Siplicious: From Leaf to Love
Prairies to Badlands: Locally Grown Stories
Stories Rooted in Community & Event Partnership
Handpicked teas, warm welcomes, and stories best told over a second cup.
Location: Linden, Alberta | Logged by: The Gallivanting Gals
When I think of tea, I don’t just think of leaves in hot water—I tumble straight back into the 80s. Twirly dresses. Hair tied with ribbons. Hats so fancy they felt like they belonged at Buckingham Palace. My sister and I would help Mom set the table with the “good” china—my grandmother’s delicate floral teacups, which now live happily in my own cabinet.
Friends from down the street would march over, either in their fanciest dress-up treasures or ready to raid our overflowing costume box. Mom would steep herbal blends, the steam curling into the air while trays of cookies and her famous blueberry teacake sat waiting, almost smug, for their grand entrance. We’d sip, we’d giggle, and we’d feel terribly grown-up. Every teaspoon of sugar was its own little sprinkle of magic.
That same magic is exactly what Darla has bottled with Siplicious Tea. Since 2015, she’s been about more than just selling tea—she’s been about connection. Slowing down. Really seeing each other over a cup that invites conversation.
Her love for tea started early, but it grew roots in places like Nilgris Tea House in Three Hills and at Murchie’s in Victoria. It blossomed into full-blown expertise when she attended the World Tea Expo, where she learned from growers, chased down the newest trends, and discovered blends that now fill kitchens across Alberta.
Ask her favourite and she’ll smile: Milk Oolong. Creamy. Buttery. A whisper of orchid. “Fit for a queen,” she says—and she’s right. But Darla doesn’t believe in tea snobbery. Tea, in her world, is about people. About that sturdy English breakfast in a cozy Airbnb, or the joy of watching a child order their very first cup with a grin.
At the farmers’ markets, she’s known as the tea lady. Always ready with a cheeky sample, a brewing tip, or the invitation to taste and decide for yourself. She has fun with it too—this fall, look for playful blends like Fall Fair (yes, popcorn included) and Apple Pie.
And even while she’s working on her fourth-level Tea Sommelier certification, she’s still just Darla: the friend who’ll pour you a cup, pat the chair next to her, and ask how you’ve been.
Siplicious isn’t just a tea shop. It’s a reminder to pause. To savour. To laugh. To connect.
And while this stop on the Prairies to Badlands Dinner Series has already sold out, the Siplicious spirit is something you can bring into your own kitchen. Because whether it’s a backyard gathering or a solo tea break, every cup is a chance to taste the prairies’ welcome and the badlands’ beauty.
Until next time—keep your teacups full, your pinkies out, and your hats so delightfully over-the-top they deserve an encore.
The Gallivanting Gals
About Siplicious
Siplicious is a boutique loose-leaf tea shop located in Linden, Alberta, offering a curated collection of premium teas, signature blends, and specialty teaware. Founded by tea enthusiast Darla Baerg, the shop blends small-town warmth with world-class taste, inviting visitors to sip, explore, and connect. In addition to its diverse tea selection, Siplicious features locally made gifts, artisan products, and seasonal specialties. Learn more at siplicious.com.