Chai Mixology @ Whisk with Smalls Tea and Coffee

This was my first Missouri made event and I was excited as I really hadn’t spent much time in this area of STL before.
Whisk has a great location in a corner store on Cherokee. Great for letting all the natural light in and to be able to take in the rest of the street from inside.
I grabbed a water and a cookie and sat down to enjoy it, my dinner for the eve, and take in my surroundings. A cute shop with a hodgepodge of different artwork on the walls that you have to look at, it’s all so intriguing.
It was to be a tea kind of night and I was ready to learn more about the secrets of chai as we dove in head first.
Lisa w/​Smalls Tea (The Retrailer) provided us a unique insight of how she creates the perfect chai tea with fresh ginger to boot. A fresh, spicy, non-​caffeinated tea that is perfect for any time of day, yum!
We then went to the kitchen where The owners of Whisk showed us a brand-​spanking new recipe using Lisa’s «Don’t Chai Know» that we had just sampled in the first half of this event. The popsicles were super easy to make all it really took was a little love and Bam! Instant classic for reals! A perfectly creamy pop for those hot summer days.
We learned all about how Whisk and Smalls got started. It was a great night of learning and experiencing something new all around.
Furthermore, I visited the tower grove farmer’s market for the first time that following Saturday and sampled another popsicle, raspberry rhubarb, it was soo great! Then stopped by Lisa’s Retrailer and found that it is super cute and a great way to help sell her yummy teas.

Best chai tea I’ve ever had

There are so many Missouri Made Events this month. I am pleased that one of them was Chai Mixology. I drink at least a few cups of tea every day, but I know little about tea.
First it was off to the kitchen to observe the popsicle baking process. It’s been a couple of years since I antiqued on Cherokee Street, and now I hope to return soon to visit Whisk. I liked the chai popsicle, and I was kind of surprised that I did. I’m not a huge chai person, or at least I didn’t think I was until after this event.
Then it was off to the tea making demonstration. Lisa passed around jars of tea and herbs as she explained the benefits of using each. Then she told us about brewing the teas. She explained that it is much better for tea to brew in an open container vs. in a tea bag or some other small space; you get a much tastier tea. After trying her tea — in real tea cups — her method has won me over. The «Don’t Chai Know» tea, so maybe I like chai more than I thought I did. Chai don’t know. I brought some home with me – enough for some 15 cups.
A big thank you to both Smalls Tea and Whisk for a tea-​riffic event! Also, thank you to Aaron for the event and for mug. I believe I will drink this tea in my Missouri Made mug. As usual, I enjoyed getting to know the Unilocalers present!

I am soo happy I got to attend this event and meet Lisa and Pete and Kaylen (did I completely mess up her name???).
Lisa’s chai («Don’t Chai Know») has definitely got me hooked and I can’t wait to try more of her concoctions. It was really cool to see (and smell) each individual ingredient and the process of making a delicious cup of tea, all while getting to know a little bit about Lisa’s background.
Whisk’s version of a chai popsicle was also quite addictive. I am planning on visiting their spot at the Tower Grove Farmer’s Market tomorrow so I can try more of their delicious creations. It was great talking to them and hearing a bit of how they got where they are today.
Thanks to Aaron B. for organizing this event! I really enjoyed the casual atmosphere and getting the chance to get a bit of a «behind-​the-​scenes» experience with these wonderful small business owners.
I definitely look forward to attending more Unilocal events.

This event was refreshing and welcoming. About 12 Unilocalers divided into two groups to learn about Whisk and Smalls Tea.
The creator of Smalls Tea (aka Retrailer Tea) was exuding bliss — apparently daily tea intake makes you glow. She was very well spoken each ingredient in her hand blended «don’t chai know» tea, how they are certified fair trade, selected, and exactly how it medicates your body. Her passion for tea was contagious… I was even okay with fresh ginger, whom I’ve been on the outs with, after sipping her blend. Like Lionel Richie, I wanted to medicate my body with tea «all night long».
Next, the creators of Whisk shared with us they’re delicious popsicles, oh and any thing that you wanted to know about their business start-​up and practices. I was blessed with an avocado popsicle. Made with lime juice, avocados, and a small amount off simple syrup it was so creamy.
Their popsicle flavors change with what’s fresh and in season. Their vegan chocolate chip cookie was pretty good. The couple that own Whisk were inspiring and the décor of the shop adorable.
If you know what’s good for you, hit up the Tower Grove farmers market for some tea. Get there before 11am if you want a popsicle… they sell out like a boy band.

I had a great time last night at Whisk. It was my first Unilocal event and certainly not the last.
There were two «demonstrations» last night. Aaron B split the 12 of us up in two group.
One of the demonstrations was presented by Lisa from Smalls Tea and was all about Chai Tea, its components and how its made. She also gave us some history about herself and her business.
The samples provided were amazing and enough to encourage me to visit her store. It was easy to pick up on her passion for tea.
The second demonstration was about how to make chai tea Popsicles back in the kitchen. These are surprisingly easy to make and super delicious. I can imagine they’d be even better on a hot day.
I am very glad I went and want to visit both these shops again on my own time.
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