Today Is Officially the Year of the Monkey: We'll Sip to That

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Today is the start of Chinese New Year, and it's the Year of the Monkey. (Find out if you're a monkey.) We thought it would be fun to share a couple of local products to help you celebrate at home. But of course, we highly recommend heading to the always spectacular SF Chinese New Year Parade, set for Saturday, February 20th.

First up: Meet Rosali Tea, a subscription-based service (starting at $14.95) that features hand-selected tea blends from around the globe—€”including the far reaches of China. Rosali condenses the vast world of teas into an easily attainable experience, with a focus on quality, convenience and discovery. You'll get different whole-leaf exotic teas from various cultures sent to you each month.

And while you're lounging with your cuppa tea, why not light up a scented candle from 676 Candles Co.? These soy vegan candles are individually handcrafted in a wide array of aromas. To celebrate the Lunar New Year, we recommend Brul, a fresh, natural and light fragrance with green tea and lemongrass. Go ahead, take a deep breath and relax.

Photo: Vincent Trinh, Lion's Heart, 2015.

P.S. We'd be remiss if we didn't share this, too: Legion, one of our favorite boutiques that relocated to Chinatown not long ago, is kicking off its new photography exhibit How Now Chinatown: Seven Photographers on Friday, February 12th.^. The opening reception takes place from 5pm to 8pm. Featuring the works of California-based photographers, it showcases images of SF's Chinatown from the 1940s through today. The show runs through March 25th. Legion is located at 678 Commercial Street.