While many Americans still can’t do without their morning coffee, enjoying a cup of tea is gaining in popularity. Healthy and soothing, served hot or cold, the flavors and types of teas available are nearly endless.
In fact, “tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world next to water, and can be found in 80 percent of all U.S. households” according to the Tea Council, adding that “on any given day, over 158 million Americans are drinking tea.”
It’s no wonder then there are so many cool little tea shops across the country. We’ve found 20 of the most noteworthy that have opened within the last 10 years where you can grab a fabulous cup of tea.
Townshend’s Tea Company, Portland
Loose leaf tea is Townshend’s specialty, but they’ll also whip up a mean bubble tea that includes healthy fruit and tapioca pearls. This store, which opened in 2008, is focused on being more sustainable, running its kombucha brewery (did we mention they make their own kombucha?) on wind energy and recycling and composting cups and tea leaves.
Te Company, New York
Like oolong tea? Te is the place to go! Founded by Federico (a native of Portugal) and Elena (a native of Taiwan), the team is often in that latter country searching for the best ingredients to make the memorable oolong tea that has kept customers coming back for more since 2012. Hungry? The shop also serves food.
DAVIDsTEA, Chicago
What started as one tea shop has evolved to a mega online store where tea lovers nationwide can order teas and accessories. David Segal, the founder of DAVIDsTEA, started the establishment in Canada back in 2008 and eventually expanded to major US cities including Chi-Town.
Zhi Tea, Austin
Calling themselves “a few die-hard tea freaks, lovers of fine foods, stewards of sustainable agriculture, and passionately dedicated to the human experience,” founder Jeffrey Lorien and Candice Oneida founded Zhi Tea in 2006. This shop also favors oolong tea, but its expansive menu includes nearly every type of tea imaginable, from iced to herbal to green and everything in between.
Tea Drunk, New York
Have a taste for Chinese tea? So does Tea Drunk, an establishment that’s enchanted New Yorkers since opening its doors in 2012. When store owner Shunan Teng, a Chinese native, moved to New York, he couldn’t find any tea shops he liked that made Chinese brews. He decided to create his own, and the rest is history. With classes and tastings, you too can become Tea Drunk.
Crown & Crumpet Tea Stop Cafe, San Francisco
Step back in time when visiting Crown & Crumpet Tea Stop Cafe, modeled on English teahouses of yesteryear. Amy and Christopher Dean, the founders, established the shop in 2008. With such a gorgeous space to serve tea and other treats, it’s no wonder San Franciscans enjoy scheduling parties here.
Teapigs, Brooklyn
Since 2006, Louise and Nick’s Teapigs store has grown beyond Brooklyn, allowing curious tea drinkers across the country to buy their brand of tea directly online. The store is certified by many green organizations, including the Forestry Stewardship Council and the Rainforest Alliance.
Cleveland Tea Revival, Cleveland
Want to learn how to make kombucha? Want to try organic herbal or oolong tea? Cleveland Tea Revival is the place to be. Founded in 2013, the store’s team has a laidback approach, saying they like to “hang out all day, talk about nothing and drink tea.” That’s the dream!
Tin Roof Teas, Raleigh, North Carolina
No matter what kind of loose tea you prefer, you can probably find it at Tin Roof Teas. The store, which opened its doors in 2009, boasts more than 250 types. A family-owned business, the shop also sells flavorful, locally-sourced honey.
Dobrá Tea, Portland
Ellen Kanner and Ray Marcotte opened their Dobrá Tea location in 2011. Their story is a little different from most, though. Dobrá Tea had been founded in Prague (dobrá means “good” in Czech), and already had three tearooms in the US, the Vermont store serving as inspiration to Kanner and Marcotte. Those international connections have allowed them to travel to Korea, Japan and China in search of the best tea ingredients.
Ippodo Tea, New York
Another tea shop with international flair is Ippodo Tea. One of its homes is in New York City, but the shop originated in Japan, where visitors can find teahouses in Tokyo and Kyoto. Its US location, established in 2013, specializes in green tea. Curious visitors should also sip mugicha, a type of barley tea or Iribancha, a Kyoto specialty.
Samovar Tea Lounge, San Francisco
Jesse Jacobs feels strongly about tea, and, after growing increasingly dissatisfied with his nine-to-five job, decided to begin anew with the goal of “helping people remember what it is to be human” through the comforts of tea. So Samovar Tea Lounge was born. Jacobs has since forged partnerships with tea farmers in Japan, India and China.
Bellocq Tea Atelier, Brooklyn
In trendy Greenpoint, Bellocq calls itself “an inconspicuous jewel box.” Many of the blends are assembled by hand, including its herbal and organic teas. Founders Michael Shannon and Heidi Johannsen Stewart say that “before Bellocq we were often traveling around the world, buying tea and sharing it with each other. This delightful habit became ritual and, along with a passionate appreciation of traditional artisan work, ignited the idea for a business.”
Savoy Tea Company, Fayetteville, Arkansas
As part of the Specialty Tea Institute of America, Savoy Tea Company is known for its quality. Tina Beyer, a certified tea sommelier, and her husband Bill Beyer, a certified tea blender and certified tea specialist, spent years honing their craft before opening their doors in 2014. Try tea from Argentina, South Africa, Sri Lanka and India here, and don’t forget to order online!
The Green Teahouse, West Hartford
A specialty shop for loose tea since 2009, The Green Teahouse is Connecticut’s introduction to Chinese tea. A family business run by two siblings, the shop also sells matcha, chai tea, oolong tea and premium blends.
Too Soul Tea Co., Reno
Get away from the glitz and glamor of Las Vegas and settle in for a nice cup of tea at Too Soul Tea Co. in Reno. The family-owned business fans started their shop in 2012, and by 2014 had gone online with their fresh teas and accessories. The store says it has a “simple mission: have a great welcoming space, share a world of wonderful teas and custom blends…and be a socially responsible member of the community.”
MonTea, Lexington
In Kentucky, MonTea implores customers to “loosen up your tea.” That’s because the store sells mostly loose tea leaves, enough to accumulate more than 50 variations of the stuff. Founders Miller and Danielle Montague founded the store after deciding Lexington needed a good teahouse. Their vast roster of teas is available online.
The Hatter Tea Co., Austin
The Hatter Tea Co. is more than just a teahouse. It’s also Rachel Khorzad’s tea party business. Khorzad is experienced in event planning, having worked in catering, and at bakeries and restaurants before establishing the tea shop in 2013. The staff travels throughout Austin for all kinds of events. They’ll even take care of the flowers, lighting and linens.
Mad Monk Tea, San Diego
The Mad Monk Tea staff are always looking for quality teas, and take an annual spring sabbatical to travel the world to do just that. Their teas are better for consumers and the environment, since they are made free of pesticides and fertilizers. To brew the perfect cuppa, take a look at the Mad Monk’s informative how-to page on their website.
Sanctuary T, New York
In New York’s SoHo neighborhood, Sanctuary T serves cocktails and “artisanal tea blends” with both whole and loose leaf teas. Founded in 2007, the shop sells all of its teas—including chocolate honeybush, Phoenix jasmine pearls and English breakfast—online. Sanctuary T has been featured in The New York Times, Food & Wine Magazine and Martha Stewart Living.
Images by:
Noom Peerapong, Cole Hutson, Lucas Alexander, Shanice Garcia
