With the rise of a health-obsessed America, tea is gaining popularity; it is said to cure cancer, slow aging and give strength to bones.
On 1770 13th St. sits a teahouse like no other in Boulder. The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse serves tea in a cabana-style building, complete with a courtyard and garden.
According to their Web site, Tajikistan gifted the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse to celebrate the tie of the sister cities, Boulder and Tajikistan capital Dushanbe, in 1987. Between 1987 and 1990, artisans created decorative pieces for the teahouse, bringing Tajikistan culture to Boulder.
Prices for a cup of tea start at $3.50 at the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse. Food ranges from $8 to $11.
Mollie White, an 18-year-old freshman political science major, said she has gone to the teahouse twice with her family.
“I’ve gone for crumpets and tea with my whole family and it was really cute,” White said.
The inside resembles a foreign palace. In the middle sits a pond with statues around it, giving it a very Persian feel. Walls are covered with bright colors and flowers, creating a surreal setting.
Valencia Njauw, a 18-year-old freshman open-option major, said she didn’t enjoy the atmosphere of the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse.
“I didn’t like the decorations, they were too flowery,” Njauw said. “I am a minimalist, so I would have liked less.”
White said she enjoyed the tea and crumpets.
“I like it because it’s delicious and really good,” White said. “The atmosphere was really cool, too.”
White said she didn’t go too much because of the cost.
Though the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse is pricey, the experience may be worth it.
“The tea is really good there,” Njauw said. “It has so many different types of tea and the service is really good. They really take the time to explain (the different teas).”
For a teahouse more affordable, try the little Korean teahouse, A Cup of Peace, found at Arapahoe and 30th Street.
A Cup of Peace offers four types of tea: black, lemon, herbal and chai. A small cup is $2.50, a medium $2.95 and a large $3.35.
It offers a variety of herbal wellness teas, including some said to cure the common cold, to lose weight and to give brainpower.
Quiet and quaint, A Cup of Peace makes an ideal place for students to study.
Saul Barraza, a 19-year-old sophomore history major, said she likes the chai tea at A Cup of Peace.
“I love the atmosphere there, it is quiet and relaxing,” Barraza, said. “It’s a perfect getaway from all the stress.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Brigid Igoe at Brigid.igoe@colorado.edu.
