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This was our first visit to Callisto Tea House, after an amazing vegan diner breakfast at Millie’s. I was really reveling in the big trees, tall mountains, and lush green of Pasadena after all of the recent rain. We flirted, as we often do, with the idea of moving to the area. To be sure, it would be lovely to be closer to this little place.

I hemmed and hawed for a bit over the six teas Nathan offered as gong fu candidates. I had been half-expecting to have a yellow tea available as an option, but they have moved on from that one since I saw it on their website. This aged white managed to be two things at once: a style I am less familiar with, as well as approachable for my not-yet-tea-obsessed partner.

The dry leaves had a light scent that I didn’t pick much out of. After warming up, some toast and roast became evident, along with an almost piney or herbal note. The base of the tea shifted between hay, wet leaves, wet wood, and twigs as the steeps played out. We got about ten total before some wateriness crept in. In the first few steps, I also found really lovely and delicate flavors of licorice, mint/menthol, and honeysuckle around the edges. The cooling sensation persisted, even when the minty/menthol taste had pretty well gone. This was a really nice session, in a simple little shop that afforded focus, calm, and quiet (but also 90s-00s female singer/songwriters coming through the speakers, just loud enough to tune in if you wanted… count me in). Chatting with the proprietors was an absolute delight, too, as they were just as excited about the intricacies of their teas as they were ready to commiserate over the eternal struggle of an out-of-hand-and-still-growing tea stash at home.

Of course, I also took home some tea. I didn’t feel like I needed to own this one, but they had a white tea from Hawaii which I am absolutely stoked about. The scent of the dry leaves, which I expected to be mineral-leaning from the lava rock, was actually full of tropical fruits. I can’t wait.