LEAVES OF PRESENCE
Tea sommelier takes herbal beverages to the next level
BY JARRET KEENE

Only recently had we heard of the existence of a Las Vegas tea sommelier in a hotel spa on the Strip, where fancy hot beverages are served to pampered guests. For those wishing to sample teas without paying hundreds of dollars for lavish spa treatments, however, there simply was no opportunity to learn from a specialist. That is, until Hektor Esparza joined Rainbow’s End as the downtown café’s new tea sommelier late last year.

Many Las Vegans may recognize Esparza’s name. He has written and served as editor for several local publications, including Las Vegas CityLife and Food & Beverage. Currently he works as the Director of the Skateboarding Program at Winchester Cultural Center, and as the Tea Sommelier for Rainbow’s End Vegetarian Café & Tea Lounge on Sahara Avenue just west of Maryland Parkway. There, Esparza has assembled a tea menu for all occasions and palates, from Gunpowder Green ($2.95 per cup, $6.95 per pot) to Mayan Cocoa Spice ($1.95 per cup, $5.95 per pot) — and everything and anything in between.

“A great cup of tea is a kind of mood elevator,” Esparza confirms. “Tea is a spiritual comfort food, a ritual, an event. It’s a way of putting your life on pause and telling the world, ‘Hey, I’m going to chill now with a cup of tea.’”

In order to chill properly, though, your tea should be served hot — not scorching. 

“With tea, the range of flavors is vast and subtle,” says Esparza. “Don’t over-brew it. When you scald a white tea, you absolutely ruin it.”

For a medium kick of caffeine, we very much enjoyed Genmaicha (a green tea combined with roasted brown rice), which Esparza recommends as an after-breakfast tea. Genmaicha offers a cleansing flavor with a hearty finish that makes you feel like you’re ready to shovel snow on a cold winter day. For a stronger jolt, Gunpowder Green will put lead in your bullets and, at least for us, seemed just as powerful as a shot of espresso. On the milder, white tea side of the spectrum, we also recommend the White Plum (blended with organic strawberry leaf and Bulgarian rose petal) and Red Lavender, a tea guaranteed to raise your spirits and make you feel good in general. 

Of course, tea isn’t the only reason to visit Rainbow’s End. The food is scrumptious, too, and desserts can be paired with hot beverages for a tasty treat. For instance, Esparza suggests a pot of Earl Grey with a piece of Vegan Chocolate Cake, or maybe a cup of Mayan Cocoa Spice with a slice of Vegan Carrot Cake. Rainbow’s End is also a great place to grab lunch, and specials include Vegan Raw Tacos (red cabbage, stuffed avocado and sprouts, drizzled with olive oil, $6.95) and the Green Goddess (a pita laden with avocado, cucumber, tomato, grated carrots and beets, mushrooms, onions, eggless mayo and cheese, $7.49). We haven’t yet tried the Veggie Lasagna (made with Rennetless cheese and red sauce, $7.95), but we spotted the item on another diner’s plate and almost snatched it for ourselves. (However, please be aware that during the weekend Rainbow’s End offers a more limited lunch menu.)

But back to the heavenly tea: Esparza continues to expand the menu, and he offers blends and infusions for people looking to get rid of muscle tension or just plain feel better. 

“There is no doubt that tea possesses magical properties,” he insists. “These are potions we’re creating here, and we want to share them.”

Rainbow’s End Vegetarian Café & Tea Lounge is located at 1100 E. Sahara Ave., Suite 120. For more information, call (702) 737-1338.