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 Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 6:49 pm
Mooncake had heard all about traditional tea ceremony and how important a drink tea was in asian cultures and he just had to have some. Better yet, he had to get some for his wonderful mama and his siblings so they could experience the drinks of the culture they celebrated. It was a great idea, especially since tea ceremony and kimonos were practically tied together by the string of fate and it was clear even from his mother's name that she loved kimonos.
But first he needed to find tea and how to make it. It would be better yet if someone could show him the ceremony, but it was doubtful he'd have an easier time doing that than finding a book.
After a short walk the little flutter had made his way to Latte's shop and entered excitedly. Buzzing his way to the counter the colt cleared his throat and gazed over the menu.
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Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 7:48 pm
Latte was cleaning, scrubbing down her precious machines from a good morning of use and various delicious splatters. She noticed the tiny colt enter and offered him a smile.
"Hello, welcome! If you need any help, feel free to ask."
It was great to see kids interested in her shop, although she had to admit it was usually for a love of chocolate or whipped cream rather than brewed delights. The sweet stuff was fun to make too, and their little faces when she added her finishing touches...! She did notice that he was a flutter, a type of phony that she had only rarely seen around Phonyville. Such nice colors he had, too!
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Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 8:47 pm
Mooncake could smell the scent of roasted coffee beans and pastries, the scent tickled his nose in a delightfully pleasant manner. He frowned at the occasional smudges though, worried he might stain his book.
"Um. Hi. You'd be my hero if you could teach me about teas." The little flutter blushed, embarrassed that he was even about to suggest the idea of holding something so presumptuous as a tea ceremony. "I'm looking for something that would suit a tea ceremony i want to hold... But I don't really know anything about teas." The little colt squeaked as he tried to peek over the counter.
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Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 9:34 pm
Latte simply stared a moment in total shock. R...really? This foal wanted to know about tea?! Realizing that her reaction belied her actual feelings, she split into a grin and nodded.
"Of course! I've never met someone who wanted to really learn about tea... here!" She trotted over to the pastry case and removed a macaron, coming back and offering it to the babby, "No charge! I was just going to close for lunch, so why don't you enjoy that, and I can finish up here, then we can go in back and look at some teas, okay?" She had already begin walking away before she returned, slightly flustered. The mare giggled and shook her head. "I'm Latte, by the way. It's a pleasure to meet you."
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Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 6:51 pm
Mooncake smiled in return to the mare's grin, happy that she seemed so pleased by the proposition. "Well in my family's culture tea is quite important. I don't know if you've been by my mama's shop, her name is Silk Kimono, but the shop has a lot of things from the orient." He shuffled a hoof, looking awkwardly at the floor, embarrassed. "I know a little bit about tea ceremony, so i wanted to try and prepare one. I think it'd maybe make my mama happy."
The colt blinked, surprised by the offer of the macaron. He took it gratefully, mumbling a thanks as he held the treat gingerly in his hooves, cheeks rosy with embarrassment. "I don't want to bother you during your lunch break. Are you sure it's alright?" He squeaked and pursed his lips. "My name is Mooncake, after a chinese pastry eaten during a mid-autumn lunar festival. Thank you Miss Latte."
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Posted: Fri Aug 16, 2013 12:09 pm
Latte nodded, mane bouncing as she went about completing her lunchtime cleanup with a little more speed than usual. What would be a better way to spend a lunch break?!
"I've never been inside your mama's shop, but I do think I've seen it! The things inside her window are very pretty," the mare nodded. Maybe she'd have to make a trip some day! "Does she sell tea too? I know a little bit about tea ceremonies... yenno, anything with tea! I can try to help the best I can. Of course "
The macaron was chai-flavored, ever brew-y.
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Posted: Sat Aug 17, 2013 7:04 am
Mooncake nibbled on the edges of the macaron, finding the taste to be quite curious as he listened to the mare. "My mama's shop has a lot of things. There's asian foods and drinks, books, and she even makes kimonos for people who want them."
He nods to himself, eyes lighting up when she said she knew a little about tea ceremonies. "Ah! I've read about them, but if you could teach me what you know..." With a smile the colt watched her clean, "Do you want any help?"
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Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2013 11:16 am
"Oh, no. Don't worry about me! You'll have plenty of time to clean things when you're Old Enough," latte smiled, "Thank you, though!"
What a sweet little foal he was, offering to help! Once finished, Latte grabbed her lunch and opened the little door that led behind the counter.
"Come on, now. We'll figure out what we can."
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Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:22 pm
"Ah! But- but! You're helping me. It's the least i could do." The little colt peered over the edge of the counter as the mare worked, a small frown on his face. When the counter door was opened he zoomed through the opening to Latte's side.
"Thank you for your help." He glanced around at the coffee machines and other things behind the counter, wondering what it was all used for and what varieties she had.
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Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:33 pm
"So," Latte began, smiling as she led the foal into the back room, "I did a little research about tea ceremonies when I was younger, but admittedly not too much. From what I remember, matcha is the most common tea used, right? Green tea? and then in other types of ceremonies, other types of green tea. Or are you going to go a less traditional route and try out some other teas, hm?"
She pulled from a shelf a tin of green tea leaves, not ground, and lowered them for the babby to look at. Certainly he knew about the "ceremony" part better than she did, but she could try to help!
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Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:37 pm
"That's the right kind." Mooncake nodded, peeking at the leaves. "I don't think my mama would mind if it wasn't the traditional sort of tea though. Maybe she might even like trying a new tea?"
His wings buzzed anxiously as he peeked up at Latte. "You've tried more teas than i have, I'm sure. What kind of tea do you think would be good?"
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Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:58 pm
Latte nodded, and then peered up at the generous shelves of tea and coffee she kept in the back of the shop. Oh boy. This was suddenly much more difficult.
"Well... what does your mama like? Or what would you like to try? We can pick a few and try them out... hmm," the mare reasoned, "We have some blooming tea, but that's best for a clear pot. There's fruity kinds, herbal kinds, even some spicy kinds and assuredly very tea-y kinds. Where would you like to start?"
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Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2013 5:11 pm
"Oh. Um..." He stared in awe at the shelves and the plethora of choices upon them. He wasn't really sure what his mama would like. "I'm not sure. Everybody likes sweet things right? Or if you have something with a smoky flavor that would be nice."
Mooncake stared up at the teas, curious about the blooming ones. "That sounds beautiful... What's your favorite?"
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Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2013 5:25 pm
Smoky tea? Smoky tea...
Latte's eyes searched her collection for a good example and then rested upon a small jar high in one corner. She drew a step-stool from underneath the nearby shelving and climbed to retrieve it. She placed the jar safely on the counter top, and then returned to pull down one more.
"This is actually smoked tea... well, to an extent," the mare admitted, opening the jar and wafting the piney, smoky scent of exotic tea toward him. "and this is what they call "halo," or at least at the teamakers I got it from do."
In a small glass jar sat a dozen little green balls, also pine-like, but apparently tied together with string.
"This is a white tea, with jasmine and amaranth, annnd..." Guiltily, she had to check the label. These were luxurious teas, and not ones she could really offer in the main shop! Indeed, she only really had enough to satisfy her own plain-tea desires.
"Peach, and blueberry. It's not too fruity, though, and its bloom is beautiful. It's got a little string of pretty pink flowers that floats all the way to the top, and a little red-and-white flower right in the middle of all this green stuff."
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Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 10:03 pm
The little colt watched as the older mare retrieved the teas, concerned for a moment that she may fall. As teas were brought over he sniffed at the loose leaf teas, closing his eyes as he enjoyed the scents.
"These all smell delicious." He giggled, growing excited. "Halo? Jasmine, Amaranth..." He repeated her words under his breath, making a mental note. "That sounds beautiful."
He cleared his throat, wings aflutter as he watched Latte explain. "Do... Do you think that i could maybe come in a help you out in the shop? Since I'm inconveniencing you it's the least i can do. Maybe you can teach me some more about drinks too."
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