Day 8, Stockholm, January 17th 2012

Tea 8: Korean Seju OP, from Himalaya tea and coffee house, Hötorgshallen, Stockholm.

Today was my first proper day in Stockholm, I awoke to a misty, heavy sky threatening snow. However this didn’t happen and I successfully managed to wander to the Metro station without slipping on the ice or getting lost.  Although I did almost walk straight past the entrance to the Metro.  I took the train into Stockholm Central and entered the city from there.  I wandered fairly aimlessly for most of the day, starting off, accidently, towards Gamla Stan (Old Town). The streets were cobbled, the buildings various shades of yellow and orange, I felt that if the weather were warm and sunny it could easily be mistaken for some mediterranean town. I looked into the windows of a number of tempting chocolate shops and came up with a plan of attack for tomorrow and continued my wandering.  My plan for the day had been to visit Hötorgshallen, the old food market, but had managed to turn in the wrong direction after leaving the station, so I headed back Northwards after making it out the other side of Gamla Stan and walking along the edge of the water, past Stockholm palace and through the shopping district.

 I eventually made it to the Hötorgshallen and wandered around inside.  It reminded me strongly of a Singaporean Hawker Centre mixed with open fresh food market.  In the basement tucked on a corner was Himalaya, a promising looking tea house / emporium, with a friendly and smiling assistant.  I spoke to her about the wall of teas and eventually we picked out Korena Seju OP.  This is by far the most perfectly served tea I have had on my trip, she advised me to leave the tea-bag in for just 1 and a half minutes and once it was brewed and I took my first tentative sip I instantly knew she had made it perfect.  The water temperature was spot on, the leaves had not been burned and neither had my tongue!  The tea was delicate and smooth, ever so slightly creamy and very moreish, I drunk it down much too quickly, but it was simply perfect.

After some more meandering through the market and in the shopping district I continued north at ended up at the Observatory Museum (Observatoriemuseet), I wandered up the icey slope and took in good views of the city, it seems much larger than Copenhagen and definitely different in many ways.  After a rest I decided to give in to the hunger pangs in my stomach and grabbed a small snack before heading for Hermans.  This is a vegetarian all-you-can eat buffet and had been recommended by a number of friends and tourist guides.  One problem was it was all the way back past Gamla Stan and next to two of the major ferry/cruise ports.  But i was determined.

After making it back past Gamla Stan with a short comfort break that cost me the princely sum of 10Krone, something I very much resented! I climbed the long staircase up to Renstiemas gata, where I was greeted with a fabulous view of the city that blew the view from the observatory hill out of the water (image below).  I walked past the little boutique shops and cafes and got lost again, but eventually found my way to Hermans, yes, I had to double back on myself, but I made it with 15minutes to spare on their lunchtime deal.  I ate veggie chili with salad and beetroot and excellent fresh bread and followed it up with a Pesto Lasagne,  more salad and a helping of a great marinated Pak Choi.  I spent the time eating and daydreaming and watching the sky gently turn from light to dark and the twinkling lights of the city slowly begin to glimmer.

Related articles

• Three Days in Stockholm (jamesobrien.id.au)
• Stockholm:Eat (newyorkergoesnative.com)