Artful Tea

A few years ago, I finally faced the facts: coffee and I don’t really get along in the morning. Now we only tryst on special occasions: right before a shoot, and big meetings. Maybe to end an extravagant meal.

Serendipitously, on a pilgrimage to the parents a few years back, I discovered a toasted green tea called Houjicha. My hunch is that it’s a gene thing. I have the “green tea” gene, in a massively dominant way. Some think it tastes like dirty soap water*. (*Verbatem phrase from a writer friend). But wow, me and toasted japanese green tea: we’re tight. Ain’t nuthin dirty water about it.

Maybe, Houjicha is a gateway tea. For the first time in your life, you discover a tea you actually enjoy, and your curiosity is sparked. If you like this tea so much….what other teas might draw you in?

But I’ve never really liked other teas. I’d chalk it up to stale leaves, bulk product, ruining the tea water running it through a stale coffee urn…who knows.

I was intrigued when Local Flavor sent me on assignment to document the combined art studio and tea show room of Karen Gardiner. But it was more from a visual curiosity – an new subject to discover and frame.

Then I stepped into her art studio and hidden tea emporium, based in historic Agua Fria village. Karen, the purveyor of Artful Tea, is a self-described “…devoted tea drinker, occasional artist, novice knitter and recovering attorney.” Since moving to Santa Fe, she has developed both the tea distribution store of Artful Tea, and the art studio branded Artful She.

I’ll tell you this: each tea smells like its own journey. Karen poured me a cup a of tea, and invited me to explore the collection.

My only regret is that you can’t smell the images. Sometimes photographs only hint at the actual story.

[PS – The source, the selection of leaves, the presentation really does make a difference. Houjicha now shares its perch with Daily Darjeeling, English Breakfast, Earl Gray.]

Artful Tea Santa Fe photo by Gabriella Marks

Karen measures tea

Artful Tea Santa Fe photo by Gabriella Marks

The texture and color of the leaves suggests the flavor they steep

Artful Tea Santa Fe photo by Gabriella Marks

I was a fan of Artful Tea before I even had a cup - the attention to packaging suggests the care for what's within.

Artful Tea Santa Fe photo by Gabriella Marks

Artful Tea co-exists with Karen's entity for fine art sculpture and assemblage, Artful She.

Artful Tea Santa Fe photo by Gabriella Marks

Karen decided on the name for a new tea during our shoot

Artful Tea Santa Fe photo by Gabriella Marks

Artful She, of Artful Tea

Artful Tea Santa Fe photo by Gabriella Marks

Karen is building a labyrinth of antique tea cups in her backyard

Artful Tea Santa Fe photo by Gabriella Marks

The place where it all happens.