The Boulder Dushanbe Tea House

If you are visiting Boulder, CO spend an afternoon at the Dushanbe Tea House. Located in downtown Boulder, overlooking the majestic Flatirons, this ornate teahouse was gifted to Boulder by its sister city, Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. Shankar (my husband) and I stopped by for lunch after a long walk through scenic Boulder Creek trail that put us directly outside the restaurant.

The teahouse, shimmered in the afternoon sun, highlighting the intricate Persian patters in shades of blue and pink embedded in the ceramic tiles lining the exterior walls. We approached the entrance walking through an elaborate rose garden, reflective of traditional Tajik and Persian culture. Inside, the teahouse resembled a jewelry box: hand-carved cedar columns supporting a regal multi-paneled ceiling carved and painted with details traditional to Persian Art; the walls were covered with the hand-painted ceramic tiles, placed carefully revealing larger patterns that flowed from one wall to the next.

After a short 15-minute wait, our hostess guided us to our table on their creek side veranda, a perfect vantage point to admire the exquisite architecture and design of the teahouse while listening to the soothing sounds of Boulder Creek. Our waitress had a casual, congenial style offering us an extensive wine and cocktail list with some non-alcoholic options which included a hibiscus tea cooler and an Arnold Palmer style tea lemonade.

I ordered the White Peach Sangria and Shankar chose the Rainforest Downpour. The sangria, a smooth blend of freshly brewed, mellow white peach tea topped with white wine offered the perfect balance of tart and sweet with a mild peach flavor. Shankar's cocktail was a tropical blend of mango mate energizer, a wonderful tea with hints of mango, rooibos and ginseng, paired with dark rum, lemonade, and pineapple juice.

The lunch menu was eclectic with a global ethnic slant, while highlighting locally sourced ingredients wherever possible. Appetizers took you on a journey through the Middle East, Spain, and Southeast Asia with selections like traditional hummus plate with fresh vegetables, olives and house made naan, Spanish shrimp and Andouille sausage crostini, and cold Houjicha tea soba noodles with roasted pork or tofu, wilted greens and pickled radish, to name a few. We shared a plate of Indian samosas: two pieces of crisp, fried, pastry encasing a filling of cumin scented potatoes, peas and onions, with a cooling minty cucumber yogurt raita and a sweet and sour mango chutney on the side.

The global influences continued with entrees from Morocco, Far East, Africa and Latin America. Shankar ordered a Tajik Shashlik, a Persian offering with skewers of tender lamb kebab, peppers, and onions marinated in mint, oregano and vinegar, served over a fluffy pilaf of dried fruit adding just enough sweetness to compliment the acidity from the meat.

My entrée was Mexican Tinga Poblano, a dish of braised pork shoulder swimming in a smoky poblano pepper jus, with a side of locally farmed purple potato hash, fresh cabbage slaw, queso fresco and tortilla. The pork was buttery tender and the fresh cabbage slaw cut through the fattiness with refreshing ease. The tortilla tasted like fresh sweet corn kernels ground into flat bread, complimenting the smoky jus and the silkiness of the queso fresco.

After that wonderfully satisfying lunch it was time for a cup of tea. The extensive tea menu featured a variety of white, green, oolong, and black teas sourced from China, Japan, and India. We ordered a pot of organic Houjicha tea, a Japanese green tea, perfect to enjoy after a meal given its mild flavor and low caffeine. The waitress brought out our pot with an old fashioned sand timer, instructing us to remove the tea basket in about two minutes, highlighting the ceremonial aspect of drinking tea. The tea, pale pink with the scent of toasted caramel, had a rose-like floral flavor, with hints of cocoa and hazelnuts.

We took our time sipping the delicate tea taking advantage of the unhurried service, enjoying the sounds of nature and soaking in the afternoon sun, planning what we would sample the next time we visit Dushanbe Teahouse, which I am sure will be very soon!