Tea Leaves, Istanbul no 2, Erbil, Iraq

 

My first full day in Erbil and we headed to Tea Leaves Cafe.

My friends are making sure I get all kinds of tea experiences while in Kurdistan.  They had a different tea place planed every day.  This was the most western of the tea places I visited.

The tea shop was in a building on the 2nd or 3rd floor.  It was super cute.

There was a beautiful park across the street.  I enjoyed watching people coming and going as we drank tea.

It was very pretty and airy in the cafe.  The cafe also had games there.  There were serval tables that were playing games at their tables.

Here is the menu.

4000 is around $2.50 

1500 ID or Denarii = $1

3000 Denarii = $2

4500 Denarii = $3

Istanbul No2- Black tea, bergamot oil, lavender, and hibiscus flower

This is our table; we sat on the floor.  I decided I wanted the view, but did not realize how uncomfortable to floor would be, lol.  I did a lot of shifting.  It is hard on the knees.

My pot of tea was around $2.50.  That is a great price.

The teapot is cute, the cup is under the pot.

You can see in the photo of the right that the one cup across the table from me is served in a cone.  It sits in a base because it is pointed on the bottom.

How cute is the sugar container??  

Istanbul No2 reminds me of Earl Grey with tart floral notes.  The tea was black with bergamot and lavender, but with the addition of hibiscus- adding the tarter floral notes. 

I give the tea 4 teacups out of 5.  The flavor was good, the prices were great, and the cafe was clean.  The 4 is because the tea sits in the teapot and over steeps.  The first cup was great, but the second was over steeped and bitter.

We enjoyed our time at Tea Leaves.  It was a really cute place.  

The napkins were in the tissue box.  And on the box was a call button.  If we needed something or when we were ready to pay, we just clicked on the button.

The view!!  Wow!  I just love the view.

Tea Leaves, not only sells tea, but sweet treats too.

Just beautiful, my first Erbil sunset!

Walking to the car, we saw this cute donut shop.  I enjoyed that some of the stores had their Christmas decor up.

1 Peter 4:10-11, ESV
10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.