Excusive Tea Brands, Retail Gifts, Home Decor and Fine Dining in the heart of downtown

Contact: Karinna James, Co-owner
The Urban Tea Merchant
Mobile 778-688-5396

This week, downtown Vancouver will be introduced to a new concept in retail shopping, dining and service with the opening of The Urban Tea Merchant, a three thousand square foot store on West Georgia and Alberni Street offering a unique blend of food and beverage, retail, home decor and, say owners Karinna and Tom James, a sensory experience!

As the exclusive North American distributor for the luxury French tea line, Thé Ô Dor, The Urban Tea Merchant will carry the complete line of the beautifully packaged hand blended aromatic teas as well as a wonderful collection of fine harvest teas, all purchased by weight. The retail shop will feature unique European home decor merchandise, gifts, china and glassware with an interesting selection of tea related products including tea pots and kettles, as well as Charbonnel et Walker chocolates and imported French macarons. Additionally, the retail store will offer a tea consultation counter where guests can taste and choose their preferred blends.

The Urban Tea Merchant is also home to Vancouver’s first Salon de Thé, a 30 seat tea salon offering exquisite afternoon teas, light lunches and petit plates in a separate dining area, and a Thé et Chocolat Bar, offering en route (to go) classic teas, tea lattes & chilled tea infusions as well as chocolates and scones.

Chef du Salon Phong Vo has created a menu that offers four types of afternoon tea services; the Signature Afternoon Tea, a selection of savouries and desserts; a West Coast Afternoon Tea with beautifully crafted canapés that include BC smoked salmon, imported cheese, fresh fruit and sweets all garnished with edible flowers, and a Petit Afternoon Tea, which samples both sweet and savoury items. The Urban Tea Merchant’s Salon de Thé also serves a Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea (for children 12 and under) with hot chocolate, small sandwiches and sweets. Perfect after an afternoon concert or before a holiday favourite like the Nutcracker Ballet or Sugar Plum Ball.

Lunch items, with recipes that incorporate tea infusions, include a quiche trio, beef tenderloin with white truffle mash puree, poached salmon or duck breast as well as more casual items like beef pot pie and macaroni with trois fromages.

The Urban Tea Merchant opens this week, December 3^rd, 7:00 am until 7:00 pm with expanded hours through the holiday season. Summer time will see a courtyard tea garden on the Alberni Street side. Reservations for lunch and afternoon tea are available at 604-629-0071.

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The Urban Tea Merchant – Downtown Vancouver
1070 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC V6E 2Y2
(Entrances also located on Alberni Street, across the street from Coast restaurant,
and through lobby of the Grosvenor Building)
604-629-0071

The Urban Tea Merchant – West Vancouver
825 Main Street, Park Royal Village
West Vancouver, BC V7T 2Z3
604-926-3392
www.urbantea.com
info@urbantea.com
Thé Ô Dor (Tay oh door)