In 2008, I went to Czech Repuplic, for Erasmus. I had stayed there 10 months, and it was the best part of my life so far. I am still remembering the old memories from that times.
In our Erasmus term there were 2 American students; Joanne and Ryan. I remember them with big smiles, and cheerful talk. One day Joanne invited us for tea, she had told they had find a teahouse, by chance. At first I had no idea what to expect, she had invited 20-30 people but we were only 8. Organising is a very difficult task, but we were happy to being a small group, afterall the teahouse was very small for big groups. After going I just fell in love with the place. The decor was very atractive, and calling. The man who serviced our tea was kind, and very knowledgeable. After bringing tea with exra hot water for next drink, he informed us about preparation for each tea, each tea has exact waiting time for preparation. We had ordered 4 type of tea: green, brown, white, blue. I was very insistent about Japanese tea, so friends accept my suggestion, I don't remember the exact name of the tea types we ordered.
There was a Latvian girl sitting next to me, and was saying : " The name looks like Witch"- as I remember name was smilar to Gama Iri Ganmachi; it was a mixture of Sencha and Macha tea. When the tea come she whispered to me : " It looks like a poison." I am still smiling with the memory back there. The tea was in a very lively green colour. If anybody has seen algea culture in a fish farm, would imagine the colour. I have to admit she was right about the apparance of tea.
We decided to try every tea, there was a French friend, who was announcing the tastes after try. He was first to try, so we had some idea before trying. After trying he said the taste looks like fish. I should say taste was the least smilar thing to a fish. I found tea very good. The tea was taking all the stress on the body, and bringing you somewhere calm and peaceful. When we were taking metro I found myself smiling with the joy. I dont know if it was because of the tea or because of the atmosphere.
At the end of Erasmus I went there with a friend again, and we ordered the same tea. He found the tea amazing.
And down there you can see the links about the teahouse.
And here are some information I found about the place:
Dobrá čajovna ("Dobrá" Tea Room, Good Tearoom, Good T Room, Dobrá čajovňa etc.) is a tea house franchise originating in the city of Prague in the Czech Republic, but which has since opened in many other cities around the world includingBudapest (Hungary), Krakow (Poland), Bratislava (Slovakia), and Burlington, Vermont, Madison, Wisconsin, Portland, Maine, andAsheville, North Carolina in the United States. There are two Dobrá Čajovna in Prague. One on Václavské Náměstí (Wenceslas Square) and another between Karlovo Naměsti and Narodní Třida.
The original Dobrá Čajovna is the one situated on Wenceslas Square. During the Communist Era, importing tea was forbidden. However, a small group of tea lovers who would meet to sample and try different teas that were imported illegally. After the Velvet Revolution this group opened a tea room which is the same now one on Wenceslas Square. There is a Dobrá Čajovna in almost every major town in the Czech Republic. Pardubice,České Budějovice, Tábor, Chomutov, Český Těšín, Zlín, Ostrava, Kutná Hora, Olomouc, Brno, Český Krumlov, and others. Dobrá (meaning "good" in Czech) Čajovna specializes in serving fine loose-leaf teas brewed and served expertly in the manner of each tea's country of origin. The staff (known as Tea Devotees) are specially trained for all the varieties of tea they carry, and are very careful with water temperature and steeping time to try for the best possible cup.
There is also a documentary film about Dobra Cayovna in the link above. After going to website click the video option:
"The Story of Dobrá Tea: Video"
http://tea.cz/cajovna/
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