The Kraken's Cup has been released with a limited menu to test the waters.
After months of construction and delays, the new tea house is open and seating customers in Fountain City at 4815 N. Broadway St. #107 located inside the courtyard to the right of Food City.
The Kraken's Cup is planning a grand opening for mid-January.
Owner Vallie Prince is excited to finally open the tea house she's worked toward for six years, where guests can make reservations or walk in, and tea time is not set – it's any time for anyone.
"I know a lot of people who are in the tea business and they've all given me great advice, but none of them do exactly the same thing. So it's just kind of taking everybody's advice and turning it into one business," Prince said.
Exploring the space at The Kraken's Cup
The Kraken's Cup is split in two.
On the left, the Adventurer's Library invokes a classic explorer feeling with low lighting, model ships and shelves of books perfect for examining ancient artifacts (or trying new teas). To deliver on the "Indiana Jones" vibes, a photograph from Fred Sorenson, who played the pilot Jock in "Raiders of the Lost Ark," will be on the wall as a gift from the professional pilot himself.
Sorenson's photo will be included with several photographs from travelers and archeologists Prince knows.
On the right, The Garden features brighter lighting and a little more whimsy. A Christmas tree in the corner will be replaced with a large oak tree surrounded by a fairy village made of tea pots.
There's a wall in between to make these two experiences feel completely different.
Prince plans to add a front patio once the weather warms up next year, including fencing with custom comic book panels telling the fictionalized story of The Kraken's Cup.
A sea of tea will flood the menu
Before the grand opening, The Kraken's Cup will serve a limited menu to give the staff time to adjust and ease Knoxville into this world of tea.
To start, seven tea drinks will be served, and Prince recommends:
-
Bwana Grey — an Earl Grey from Africa with notes of bergamot
-
Black Aarow — a black tea with flavors of Earl Grey, vanilla and cream along with raspberry pieces and red safflowers
Other drinks include chamomile, Sakura Sencha, chocolate cake tea, café latte and Minnesota N'ice Tea. Teas are $4-$7 or around $7 for a pot.
Small plates include the Power "T"ea scone and tea combo, a full sandwich on the Ploughman's Plate, the Garden Salad, and the Explorer's Stache, which comes with a manager's choice of tea and a cookie or a tea to-go. Prices range between $3.50 to $14.