Beans and Leaves in Staten Island , NY
3/5
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Fuzzy_Peachkin rated this place
3/5
and said Edit

This used to be The Coffee & Tea Market, but they re-opened as this. It’s a cute shop with a country theme that only slightly kitschy. There are lots of small tables with wooden chairs. The two wing-chairs by the window are VERY comfortable.

I went in for a iced chai on a hot day and got a frozen one instead. It was VERY good- not overly sweet and not too heavy on the cardamon. They also have a selection of loose leaf teas from just one company that I can’t remember off-hand (maybe Culinary Teas). You can buy the tea or you can get it in a cup. They are stored in glass jars toward the back wall, but still a lot of light gets to the tea. I don’t know how well they hold up under those conditions.

The staff is excellent- very friendly and warm. They made people’s drinks exactly to order and seemed to know the local’s orders off-hand. As with most coffee and tea shops, this place seems more geared toward coffee. It’s a nice place to sit with a cuppa, but considering the conditions the tea is stored under, I don’t think they really know that much about tea. It’s nice that they at least made a slightly better effort than most coffee shops to include slightly higher end teas though.

physical graffitea in New York, New York
4/5
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Fuzzy_Peachkin rated this place
4/5
and said Edit

I had a great experience at this shop. The lady behind the counter was very friendly. She had only been working there a couple of weeks so she wasn’t an expert on about all the teas, but she really loved teas and you could tell she was learning. She let me watch her make the green matcha latte with almond milk because I’d never had matcha before and had wanted to try it out. My friend had a Cinammon Plum Tisane which was tasty and we got to taste a ginger tea that was also great.

They have two kinds of matcha- green and white w/no flavors added. They have a huge selections of black, green, oolong, chai and white teas: both straight and flavored. They also had an amazing selections of herbal tisanes and medicinal teas.

The owner (who blends all the teas) popped her head in for a little while and seemed quite knowledgeable. She told me a little about matcha.

It’s a cosy place, like pretty much every store on St. Mark’s Place. My friend and I had the place to ourselves at the time we were there, so it was enjoyable. It would be a tight squeeze for more than 10 people.

Alice's Tea Cup, Chapter II in New York, New York
5/5
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Fuzzy_Peachkin rated this place
5/5
and said Edit

I was surprised at some of the reviews here on Steepster about the waitstaff being unfriendly. I have never felt uncomfortable at Alice’s Tea Cup. I’ve been there many times by myself and with friends. Sometimes the waitstaff does seem a little rushed when they are busy, but I have never felt like they are trying to move me on. It’s true that they don’t fill the cups to the brim, but that just allows room for adding cream.

The tea variety is excellent and they do steep each type of tea for a specific amount of time according to variety. The food is just scrumptious. They are known for their scones and I look forward to the seasonal varieties they have. They always serve them with clotted cream and strawberry jam. The other food tends to be savory. They have excellent sandwiches and salads. I love their Bangers and (Un)Mashed potatoes!

Often when I go with my sister, we will share a Mad Hatter Platter. Each person gets their own pot of tea (of their choice). You then get to share 3 scones, two types of finger sandwiches, either a chocolate mousse or piece of cake, and a variety of cookies. It’s always a challenge for us to try to finish all the goodies!

DAVIDsTEA in New York, New York
5/5
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Fuzzy_Peachkin rated this place
5/5
and said Edit

I really enjoy going into David’s Tea. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. I can smell the teas before I buy. There are free samples, both hotly brewed and loose leaf. There is a large variety of teas and I try a different kind every time I go in. I’m usually on my way to work when I go in, but there are tables in the back to sit and drink tea. Maybe I’ll go after work one of these days.

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Bio

I run, I sing, I drink tea. That’s the best description I have of me.

I’ve always enjoyed tea, but have just started trying out a lot more loose teas and varied brands. I’m really excited about a site like steepster so I can read about what people think about different teas.

Oh and I really hate Lipton tea. There’s something just awful about it and I can’t understand why nearly every local diner only has Lipton.

Also I’m on the search for a full-bodied, fruity blackberry tea. So if you have any suggestions feel free to throw them my way! :-)

Location

Staten Island, NY

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