Jada Higgs' passion for and depth of knowledge on the subject of tea is remarkable. It makes perfect sense, naturally, that she serves as the director of tea at Passenger Coffee & Tea in Lancaster.
“I love being able to explore the different types of tea, and [I love] the elegance of it,” Higgs says. “Tea is very simple, but it’s also elegant, and the way in which it’s prepared can definitely transform the tea experience that you have. … It’s a lot of fun.”
When you think of Passenger, you may initially think of coffee or espresso. Since the café opened in 2014, they have spent a decade developing a reputation for serving up exceptional and thoughtful beverages—tea included.
Passenger sells approximately 30 tea varieties online and 15-20 in the shop at any given time, including a few in-store exclusives, Higgs says.
Currently, the most popular teas at Passenger include matcha, oolong and herbal.
Passenger serves matcha, a green tea, using a traditional preparation. The drink can be enjoyed hot or iced. Other local cafés, however, are experimenting with ways to serve matcha, including lattes and lemonades, according to Higgs.
“Green tea has the highest [levels of] antioxidants in it, so that is definitely one [variety] that has been researched for having a lot of health benefits,” Higgs says. “It has antioxidants, antimicrobials and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition to that, it has an amino acid called L-theanine, which helps to increase mental focus.”
Herbal teas also tend to be popular with Passenger’s customers who are either trying to cut back on caffeine or looking for possible wellness benefits from their beverages—or both.
“There is a lot of ongoing research … with a lot of herbals. They can definitely be high in vitamin C,” Higgs says. “They can help with nausea, specifically peppermint or any tea with ginger. And they can have anti-inflammatory properties. We specifically serve a ginger turmeric tea, and we know that turmeric helps with inflammation.”
Passenger has also seen a rise in the popularity of oolong tea.
“A lot of our customers are excited about our oolong offerings,” Higgs says. “With oolong tea being such a wide class of tea in its processing, tastes and aromas … no one is the same.
For those who tend to rely on coffee for a jolt of energy, tea can offer a boost without the jitters.
“The way that tea hits your body, it almost relaxes you—but sharpens your mind— instead of increasing your heart rate, which coffee can do," Higgs says. “So for people who kind of want to ease into the day and focus their mind more, they may go toward tea instead of coffee.”
And no matter the amount of time that you are able to dedicate to your tea ritual, Higgs—or one of the baristas at Passenger—can offer a method that fits your lifestyle.
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Higgs recommends tea bags for those who are short on time.
“If you just want to go about your day, if you don’t have time, put your loose-leaf tea in a tea bag and go,” she advises.
For home brewing, Higgs mentions a stump teapot, “a teapot that is typically made out of ceramic, and it has a strainer basket inside already.” She says she personally uses that at home “because I can brew my tea, and I know it’s safe and out of the way.”
For those who are visiting Passenger in person or are willing to dedicate a bit more time, Higgs suggests the gaiwan.
“A gaiwan is the traditional Chinese method of serving tea,” she says. “There are shorter infusions [of the tea in hot water], very quick 15 to 20 seconds, and then you increase the time. That allows you to fully open up the tea. You cannot brew tea in this method and walk away.”
Higgs continues, “It’s very intentional. It causes you to slow down. All of your senses are involved when you brew with a gaiwan, and that’s one of the things that I think makes Passenger special. ... It’s just a beautiful brewing vessel.”
No matter which variety of tea Passenger’s customers choose to enjoy, Higgs encourages them to “take a chance” and “be willing to explore.”
“No tea is the same,” she says. “Not only can they vary in flavor, but they also have aromatic qualities to them that can be out of this world. So just slowing down and getting the full experience of the tea is something that is so special.”
Passenger Coffee & Tea Showroom | 7 W King St Lancaster, PA | passengercoffee.com | @passengercoffee
