Teahouse of the April Moon

Tea for two? As it usually does, it's taken awhile for a trend to reach the heartland, but in the past few weeks not one but two specialty tea parlors have opened up around the area. Elixir Tea Bar, between Little Saigon and Einstein's at the northeast corner of Euclid and Laclede avenues, sells specialty blends, herbal tonics and other tea drinks, as well as bulk tea, and serves sushi daily for lunch and for dinner on weekends. And over in the Loop area, St. Louis Bubble Tea has opened its doors at 6677 Delmar Blvd. The signature offering is a tapioca-enhanced tea that requires the drinker to suck gelatinous balls, also known as boba, through a wide-gauge straw. Hey, the description of eating an oyster doesn't sound terribly pleasant, either, but in both cases, the end result has certain rewards.