I have been making the trip to Hanford from Fresno for years to have tea here. It is worth the 40 minute drive. They have dozens of loose leaf tea varieties, including their award-winning line of San Joaquin Valley tea blends. You’re free to examine and smell all of their teas (if you ask them), and we have not had a tea there yet that wasn’t delicious. They serve all of their teas iced as well, which is perfect since the central valley is usually far too hot for hot tea. I have never had hot tea there (I buy loose leaf tea and brew it myself during the winter), but the iced teas are wonderfully refreshing. They serve them sweetened or unsweetened, or you can sweeten your own, and they come in large to-go cups which they will gladly refill for you. I recommend the Imperial Coconut tea. It has a sweet, nutty coconut flavor that is excellent iced or hot and has a nice, light tropical taste.
They serve light fare, with much of their produced sourced from local farms. They have a standing menu with salads and sandwiches (the pagoda sandwich is our favorite) and a smaller menu that changes daily. The daily menu always has a fresh salad on it that it perfect for a light meal, especially if you are eating healthy. The restaurant is rather small, though, and can only seat a few people. They do to-go orders and tea if you don’t want to dine in.
Consider giving this little gem in Hanford’s historic China town a try if you find yourself nearby.
