dissanyaka of Forest Hill Tea for a virtual Tea Discovery Workshop!
View the photo gallery of our trip. Follow us on our travel blog and through Instagram Feb 28 – Mar 15! We’ll be traveling for tea to visit our suppliers of Earl Grey, Ceylon Tiger River, and Ceylon Adams Peak. Ceylon is the name given to Sri Lanka by the Portuguese Empire when it arrived in 1505, was transliterated into English as Ceylon. In 1972, its formal name was changed to “Free, Sovereign and Independent Republic of Sri Lanka” and in 1978, it was […]
Saturday, January 25, 2020, 7:30-9PM Ensemble Rakibian will light up the tearoom once again with their Middle Eastern Music! They know how to warm up an cold winter evening! Join us for tea, treats and tunes!
Brianna Beebe obtained her BFA in Digital Media from Maine College of Art in 2017. She works in a wide array of mediums, primarily focusing on character sculpture. Her current, personal, focus is on creating illustrative depictions of anthropomorphic creatures. You can find more of her work here.
On the Artwall through September 2019 Photography by Alexander Zimmerman About 4 years ago I began taking photos of my ongoing journey into tea drinking. The cell phone shots, uploaded to social media sites, were external, public expressions of the excitement welling up inside me as I fell into something so simple and beautiful, something that had hidden in plain site before me for decades. My exposure to tea growing up had only been to my grandparent’s dusty tea-bags, and […]
On the Artwall through end of June Eye catching and colorful patterns depicting flower-like images by artist Ebyn Moss. For more information and images check out The Canvas Journal on Facebook. Prints also available for purchase.
First Friday Artwalk – Friday, June 7 7PM Kevin Reams is a multi talented and award winning musician from Maine who performs his own style of meditative, ambient and relaxing music on finger style guitar, frame drum and various types of world flutes, including the Native American style flute, Irish whistles, shakuhachi, and recorder. Kevin’s music draws from and is inspired by traditional world music of various cultures and countries around the globe, from the tribal beats of Native American […]
Our Tea Journey to South Korea, 2014. Learn about who makes our Korean black and green teas from Jukro Tea. Learn more about our tea journeys.
May 11-24, 2018 We traveled for tea, this time to Taiwan to connect with the farmers and producers of our most favorite oolong teas! Embarking on another tea journey, the owners of Dobrá Tea, a teahouse located at 89 Exchange St., Portland, will head to Taiwan for oolong plucking, production and sourcing of these cherished teas. For most of May owners Ellen Kanner and Ray Marcotte traveled with 10-12 other “Devoteas” from the US and Eastern Europe to connect with […]
We aim to be as environmentally conscious in our day-to-day business dealings as possible. Several ways we do this: We shop two times per week for groceries from local purveyors. This affords little to no waste and we can adjust as necessary depending on the season and needs of the tearoom. We compost everything we can. Ellen has been a lifetime recycler, so she knows the value of Reduce-Reuse-Recycle -and compost! Garbage to Garden is our partner in this effort. And we […]
Join us for a new deal every day! Find them on Instagram or Facebook! December 13 – 24! Tea, brewing vessels, gifts, and more! Gift certificate sale will go through December 31, 2018.
On the Artwall through early January Hana Firestone is a freelance illustrator and designer. She has a bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration from Maine College of Art in Portland. She is greatly inspired by nostalgic memories of childhood books and enjoys collecting greenery from the beautiful outdoors of Maine. Her work also explores pattern making and often consists of pastel colors with quirky line work. When Hana is not drawing she is browsing art galleries around the city and […]
Check out the recent articles about our tearoom, from both local and national publications.
Join us for an afternoon tea tasting at the Brick Store Museum in Kennebunk! Sunday, January 27, 2019 Register here!
Mar – Apr 2017 Our recent trip for tea took us to India and Nepal, from the far eastern region of Assam tea territory near the border of Myanmar to the Taj Mahal, to the foothills of the Himalayas and the gardens of Darjeeling. Read more in our travel journals from India and Nepal.
Our 5th Semi-Occasional Tea + Craft Fair December 14-16, Friday 5-9, Sat 10-9 and Sun 10-7 As usual, a percentage of sales will be given to a local charity. Our tiny tabletop Tea + Crafts is happening again this year! Stay tuned on Instagram and Facebook for participating crafters! All items are made by tearoom staff, friends and family, who are artists and craftspeople themselves. Jewelry, cards, artwork, prints, knitted and crocheted items, clothing, tea-potted plants, and many other unique […]
We’d heard about tea being grown in the Azores, 800 miles off the western coast of Portugal. In October 2016, we headed in that direction to find two tea plantations, Chá Gorreana and Porto Formosa, creating black teas in the Chinese tradition. We brought teas back for customers to try and hope to offer these regularly in the tearoom sometime soon. Where can you can sit in a tea field and look at the Atlantic? Winner gets free tea! Post […]
Born in New York, Molly Tucker is an ecological artist and amateur geologist currently residing in Portland, Maine. She is set to receive her BFA in photography from Maine College of Art in 2019. Growing up at the “foothills” of the Adirondack Park has influenced a large portion of Tucker’s life. In particular, the bare bedrock of “The Brothers” on Big Slide mountain is where Tucker’s admiration for physical geology is rooted. “The Brothers” provided her ground to photograph, speculate […]
On the artwall through September Bio I grew up in Casco, Maine and received my BFA from Maine College of Art after transferring from Ringling College of Art in Sarasota FL. Making fish has been enjoyable as they are accessible and have endless possibilities. Fish are such a diverse and ever-changing species. There is a seemingly endless variety of shapes, colors and sizes in the world under the waves and fish are a digestible entry point for me. In between […]
On the Artwall through mid March We visited him early each morning and the occasional afternoon for street chai and Kitchari, the Indian dish of mung dal, potatoes and many spices. Through our tea journeys, we’ve found great beauty in the tea lands, cultures, and people of these countries: The Chai Wallah you share breakfast with, the tea pluckers who have just negotiated their work day with the estate manager, the family of 3 on the back of a motorbike […]
I’ve always enjoyed using found materials in my art -it allows me a freeness. My fish are made from salvaged materials in, on and by the road all over Maine. My father was the one who taught me that you can turn debris into design. When I was younger, I remember stopping to pick up bungie cords, wood and other discarded items. I carry his eye with me when I make fish. I’ve use guitars, cooler lids, 80’s toys, driftwood […]
On the artwall through mid July Maria Castellano-Usery Brunswick, ME www.brushstrokesbymaria.com Bio: I was born and raised on Long Island, New York, and I earned a BA in Fine Arts in 1994 from Hofstra University. Within a year of graduating, I moved to Maine, and have since made this beautiful state my home. Since selling my first piece in 1996, I’ve been consistently involved in showing my work in both group and solo settings. In July 2007, I decided to intensify […]
Appalachian Alpaca Farm Art On the Artwall through mid March 2017 Prints also available Jeff Seaberg studied Fine Art at Montserrat College of Art in Beverly, MA, receiving a bachelor’s degree in 1993. He attended their summer program in Viterbo, Italy exploring and studying painting. In 1999, Jeff became a volunteer with a non-profit group called WorldTeach, teaching English in a small town called Pueblo Nuevo de Abangares in Costa Rica. He used art and song to help educate the […]
This Thursday, November 8, 7PM A popular favorite ensemble at Dobra! Come listen, tap your toe and have some tea!
Caribbean Inspiration – For the love of color! by Nancy Kanner On the Artwall through September I am inspired by the multitude of colors from the Caribbean – the beautiful turquoise seas, the green of the lush tropical forests, the warmth of the bright sun and the uplifting spirit of the colorful houses. In my acrylic and encaustic paintings I aim to capture these colors while illustrating various vignettes found on my travels to the islands. The elephant inspired encaustic […]
2017 Darjeeling First Flush (spring pluck) from these two estates: Mission Hill Tea Estate – SFTGFOP1 SPL (Super Fine Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe, grade 1, SPL = Special) Situated in the lap of lofty Himalaya, Mission Hill Tea Estate is spread over a sprawling 951 acres of land. Mission Hill is surrounded by forest, agile mountain streams and snow-capped mountain peaks. The estate has been producing very high quality teas, rich with the flavors of traditional Darjeeling. The […]
On the Artwall through mid October Portland resident Ralph Davis has been traveling and photographing in central Asia frequently since 1986. These timeless landscapes from the Himalaya are places of sacred pilgrimage where humanity seeks solace, beauty and peace.
Join us for our 5th Anniversary! Join us as we celebrate Our 5 Year Anniversary! We’ll be celebrating all weekend with THANK YOU offerings and tea tastings! April 1, 2011, in the midst of an April Fool’s blizzard, we opened the tearoom and awakened the senses of tea lovers across Maine. What a journey it’s been – from 151 Middle Street to 89 Exchange Street – and we thank you for your love of tea, healthy food, and support […]
Sacred Geometry – Patterns in Nature Kailyn Cimino presents a mixed media exploration of the inherent underlying geometric patterns found throughout the universe. On the artwall through mid April.
10% off all loose-leaf teas – every Tuesday! No bags, only free floating tea leaves! Need we say more?
Join us for a free tea tasting on First Fridays 5-7PM! We’ll have select teas available and will share our knowledge about origin, processing, and history. Learn how terroir, processing, and other factors effect the flavor of whole leaf teas. Ask questions. Discover what makes one class of tea different from another. And come check out our current artists!
Curious how to properly brew green tea? Wondering why your home-brewed green tea always tastes bitter? Unfortunately, we’ve been reduced to thinking green tea tastes awful and is always bitter. There’s a better way to brew it — no bags, only whole leaves for the best tasting brew! Here’s the rundown to get you to better-tasting green tea, and the health benefits associated with it. When it comes to brewing any tea, it’s all about tea, time and temperature! Get yourself […]
View Japan/Korea in a larger map Read more on our journey and see photos. Stay tuned for upcoming events and presentations.
A video from our Nok Cha supplier and producer, Cho Yun Seok, of Jukro Tea Company. Great care is taken to create this fine tea, which is has several organic certifications including USDA Certified Organic.
From LifeHacker” “Tea isn’t just a comforting and pleasant beverage, it also has remarkable healing properties—so much so that it’s deemed a sort of “wonder drink” that may be even healthier than drinking water. Here are all the ways drinking tea can lead to a healthier, longer life—and how to maximize both the enjoyment of the drink and its health benefits.” Read more.
>> Purchase our Masala Spice Blend and Assam CTC Black Tea (1 ounce of masala spices and 1 ounce of Assam CTC makes approximately 12, 8 ounce cups of chai and our box of Masala Chai Spice Blend (which contains 1.75 ounces of Assam CTC (or Rooibox) and 1.75 ounces of Masala spices in separate packets) makes approximately 20 cups). (This recipe makes about 3, 8 ounce cups – cut recipe in half for one large mug) Put 4 teaspoons of […]
Instead of getting a prescription for your stress, consider trying a natural and sacred plant: holy basil. Also called tulsi, holy basil (Ocimum sanctum) is a sacred plant in India with strong, clove-like aroma and taste. It demonstrates a lack of toxicity and a variety of benefits, including reducing inflammation, protecting the body and brain from harmful effects of stress, and exerting a positive influence on mood. It is safe to use with pharmaceutical antidepressants. Dr. Weil’s colleague Jim Nicolai, […]
Saturday, April 6, 7 – 7:40PM Hiroko Fogarty will play the Shimasen, a traditional Japanese stringed instrument. Hiroko performed the Japanese Tea ceremony at the tearoom which many folks will remember was quite a treat. Join us for this unique cultural performance. Free
Worldwide, tea is the second-most-popular drink, after water. But in this coffee-crazed nation, it’s long been a subordinate brew. Until now. Read more from USAToday…
The Libre Glass’n Poly is designed in Canada and for sale at Dobrá Tea. This short instructional video from Libre Tea explains how it works and the two ways to brew tea in it. Please note: When brewing with very hot water and inverting the Libre, before opening you’ll want to release some of the steam pressure that has built up by slightly unscrewing/and then re-tightening the top, otherwise it may leak, and pressure can build up – DO NOT […]
We have gift certificates and baskets here for the holiday season, perfect for the tea lover or tea aficionado! Gift baskets are available in $20-60 price ranges. Gift certificates are available in any denomination $5 and up.
From our recent Oolong tea class, this 20 minute video shows Wei Jia who was trained in tea school in Beijing,China. Gong Fu from Dobra Tea Portland on Vimeo.
The idea that milk may diminish the potential heart-health benefits of tea has been a topic of some debate. Lots of us can’t imagine black tea without a little dairy to cut the bitterness. But, according to this research going back to 2007, we might want to at least consider trying, say, a nice cup of green tea sans sugar or cream. More from NPR.org
See the slideshow. On April 17 at 6AM, Ray hopped on a plane bound for the tea fields of China. With little more than a 2600 cu in. backpack, he started his trek in Kunming and ended the journey 35 days later in Shanghai’s tea markets. Through photos, videos, and a map, we document our first trip to China for tea. Though Ray did pack very light, photos taken with a small camera and an ipod Touch for timely updates […]
See the slideshow in larger format and without using Flash. Images shown in order of newest first.
In the artist’s words: “These photos were taken in India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka in the late 1970s on a number of trips I made there as a photographer, a stringer for the Black Star photo agency. I was fortunate enough to spend a number of years in many parts of Asia in my twenties after studying photography and anthropology at Bennington College in Vermont. I liked wild places, and looked for beauty in the primitive and often harsh […]
“Great news: In terms of the delivery of antioxidants, two cups of tea is said to be the equivalent to five portions of vegetables” Drinking just three cups of tea a day may protect against heart attacks and type 2 diabetes, claim researchers. A review shows regular drinking of black tea, with or without milk, can reduce the risk of heart problems by cutting levels of bad cholesterol and blood sugar. Read more from The Daily Mail.
Sunday, February 12, 10am-12pm Six countries, nine tea tastings – Savor Chai and dark, malty Indian Assam, delicate Darjeeling, Sri Lankan low-mountain, Kenyan flowery orange pekoe, and roasted Rize from Turkey. Travel to China for two smokey blacks: Qi Hong and Lapsang Souchong, and to the Nepalese side of the majestic Himalayas for silver tips with a flowery finish. All are welcome to join, and no prior knowledge of tea is required. This workshop will be led by our experienced […]
Sunday, February 26, 10am-12pm With this introductory class to Pu’er, journey back to the birthplace of all tea. With Pu’er you can taste the heart of the Chinese Jungles and walk the original paths of the Tea Horse Road through Tibet and the Himalayas. In the class we will experience this through a sampling of multiple Pu’ers and with pictures from our Travels into the heart itself. We will discuss history, processing, definitions, terminology and varieties, all the while brewing […]
Join us for a very special Japanese Tea Tasting! Dobrá Tea’s supplier, master and friend, Mr. Masahiro Takadasan is visiting from Japan. He has created a new type of Japanese Tea Ceremony – Chakabuki that he would like to share with you. Five different Japanese teas will be presented including Happy Tea demonstration, tea infusing and eating, roasting Hojicha Cherry Blossom Sencha and a DVD video about Japanese tea harvesting, Matcha and The Norther Japan Tsunami Relief Report. A […]
Elderly adults who regularly drink green tea may stay more agile and independent than their peers over time, according to a Japanese study that covered thousands of people. Green tea contains antioxidant chemicals that may help ward off the cell damage that can lead to disease. Researchers have been studying green tea’s effect on everything from cholesterol to the risk of certain cancers, with mixed results so far. Read more on the study from Reuters.
From the Chinese Tea Classic Ch’a-su When we are interrupted while contemplating During a good conversation deep into the night When there is a light soft drizzle With agreeable friends When the children are at school In a bamboo grove on a spring evening Under unusual rocks. Unsuitable moments: At the theatre While opening letters When the children are not at school In torrential rain. To be avoided when drinking tea: Sullen servants Bad waters Money worries […]
If you haven’t found a green tea you like, it may be be in the the perception and preparation. Time, temperature and tea are all important factors in brewing green tea as it is more sensitive to water temperature and brewing time. Over steeping, especially in near-boiling water will scorch the leaves. We have about 25 green teas available for you to try – ranging from naturally slightly sweet to brothy and savory. We’ve all heard the health benefits of […]
Friday, January 6, 7-7:30 PM, and Friday, January 13, 7-7:30 PM Join us for a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony, also known as Chanoyu, with Hiroko Fogarty. Hiroko is a local Portland resident who is well acquainted with the traditional ways of the Japanese tea ceremony. This ceremonial presentation of matcha, a powdered Japanese tea, is a choreographed ritual of preparing and serving the tea. The whole process is not about drinking tea, but is about aesthetics, preparing a bowl of […]
What you brew for tea is as important as how long you brew it. One of the most obvious results of this is with green tea when boiling water and steeping for longer than 1 minute will give you the bitter tea result. When brewing tea, it’s all about time, temperature and the type of tea. With green tea, we suggest boiling the water, waiting 5 minutes for it to cool before pouring it over the green tea leaves. And […]
by Charles Cain “The complexities of Organic Certification and the differences between the requirements of different consuming countries tilts the scales in favor of the huge tea conglomerates (read: “big business”) with thousands of acres under production. Some of my best tea experiences involve small lot teas from small, family run tea gardens.” Read more…
UPDATED: The group of crafters participating in this year’s fair has chosen HART as the recipient of the funds raised for an organization. Forty dollars was given to HART based on what was raised at the craft fair as a percentage of total sales, approximately 7%. We are thankful to have an organization such as HART helping the animals that it does in our community! As part of the Shop For A Cause Day, another forty dollars was donated from […]
Thanks to Downeast Magazine and Portland Monthly for mentioning us in their latest print editions. Downeast Magazine – Time for Tea – Check out these spots that serve tea with style. Portland Monthly We’re very happy to have this recognition!
We look forward to opening the tearoom and serving Portland great tea! Barring any obstacles (besides weather), we are on track to open at noontime on Friday, April 1! We’ll have tea samplings brewing randomly throughout the day and evening. Stop in, check out the artwork, our new space and our tea menu.
A lovely article in the Portland Press Herald’s Soup to Nuts column by Meredith Goad about the tearoom! We are very pleased by this review and the tearoom was a-buzz all day because of it. Greg Rec, staff photographer, made a video of our tea knowledge expert, Matthew Frayer, performing the Gong Fu tea ceremony:
