Susie Kilian, owner of The Tea Studio by Kilian in St. Louis, strives to give customers a better understanding of tea and its nuances with a vast variety of loose-leaf teas, tea accessories, tastings and classes.
3 Accessories from The Tea Studio
These airtight tea tins keep tea leaves stored safely away from sunlight, which can ruin even the best tea. Air exposure also negatively affects loose-leaf tea, so try not to open the containers more than needed.
A gaiwan – a small Chinese lidded bowl set on top of a saucer – is the preferred method for brewing green and white teas, as the gaiwan’s porcelain absorbs the heat from the water and doesn’t damage the tea.
A must-have for tea novices and aficionados alike, Stump porcelain teapots are affordable and come in a variety of colors. The addition of removable infuser baskets helps prevent your tea from getting too bitter.
A certified tea specialist and certified tea sommelier, Kilian brings a decade’s worth of knowledge and experience to the Gravois Park store. From the selection of loose-leaf teas that she curates herself, Kilian recommends the Earl Grey – a relaxing blend of organic black teas, handpicked in Sri Lanka and mixed with natural bergamot oil, which possesses both uplifting and calming qualities.
Another option is the Taitung Oolong from Taiwan with notes of sweet stone fruit and roasted nuts, while the Hibiscus Smash made with hibiscus flowers, cherry, lemongrass, licorice root, rose hip and spearmint is a wonderful caffeine-free herbal tea.
The Tea Studio by Kilian, 2755 Chippewa St., St. Louis, Missouri, 314.610.7078, theteastudiobykilian.com
