1,000 Cranes for Peace

We did it. This April, you wonderful people banded together and helped us fold 1,000 cranes between our two teahouses.  Now it is time to figure out where to send them. So far we have two nominations, but are welcoming more.

1. The Family of  Robert W. Napier (Bobby and her three children)

 

 

Shawn Grey-Schulte, the founder of the Iron Horse Challenge Facebook page with the primary focus on the fight to end ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) nominated the family of Robert Hawkins-Napier.  Robert was a father of three, a loving husband, and a lived with ALS for over a decade before passing away this March.

Robert’s wife, Bobby,  was his primary care nurse, which cost the family dearly.  Shawn wanted to nominate Bobby and her kids because he sees them in need of the gift of peace and any symbols that can help them through the rough time ahead.

2. People of Palestine

Sheryl Martin is nominating the country of Palestine to send some peace. Palestine is presently undergoing a genocide and has had ongoing oppression since 1948.  The Palestinians are losing hope as many of their children are being killed and imprisoned.

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This list will be updated when we have more nominations. Who would you send a message of peace? Let us know on Facebook.

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Pemberley Woods Afternoon Tea at Happy Lucky’s

Celebrate mom right this Mother’s Day. Treat her (and yourself) to a three-course Tea Party! Catered by the wonderful people at Pemberley Woods, this Mother’s Day is a guaranteed success if you join us at our Old Town teahouse.

Each course has been paired with one of our high-quality loose-leaf teas, with the option to substitute an Herbal Blend if you so choose.

May 13th, 2018

Seatings at 1 pm & 3 pm. 

$27.95 for adults | $17.95 for Kids (12 and under)

Call (970) 689-3417 to reserve seats

Gluten free and Vegan options available if noted when booking a reservation.

Kid’s Menu  (12 and under)

Course 1

Classic Cucumber Tea Sandwich

Turkey and Earl Grey Honey Apple Butter Tea Sandwich

Strawberry and Cream Cheese Tea Sandwich

Course 2

Milk Scones served with butter, preserves, and cream

Course 3

Berry Tarts

Mini Eclairs

Cranes for Peace at Happy Lucky’s Teahouse

There is an ancient Japanese legend that said if you folded one thousand paper cranes you would be granted a wish. The wish of Sadako Sasaki, who survived the Hiroshima bombing of Japan in 1945, was diagnosed with leukemia from the radiation, was to live. The story of her bravery and resilience resonated with the world, and the symbolism of paper cranes has been associated with peace and hope ever since.

This April we want to put energy into the idea of peace. Peace within ourselves through meditation, and peace for the world through acts of charity and good intentions. Throughout April we will be folding paper cranes in both teahouses, and at the end of the month we will count our cranes (hopefully making it to one thousand) and send a wish of peace to someone.

We will vote on social media to determine who to send the cranes to, so be sure to follow us on Facebook!

Make Your Tea Happy with CBD Infused Honey

Feeling stressed? Body a little tense? Make your tea (and your body) Happy with a shot of CBD infused honey. We’re excited to have Farmhouse Hemp products at the teahouse because it’s one more way we can help Nourish Your Happy. You can add a 10mg honey shot for only $1.50 for a relaxing happy feeling in your body. Studies show it can reduce stress, reduce inflammation, and ease nausea.  We measure it out with an actual syringe, so you get exactly what you pay for.

What is CBD?

CBD (Cannabidiol) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid compound found in the hemp plant. That means to won’t get you high (that’s THC) from ingesting CBD products.  CBD doesn’t even affect the same receptors that THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) does, so your mind stays present. It is extracted from the seeds, stalks, and flowers of the hemp plant. THC, on the other hand, comes from the flowering tops and leaves. 

It is legal to purchase and consume CBD under U.S. Federal law as long as it’s extracted from hemp. Hemp is a non-psychoactive variety of Cannabis sativa L. that contains less than 0.3% THC. The marijuana plant is in the same genus as hemp, but their chemical makeup is not identical.  So don’t worry, you’re not breaking the law when you treat yourself to a bit-o CBD. 

CBD Benefits 

Studies are beginning to discover a ton of amazing health benefits of CBD. It’s been as beneficial for treating inflammation, pain, anxiety, seizures, spasms, and nausea, according to Medical News Today.

Why Farmhouse Hemp?

We chose to partner with Farmhouse Hemp because they are dedicated to natural processes, local ingredients, and authenticity in every part of their business. The high quality, pure full-spectrum hemp oil is made naturally (no weird solvents here!) from 100% local products. They hold themselves accountable by 3rd party testing, which they publish on their website.

The hemp they grow is 100% organic and local to Colorado. Each batch of hemp rosin is tested at a Colorado State University Lab to determine the CBD concentration and is published on Farmhouse Hemp’s website.

They use heat and pressure to extract the CBD, which eliminates the need for solvents. This guarantees their products are full-spectrum hemp oil.

Full-Spectrum hemp oil is pure, concentrated CBD that you can use orally or topically. The terpenoids and trace amounts of other cannabinoids contribute to the relaxing effect CBD has on your body. Terpenoids are oils that are secreted from the plant’s glands and are responsible for the aroma of cannabis. Those oil compounds along, with cannabinoids, increase blood flow, enhance cortical activity, and kill respiratory pathogens, according to a study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology.

Happy Lucky’s Wellness Bombs

CBD honey shots are the perfect addition to any herbal blend. Some of our favorite Wellness Bombs are Be Well, Ginger Orange Carrot, Vitali-Tea, and all of our chai blends. If you’re getting pure-leaf tea, we suggest you order a honey shot of CBD on the side, as the honey can overpower some of the flavors. But when it comes down to it, it’s your tea. Take it how you want it!

CBD Honey Shots, they’re CD-licious!

What does First Flush Darjeeling have in common with Oolong tea?

What does First Flush Darjeeling have in common with Oolong tea? It’s all about the process. Despite Darjeeling being a black tea, the Springtime picking has a unique fresh greenness to it that makes it a little different from other Darjeeling harvests. Oolong also has a unique oxidation process that makes it an interesting meld between green and black tea.

Oolong is often described as an “in-between” tea compared to green and black. But surprise – it’s a little more complicated than that. The oxidation process of black tea involves the leaves being crushed or twisted, which turns the leaves brown after they’ve been oxidized. Green tea is traditionally processed by withering, heating, rolling and drying. The heating actually prevents oxidation and preserves a freshness. Black tea, on the other hand, is processed by being withered, rolled, oxidized and dried. Oolong tea begins to oxidize before it is crushed, which is why people often describe it as “in-between green and black”, according to Eric Scott, a self-proclaimed Tea Geek and graduate student at Tufts University.  

Tea picked at the beginning of the season (mid-March to May depending on weather) is known as “first flush”.  First flush teas are made from baby tea leaves that have just woken up after being dormant for the winter.  What sets First Flush Darjeeling apart from other black teas? It isn’t processed as deeply. When it is rolled, it retains some of the “leaf juice”,  which makes it special, according to Andy Boone, Master Blender at Happy Lucky’s. That’s why you get a subtle greenness in the leaves and an abundance of silver tips. The liquor is smooth on the palate with undertones of citrus and grape.

Tea processing and picking is one small part of the specialness of tea. It’s amazing that all these flavors can come from a single kind of plant. What else are you interested in learning about in the world of tea? Let us know! We love to geek out on tea.

Spring Teas

Spring is in the air, and the warm breeze is blowing in good news for tea lovers of the world. Darjeeling growers are anticipating the most lucrative first flush in decades according to World Tea News. This year we were lucky to have early rains and sunny winter days that have made it possible for tea gardens to flourish.

We enjoy teas from around the world here in Fort Collins so it’s important to understand where that tea is coming from, and what it took to get it here.

There was a strike in Darjeeling last year and most of the cultivation cycles were not harvested. That means that the plants are retaining more nutrients as they had a longer resting period, known as the winter cycle. That dormant winter cycle is when the tea plants recover their nutrients from the soil.  The extra time this year’s crop was able to spend in recovery mode makes it especially potent. What does this mean for us? Super. Tasty. Tea.

Why We Love Spring Teas

Even though it comes from a single plant, the flavor profile of tea is expansive. One thing that contributes to flavor nuances is the time of year the crop is harvested. Spring teas are a great example of this, as they show complex tasting notes specific to the period the little leaves were plucked. Also, they tend to pack more caffeine per ounce, making them a perfect pick-me-up. Because baby tea leaves are more vulnerable, they produce more caffeine to ward off insects. Bad news for insects, good news for sleepy tea drinkers! The light minerally taste makes for a refreshing yet flavorful brew and is just what you need to get going on a warm spring day.

Brew Up Some Sunshine

Glenburn First Flush Darjeeling: This black tea should really be in a category of its own; it tastes like walking through a garden in the springtime. The delectable brew is known for an abundance of silver tips. The liquor is light and bright, smooth on the palate with undertones of citrus and grape. Our general manager Andy Boone notes there is a “musky spiciness to it”.

 Nepal Honeysuckle Green Tea: If you love Darjeeling, you should already have Nepal Honeysuckle in your cup. It’s the same tea as Darjeeling but is grown across the valley in Nepal. But don’t be fooled! They are miles away in flavor profile as well. This green tea is the earliest crop of tea and the most sought after by connoisseurs across the globe. The tender plucking is extremely aromatic and yields a mild vegetal flavor with rich mineral overtones that give way to a sweet linger.

China Cui Ming Emerald Bright: Another delightfully uplifting brew, Cui Ming is a beautiful large leaf tea grown in the highlands of Simao, Yunnan. Aptly named for the green and white long leaves used in its production and the emerald liquor it produces this Cui Ming has an enticing light, zesty, and vegetal flavor and imparts a unique active and arid feeling in the mouth while still having with the unique sweet linger expected from large leaf Yunnan trees.

Four Teas for Flu Season

This year’s flu season has been the most widespread on record since health officials began keeping track 13 years ago (Washington Post).

To prevent the flu: wash your hands, cover your mouth when you cough, and do not to go into public if you’re starting to feel sick.

When you have the flu: Drink Tea!

At Happy Lucky’s Teahouse, we want to help you stay healthy and happy, so we’re going to tell you about four magical brews you the season of sickness.

 Four Teas for Flu Season

1. Be Well Herbal Blend:  

This is the tea you should already be drinking. It’s a blend of immune boosting herbs, flowers, roots and peels that are designed to help you fight off impending doom. If you’re starting to feel slight symptoms or you notice others around you beginning to sniffle, brew up some Be Well.  The soothing power of ginger root and the white blood cell boosting ability of echinacea (WebMD) are just a few ingredients that promote wellness in this lovely herbal blend.

2. VitaliTea Herbal Blend:

Another blend to fortify the immune system during cold and flu season. This Happy Lucky’s blend is a great combo of health-boosting herbs and well-balanced flavor. Rose hips to hibiscus, this is an all-around healthy tea for revitalizing and rejuvenating the body and mind.

3. Cosmic Cold Herbal Blend:

Already sick? When the symptoms hit, Cosmic Cold is the brew for you. It has a slight bitter taste, but the herbal blend of chamomile, yarrow, feverfew, elder berry, elder flower, red clover, rose hips, hibiscus, yerba santa, cinnamon and lemon peel is known to cut flu time in half and assist the body in relieving cold symptoms. But if you’re already sick, the slight medicinal flavor won’t bother you!  If it does,  a little honey does wonders for this tea. “Drink it until you can taste it,” says Kari Grossman, Happy Lucky’s co-owner, “That’s how you know it’s working.

4. Koala Bear Nasal Care:

After your symptoms are starting to settle down and you can smell fresh air again, you’ll probably experience some nasty nasal draining. Never fear! Koala Bear is here! This herbal blend is great for “…when your nose is running off your face,” remarks Kari. Breathe it in – this tea’s aroma is as beneficial as the brew. The flavor has some mentho-lyptus action with notes of citrus and licorice.

Rotate all FOUR herbal blends throughout the day for superstar immunity power. Take care of your body, and Nourish Your Happy.