Walt Disney World has gotten just a little more magical for tea lovers.
Courtesy of Disney Food Blog
Disney has just announced the opening of The Tea Traders Café. Tea Traders is located at Downtown Disney in Orlando and sells tea and tea-infused cookies and treats with the goal of introducing visitors to loose-leaf teas from around the world.
Tea Traders is operated by Joffrey’s. They have hired a tea smith who custom blends the tea and herbals in a work area that lets visitors watch the process. The tea smith can also help educate visitors and assist them in making their selections. There have been Gong Fu Cha demonstrations and tastings.
The café was inspired by the concept of a 1940s warehouse but has large windows, natural wood accents and plenty of sunlight. The tea is steeped from loose-leaf and in addition to being prepared hot and iced, specialty tea drinks like frozen matcha and a wide range of hot and iced cocktails are also available.The loose-leaf blends can be purchased to take home and are also available online.The menu can be viewed here.
Concept drawing for Disney Springs. Courtesy of Walt Disney World.
Tea Traders’ new home, Downtown Disney, has been in a period of redevelopment this year. Disney imagineers have been creating four new “neighborhoods” and the entire complex will be renamed Disney Springs in 2016. Tea Traders is part of the first neighborhood, The Landing. It takes its place with restaurants like Morimoto Asia, STK Orlando and The BOATHOUSE; shoe stores like Sanuk and Havaianas; The Art of Shaving; Chapel Hats; and the popular gluten-free, vegan bakery Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC (formerly Babycakes.)
The Disney Food Blog offers a report with many pictures from an early visitor.
SOURCE: Disney, Tea Traders Café, Disney Food Blog, and WESH
