Potential customers walked in, looked at the menu in horror and then fled while we sat and enjoyed the tea at Pekoe Tea. The pair – let’s use the phrase “Morningside Ladies” to describe them – probably fled for the very reason this blogger and partner had made the trek from Leith to visit Pekoe Tea. The tea here is not your typical supermarket brown.
A great way to suss out Pekoe Tea before visiting the shop is to visit their website. In fact, in many ways Pekoe Tea is a web business before it’s a bricks and mortar business. The website, a good looking professional job, gives them scale and reach. Teas include £10 samples of “Rohini First Flush Darjeeling Tea – An exquisite example of Darjeeling First Flush tea of the highest grade from the Rohini Estate – a small family run garden”. Of course, there are cheaper alternatives too.
Another great thing about Pekoe Tea is that they are an ethical family business. You can drink their teas knowing they have been sourced fairly. The chances are the tea has come from another small, probably another family, business too.
So, what about their shop in Leven Street in Edinburgh?
It’s lovely – but it’s very small. Bring a handful of friends and you’ll overflow all the small tables. I wouldn’t just pop into Pekoe Tea with the expectation you’ll get a seat but I wouldn’t let that dissuade anyone from trying.
One of the nice touches about the store is that it does provide tea samples. If you’re not a fan of browsing online then you browse offline.
The service in the shop is impeccable. It is it a little touch but I was a fan of the coloured egg timers that come with your tea. You’re told how long you’ll need to wait and watch your tea brew. You can come to Pekoe Tea to learn how to make your ethically sourced and rare tea.
A super bonus – wi-fi. This means you can sit, sip your tea and catch up with the web. Whereas wi-fi is a must for this blogger, it makes such a difference, I’m also aware it encourages customers to sit, sip their tea and catch up on the web. This isn’t the ideal profit model for the small shop. I imagine they’d prefer people to drink quickly and then get out, freeing up space for someone else. The tea is too good to feel too much guilt though and I look forward to coming back.