Today’s happiness is brought to you by a trip downtown with my sister for a “Cosy Fall Drinks” tea class at Silk Road Tea in Chinatown. Silk Road is one of those Victoria-only shops that I wished I could pick up and carry with me to Windsor when I moved, so visiting it while I was in town was a must… and a fun afternoon tea class gave us the perfect excuse!
We started with a palate-cleansing mulberry tea, which we drank while perusing a card containing a series of tea-related recipe ideas.
![Tea tasting workshop at #silkroad in #victoria #yyj](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3956/15506558996_155008dc76.jpg)
Our first blended drinks were a pair of tea lattes prepared with vanilla soymilk, one made with Imperial Earl Grey and the other with Express Chai. Yummy!
![Tea tasting workshop at #silkroad in #victoria #yyj](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5613/15344252127_1d3389141a.jpg)
Following our lattes we sampled a tea cider made with hot apple juice and (I think) Herbal Chai, then hot chocolate blended with Angelwater Herbal Tea.
I was tickled to see this wall hanging with a sentiment that accords with my own tea-related approach to not-so-happy days.
![At #silkroad in #victoria #yyj](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5608/15506574456_424dbf363f.jpg)
After a little shopping at Silk Road (in which I picked up my own tin of Snow Apple Spice Black Tea to bring home with me) we headed around the corner to Fan Tan Trading, a fun and quirky shop that’s long been one of my favourite Chinatown destinations.
![Fan Tan Trading, Chinatown #victoria #yyj](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3951/14909684654_8b2cebc4d4.jpg)
I’m guessing that this tableau tucked away in a corner of the shop is a tribute to Chinatown’s gambling history (but don’t quote me on that, as I’m not 100% sure!).
![Fan Tan Trading, Chinatown #victoria #yyj](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3930/15344287127_b95a2c17e6.jpg)
Even though cold weather is on its way, I bought a pretty (and fragrant) sandalwood fan in anticipation of next summer’s warm outdoor events.
![Sandalwood fan from Chinatown.](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3928/15531672212_03f072620f.jpg)
It was another happy day!
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