Little Woods Blog

Category: Brewing

  • Tea Brewing Basics 7/23/25

    Tea Brewing Basics 7/23/25

    Discover the Art of Tea Brewing: Join Our Tea Basics Class!

    Are you ready to dive into the world of tea and elevate your brewing skills? Join us for our Tea Brewing Basics Class, where you’ll learn the essentials of brewing tea at home, how to make Yerba Maté traditionally, and enjoy a guided tasting of four delightful teas!

    Tea Brewing Basics with Beth Wilbur

    Join our Tea Bar Manager, Beth Wilbur, for a fun and flavorful introduction to the world of tea brewing. Here’s what to expect during this 30-minute class:

    1. Learn & Taste

    Explore fundamental methods of brewing tea—from traditional steeping to cozy homestyle techniques. You’ll discover approachable ways to make tea part of your daily rhythm. As you learn, you’ll also taste newest yerba maté blend.

    2. Yerba Maté Demo

    Curious about yerba maté? Enjoy a relaxed demo where Beth will walk you through its preparation and flavor when brewed traditionally vs western style.

    3. Details:

    • Date & Time: Wednesday, July 23 | 1:00pm – 1:30pm
    • Duration: 30 minutes
    • Cost: $10 per person
    • Spots Available: Only 8 spots, so be sure to reserve your spot soon!

    How to Sign Up:
    To secure your place in this intimate and informative class, sign up online to reserve your spot today!

    Don’t miss out on this opportunity to enhance your tea brewing skills and enjoy a fun, interactive experience. We can’t wait to see you there!

    RSVP Today

  • Tea Brewing Basics 5/21/25

    Tea Brewing Basics 5/21/25

    Discover the Art of Tea Brewing: Join Our Tea Basics Class!

    Are you ready to dive into the world of tea and elevate your brewing skills? Join us for our Tea Brewing Basics Class, where you’ll learn the essentials of brewing tea at home, how to make Matcha using a whisk and bowl, and enjoy a guided tasting of four delightful teas!

    Hosted by Tea Bar Manager Beth Wilbur, here’s what to expect:

    1. Learn & Taste:
    Explore fundamental methods of brewing tea. From traditional steeping to lazy homestyle, we’ll cover techniques that will help you incorporate brewing tea at home into your daily routine with ease. You’ll also taste Japanese loose leaf tea so you can see and taste how it’s different from matcha!

    2. Matcha Demo:
    Curious about matcha? Join us for a relaxed demo where we’ll explore its unique flavor and simple preparation. Whether you’re new to matcha or just want to learn more, this is a great opportunity to discover what makes it so special.

    3. Details:

    • Date & Time: Wednesday, May 21 | 1:00pm – 1:30pm
    • Duration: 30 minutes
    • Cost: $10 per person
    • Spots Available: Only 8 spots, so be sure to reserve your spot soon!

    How to Sign Up:
    To secure your place in this intimate and informative class, sign up online to reserve your spot today!

    Don’t miss out on this opportunity to enhance your tea brewing skills and enjoy a fun, interactive experience. We can’t wait to see you there!

    RSVP Today

  • Tea Brewing Basics 4/23/25

    Tea Brewing Basics 4/23/25

    Discover the Art of Tea Brewing: Join Our Tea Basics Class!

    Are you ready to dive into the world of tea and elevate your brewing skills? Join us for our Tea Brewing Basics Class, where you’ll learn the essentials of brewing tea at home, how to make Matcha using a whisk and bowl, and enjoy a guided tasting of four delightful teas!

    Hosted by Tea Bar Manager Beth Wilbur, here’s what to expect:

    1. Learn & Taste:
    Explore four fundamental methods of brewing tea. From traditional steeping to lazy homestyle, we’ll cover techniques that will help you incorporate brewing tea at home into your daily routine with ease. You’ll also taste four different teas, each showcasing a unique flavor profiles from our shop.

    2. Matcha Demo:
    Curious about matcha? Join us for a relaxed demo where we’ll explore its unique flavor and simple preparation. Whether you’re new to matcha or just want to learn more, this is a great opportunity to discover what makes it so special.

    3. Details:

    • Date & Time: Wednesday, April 23 | 1:00pm – 1:30pm
    • Duration: 30 minutes
    • Cost: $10 per person
    • Spots Available: Only 8 spots, so be sure to reserve your spot soon!

    How to Sign Up:
    To secure your place in this intimate and informative class, sign up using our secure online registration page.

    Don’t miss out on this opportunity to enhance your tea brewing skills and enjoy a fun, interactive experience. We can’t wait to see you there!

    RSVP Today

  • Tea Brewing Basics 3/12

    Tea Brewing Basics 3/12

    Discover the Art of Tea Brewing: Join Our Tea Basics Class!

    Are you ready to dive into the world of tea and elevate your brewing skills? Join us for our Tea Brewing Basics Class, where you’ll learn the essentials of brewing tea at home, how to use a Gaiwan for full leaf teas, and enjoy a guided tasting of four delightful teas!

    Hosted by Tea Bar Manager Beth Wilbur, here’s what to expect:

    1. Learn & Taste:
    Explore four fundamental methods of brewing tea. From traditional steeping to lazy homestyle, we’ll cover techniques that will help you incorporate brewing tea at home into your daily routine with ease. You’ll also taste four different teas, each showcasing a unique flavor profiles from our shop.

    2. Gaiwan Demo:
    Ever wondered what all those little lidded cups on our shelves are? Those are Gaiwans – a lovely traditional way to brew full leaf teas like greens and oolongs. Learn about how to use them and the teas that come alive using this method.

    3. Details:

    • Date & Time: Wednesday, March 12 | 1:00pm – 1:30pm
    • Duration: 30 minutes
    • Cost: $10 per person
    • Spots Available: Only 10 spots, so be sure to reserve your spot soon!

    How to Sign Up:
    To secure your place in this intimate and informative class, sign up using our secure online registration page.

    Don’t miss out on this opportunity to enhance your tea brewing skills and enjoy a fun, interactive experience. We can’t wait to see you there!

    RSVP Today

  • Tea Brewing Basics 11/6

    Tea Brewing Basics 11/6

    Discover the Art of Tea Brewing: Join Our Tea Basics Class!

    Are you ready to dive into the world of tea and elevate your brewing skills? Join us for our Tea Brewing Basics Class, where you’ll learn the essentials of brewing tea at home and enjoy a guided tasting of four delightful teas!

    Hosted by Tea Bar Manager Beth Wilbur, here’s what to expect:

    1. Learn & Taste:
    Explore four fundamental methods of brewing tea. From traditional steeping to lazy homestyle, we’ll cover techniques that will help you incorporate brewing tea at home into your daily routine with ease. You’ll also taste four different teas, each showcasing a unique flavor profiles from our shop.

    2. Tea Latte Demo:
    Ever wondered how to make a creamy, delicious tea latte at home? Watch as we demonstrate how to create this popular drink using basic kitchen equipment. You’ll leave with the confidence to recreate it in your own kitchen!

    3. Details:

    • Date & Time: Wednesday, November 6 | 1:00pm – 1:30pm
    • Duration: 30 minutes
    • Cost: $10 per person
    • Spots Available: Only 10 spots, so be sure to reserve your spot soon!

    How to Sign Up:
    To secure your place in this intimate and informative class, sign up using our secure online registration page.

    Don’t miss out on this opportunity to enhance your tea brewing skills and enjoy a fun, interactive experience. We can’t wait to see you there!

    RSVP Today

  • Brewing Phoenix Oolong

    Brewing Phoenix Oolong

    Brewing Phoenix Oolong | Mi Lan Xiang (米蘭香)

    Origin: Phoenix Mountains, Guangdong Province, China

    Cultivar: Mi Lan Xiang, subspecies of Shui Xian 

    Grown in the Fenghuang (Phoenix Mountains)

    Oolong Style: dān cōng 單樅 (“single bush”)

    One of our favorite full leaf oolongs for daily drinking. Phoenix Oolong (Mi Lan Xiang/米蘭香) is a dān cōng (單樅/ “single bush”) tea. Grown in the Phoenix mountain range, once a good tea is discovered, it is propagated via cuttings into a whole grove. That’s what the “single bush” refers to, that the whole grove is genetically identical.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF3TfnuzK7g?si=xTLHEanAagdifJsX&w=560&h=315]

    While there are many types of Don cong Phoenix Oolongs made by skilled tea masters in the region, the one we carry is typically harvested in the late summer/fall, the mature leaves are withered and then charcoal roasted. This special treatment creates what has become known as a Honey Orchard fragrance — sweet caramel tones with a lovely floral note.

    Long leaves are given a slight twist so when brewing, it’s best to use a large infuser or tea pot so the leaves can steep without being crushed. This special tea is wonderful for all day enjoyment as the leaves can be re-steeped several times, usually about 3-4 times if you use a 3 minute infusion. Traditionally, one starts a pot of tea in the morning and re-steeps the same leaves throughout the day, by the evening time the caffeine is mostly extracted.

    Phoenix oolong is a lovely tea to add other botanicals too as its robust flavor stands up well with other complex flavors. We use it not just in our Autumnal Equinox, but also our Pretty Penny blend that’s available year round.

    Brew Instructions: 1-2t. (4-5g) | 12oz water | 190 – 200°F | 3-4 minutes | 3-4 infusions

  • Tea Brewing Basics 8/21

    Just getting started in loose leaf tea? Want some new tea brewing skills? This class is made just for you. We know it can be intimidating (or feel cumbersome) when you are just getting started. Tea bar manager Beth Wilbur will guide you through our four favorite ways to brew tea at home.

    During the session, you’ll have the opportunity to sample four distinct types of tea, each offering its own unique flavor and aroma. Join us and discover the pleasure of tea brewing.

    Tea Brewing Basics

    • Thursday, August 21, 2024
    • 1:00 – 1:30ish
    • 136 Main Street, Ames, Iowa 50010
    • $10/person
    RSVP Today

    Standing room available if seating is sold out.

  • Recipe: Agua de Jamaica (Hibiscus Iced Tea)

    Recipe: Agua de Jamaica (Hibiscus Iced Tea)

    Happy Cinco de Mayo! Food, festivals, and family fill this Mexican/ Mexican-American holiday! Bring a taste of this joyful celebration into your home this year with Spiced Hibiscus Iced Tea – a classic drink served in Mexican taquerias! It’s a great mocktail option to serve along side your favorite margarita!

    Here at Little Woods we mix up a special batch the week of Cinco de Mayo as our featured drink until it runs out — which is usually pretty quickly! First made based on a Agua de Jamaica (Hibiscus Iced Tea) recipe over at Simply Recipes, we’ve adapted it over the years for our own tastes and tea bar service. Below is our own variation:

    Little Woods’ Agua de Jamaica Adaptation

    4 cups water
    1 cup dried hibiscus flowers whole (cut would work also)
    3/4 cup sugar
    2 x 2.75in cinnamon sticks
    1t. dried ginger root c/s
    1t. whole allspice berries
    1/4t. whole cloves

    1. Add spices and sugar to water and bring to a boil. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
    2. Remove from heat and add hibiscus flowers. Let steep for 20 minutes.
    3. Strain into a pitcher.
    4. Top with 4 cups cold water. 

    For a sparkling twist, keep as a concentrate and add 1 part concentrate, 1 part carbonated water to a glass when serving.

    Want recipe ideas and shop updates delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the Little Woods eNews and save 10% off your next order!

    Enjoy!

    – Little Woods –

  • Tea so Good, It’s Presidential!

    Tea so Good, It’s Presidential!

    Obama Oval meeting with King of Jordan Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

    Today is president’s day and we wanted to celebrate the favorite teas of our Presidents thoughout the history of our county.

    Disclaimer: This is made up for fun and based only loosely on guess work and a few facts. This article in no way is endorced, approved, or supported by the White House or any presdient. I have met Obama once, he came and talked to my class at my community college when I was 17 year’s old when he was running for Senate in Illinois. I’ve never had the chance to actually offer him tea. But if I do…

    It all started with the question of, if Obama ever came to Ames and ordered a tea from Little Woods, what would it be? With a little digging, the recommendation was obvious: Eternal Youth Iced Tea!

    And it just kept going from there. Here’s a round up of five presidents and the teas they would enjoy the most at Little Woods.

    Biden:

    Fireside

    Not a tea drinker — we get it… you just haven’t found one you like… YET. Fireside is our gateway tea for coffee drinkers like Biden. When he visits the shop, it’s what we will recommend.

    Obama:

    Eternal Youth

    Naturally caffeine free, it’s tart and fruity. Refreshing iced or hot. I like it unsweetened, but many love it with a little simple syrup or honey.

    Roosevelt:

    Lapsang Souchong

    What started out as an accident has turned into a staple of russian tea drinking. A chinese black tea that is smoked with pine.

    Jefferson:

    Namaste Green Tea

    A green tea that is smooth and subtly sweet. It has hand chopped freeze dried strawberries and lemon balm mixed with our Mao Jian green tea.

    Washington:

    Keemun Black Tea

    One of our favorite black teas, it’s a chinese black tea (red tea) that has a malty robust flavor. It’s wonderfully smooth on it’s own or with a little milk.

    Bush Sr:

    Gyokuro

    Our top shelf loose leaf green tea, we were lucky to meet this Japanese tea company two summers ago. Vegetal with a rich mineral tone. The color is a vivid yellow green when brewed to perfection.

    Want to get a little steeped in the history of Tea at the White House?

    I really enjoyed these articles and books about the subject, particularly the first by Sara Shacket of Tea Happiness.

    (this is the main image that Tea Happiness used, with a degree in painting and a love of art history I couldn’t help but share it with you)

    Happy Presidents Day and Happy Tea Drinking!

  • Lunar New Year Tea Recipe

    Lunar New Year Tea Recipe

    This year, we wanted to share with you a fun way to incorporate tea in your Lunar New Year celebration.

    While not a tradition Jason or I grew up with, it’s one we now love. On New Year’s Day, the kids make the tea and serve it to the adults. And not just any tea, a sweetened fruit tea.

    What is this sweet fruit tea you ask? Well, it’s lovingly simple – candied fruits chopped up and mixed with tea and cane sugar.

    We’ve put our own twist on it and tossed it with jasmine too. Here’s how to make your own sweet Lunar New Year tea.

    Ingredients

    Watch the videos for some extra blending tips as I chat with our staff about mixing up this fun sweet tea.

    Blending the Tea

    1. Take each strip of candied mango and dice into 1/4 inch pieces or smaller. If it’s sticking to your knife, sprinkle with granulated sugar – the sugar will stick to the sticky parts and make it easier to cut.

    2. Toss the green tea and mango together, add in and gently crush the jasmine blossoms.

    3. Keep mixing until you have a fairly even distribution.

    Brewing the Tea

    1. Bring your kettle up to 185 F.
    2. Add 1 heaping teaspoon to your infuser and place in a cup.
    3. Pour water over leaves and let steep 3-4 minutes.
    4. Remove infuser and enjoy!
    Fini!

    Until next time!