When this place opened a few years ago, I was very excited. It was not only a full service tea shop, selling what looked like 100 or so varieties of loose leaf tea (and teaware, cups, pots, etc.), but a restaurant/bistro, serving creative soups, salads, wraps, sandwiches, etc., and high tea service. After a year or so, the shop stopped being a full service restaurant but continued to do a monthly themed high tea service and occasional tasting events. Then, perhaps a year ago, the company cut back once again on its service. Now, the dining tables are gone, and it is simply a tea store selling loose leaf teas and teaware/accessories. When you purchase loose tea, you can purchase as little as 50 grams, even of the most expensive “Edmon’s” varieties, and the salespeople will often give you a free sample of your choice. You can also get a cup of hot or iced tea to go. I wasn’t happy about the changes, but given that this store is in a mall that does not have a lot of foot traffic, I suppose they were inevitable. Service here is always polite and friendly, nothing like the pushy hard sell one receives at Teavana. I give this shop four stars because of the quality of the tea and the helpful salespeople.
My favorite TeaGschwendner teas include:
-Arabian Nights
-Sumatra Oolong Barisan
-O’Connor’s Cream
