Teahouses across Canada are offering a unique tea scent in honour of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, which is celebrated in Canada each December.
Tea candles in the provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta, and in British Columbia, are offering tea scented candles, with a mix of traditional Chinese and American ingredients.
In Saskatchewan, one of the provinces with the highest number of hate crimes, a tea shop in the downtown Saskatoon neighbourhood of the city, which serves tea to many residents, has started to offer its tea candle scent.
“We’re just really trying to give people a different, a unique experience that they might not get from other places,” said owner Michelle Leggett.
“It’s an opportunity to be able to have something in your home that’s a little different and not just a standard candle, it’s a tea candle, you know.”
The scent is a blend of white ginger, musk and tea tree resin.
The tea candle is made by a company called Black Tea Craft in the U.S. and is available in a variety of sizes.
A number of similar candle designs are being sold online, including one for $9.99 on Amazon.com.
Leggett said she has been offering tea candles for a couple of years, and she’s never seen it be this popular.
“I think that’s because people like tea, they like it different, it makes them feel a little more comfortable, it feels like they’re getting something that’s their own, a different experience,” she said.
Lefford said it’s important to remember that hate crimes are not the only things people are worried about.
“We don’t want to see people go to another store and pick up a different scent,” she added.
