Tea Time in Argentina

Not quite European, not quite Hispanic, Argentina straddles a cultural line, which allows it to pull traditions from either side of the ocean, blending heritages that embrace the siesta and tea time all in the same day.

Tea Sommelier, Founder and Owner of Tea & Company, is a strong believer in the tea tradition, and has made it her passion to bring Mendocinos high-quality herbs and an appreciation for the drink that is her passion.

Tea & Company is Mendoza´s  premier source for high-quality loose-leaf tea and also offers an exquisite menu of hand-made, gourmet, natural, mostly vegetarian plates, a line of tea-infused artisan ice creams, a bar of tea-based cocktails and a torturous bakery.  Silvina also teaches a variety of classes to casual drinkers and serious connoisseurs.  The menu of classes covers almost every possible tea topic: history, properties, varieties, preparation, tastings and pairings.

In celebration of Tea & Company´s Grand Opening of the Chacras de Coria tea salon, an affluent suburb on the outskirts of Mendoza, I sat down with Silvina Fortuny to learn more about her vision and what the everyday tea drinker should know.

How did your interest in tea develop?

I began to practice yoga at a difficult moment in my life and I found, within that discipline, a great support in finding peace and harmony.  I changed my eating habits and incorporated healthy routines into my life, like drinking loose-leaf teas every day, something that´s not only a delicious drink, but also a healthy practice. 

What´s the difference between Tea & Company tea, and the tea that you can find in your everyday supermarket?

It´s true that tea bags are quick and easy to prepare, but they cannot compare to loose-leaf tea in taste.  The tea herbs come from a leaf that has been treated with great care, that it not only maintains all of its properties intact, but also its flavor is not bitter or astringent, as is the case with tea bags that have highly processed tea leaves.  The less processing, the better the flavor and the better the properties of the tea.  Someone who has studied tea recognizes the value of loose-leaf tea when compared to everyday tea bags. 

When someone is new to tea, or don´t have a preferred type, what do you recommend?

When someone doesn´t know a lot about tea, we suggest the blends, which are the most palate friendly.  We advise the client by first asking about his or her preferences, so that we can then point them to the teas that they are likely to enjoy – for example – teas with floral notes, fruits, spices, but there are of course the clients who prefer tea in its pure form.

What would you like to teach people about tea, what are some of the common mistake people make?

Mostly, I would like to teach them all the possibilities that there are for enjoying tea…cold tea, hot tea, tea with milk, ice creams infused with tea  etc.  But at the same time, I try to help people understand that tea is more than just something delicious to drink, it is also something that contributes to our health and wellbeing.

The most common mistake people make is believing that the different varieties of tea come from different plants, when in reality, all of them come from the Camellia Sinnensis, it´s simply the method of processing that creates the distinctions.

Small bites, served at the Chacras de Coria Grand Opening

What do we need to know about pairing tea and food?

Green teas, and in general pure teas, marry very well with savory foods.  Sweet items, desserts and baked goods go very well with tea blends that are based in green or black tea.  The choice depends on the tastes of the drinker, the pairing can be between tastes that are similar, or tastes that are opposite; it´s something that is very subjective.  There are people that combine apple pie with apple tea, and others that prefer tea with ingredients that have little to do with the food they are eating.

Now that Argentina is changing seasons, and we´re entering autumn, what tea would you recommend for the chilly weather?

I would recommend black teas blended with spices, chocolate, alcoholic beverages, dried fruit, and of course the Latte Teas – blends that have been directly infused with milk, which makes for an exquisite drink, ideal to combat the cold.

And what teas would you recommend for the summer months?

I recommend teas with lots of fruit notes, which are excellent to prepare as iced teas. 

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