Tea Time


    If you’re looking for a drink that’s as good for you as mother’s milk—but deliciously spiced and infused with the exotic flavors of Africa and Asia—try the rooibos chai at Julie’s Coffee & Tea Garden. Rooibos, which translates as “red bush,” comes from South Africa, where it has been popular for its health benefits for years. “They give it to babies to drink,” says Julie’s eponymous owner, Julie Baron.
    Baron knows a lot about tea—especially the blend of Taylor Maid Farms rooibos chai she brews, serves and sells loose. Taylor Maid is based in Sebastopol, and Baron used to live and grow herbs in nearby Occidental. She teamed up with Taylor Maid when it decided to add a tea line to its coffee line.
    When apartheid ended in South Africa and trade sanctions were lifted, Baron started hearing about rooibos. After tasting it and seeing how well the black tea with a hint of vanilla takes cream and sugar, she added it to the Taylor Maid selection. She transformed it into chai with the addition of three delectable Asian spices (ginger, cinnamon and cardamom) that, same as the rooibos, are good for digestion.
    When Baron followed a love interest (her husband) from Occidental to the Bay Area, she decided to open her own place, and so Julie’s Coffee & Tea Garden was launched in January 2005—serving rooibos chai hot or cold.
    Julie’s Coffee & Tea Garden, 1223 Park St. Open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday; 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. (510) 865-2385, www.juliestea.com.
—Wanda Hennig