the new tea experience.

A decade ago, coffee shops were the new up-and-coming thing. Thanks to Starbucks, a Venti Caramel Macchiato to go was all we needed to appear cosmopolitan and en vogue when strolling down the streets. Experts and trendsetters quickly discovered that combining this with a super stressed-out facial expression was the key to looking like the next Mary-Kate Olsen.

But- as we all know, trends come and go. What's hot in one second is cold in the next. And while there is probably not a single neighborhood in Berlin which does not boast a Caras, Balzac, Starbucks or other kind of coffee shop, a new type of establishment is already gaining ground. Why? Because this decade is all about healthy living!

CHAJA - 1st TEA to go recently opened its gates on Oranienburger Straße 27. Located right in the city center, where the streets are always bustling with tourists and locals alike, the CHAJA shop invites you to step inside and revive both body and soul. Forget that lunchtime caffeine-fix and opt for a Bubble-Tea, Matcha Latte or one of the delicious snacks instead. Discover tea in all of its facets, "hot or cold, pure or perfumed, with milk or without - here you'll find the very best teas for every time of day, every mood, and every taste".

Since its official opening on December 6th, CHAJA has been offering a grand opening special: 0,4L Chai Latte for €2,00. Better drop by soon until the offer expires ;)

getting ink done

Have you ever considered getting a tattoo, perhaps during your 'rebellious teenage years'? A surprisingly large amount of people actually answers that question with 'yes', while the number of people that end up pulling through with it is considerably lower.

There's numerous reasons against getting a tattoo, the most convincing ones probably being the fact that finding employment proves to be more difficult and that... well... once you've got a tattoo, you've got it for a lifetime!

Wait- not neccesarily! A new trend emerging from (guess where...) the United States is the UV tattoo. UV tattoos are done in a special flourescent ink (colors range from titanium white to hot pink) and can only be seen under blacklight. While they've been around for the past 15 years, UV tattoos seem to be becoming more and more popular these days. They're easy to conceal during daytime and a great conversation-starter for nights out clubbing.

Negative aspects include heightened risks for allergic reactions and the fact thatUV tattoos are usually about 20% more expensive than the regular job. Decide for yourself and see below for some examples.

Ps. No worries, I myself am not planning to get ink done anytime soon ;)