The Path of Tea Edit

I want to like this place but I had an uncomfortable experience and I’ve put off going back. I went in one night very excited to find a tea place like this in Houston. My husband and I were looking to enjoy a nice cuppa after dinner. When I mentioned that I add honey and milk to my black tea, the person working almost wouldn’t sell me any tea. She gave me a speech about how they didn’t believe in adding milk to tea and that I shouldn’t do it. Then she was pushy and tried to keep selling me the tea. I told her no thanks and got out of there. Still, I’m glad it’s there for those who enjoy it but I’m still searching for a place that will let me put milk in my black tea.

This is a place to explore your tea comfort zone, by choosing a different tea from the sniff bar, and to relax to soothing music. You get to pick your own cup from the cup wall, and wait a few minutes until your tea arrives at your table (they have done the steeping for you so don’t worry about the timing). I recommend the hibiscus ginger and the ancient maiden pu-erh. Always helpful staff, an array of tea pots and tea accessories, as well as local art.

This was my first “real” tea shop experience, so I’m probably over-excited about it. Houston needs more places like this. (As opposed to “Here’s a couple’a napkins to wrap around that there beer can, little lady, so’s it don’t drip all over yoo.”) Yeah, I’m being facetious here… sorta.

I stopped in at The Path of Tea on a busy Saturday afternoon, which is probably not the best time to explore the unknown; but I easily found parking in the small lot. The 10 tables (each seating 2-4) were occupied, but one soon became available as I studied the extensive tea menu at the counter. I ordered and paid for a small ($4.50) pot of Blood Orange Pu-erh, chose from a diverse selection of cups that hung on a rack on the back wall and sat down to wait. One of the three staff immediately came over and silently wiped my table.

Looking around while I waited, I noted the well-stocked sniffing bar, an extensive selection of teaware, and the obligatory tabletop fountain over near a wall. A bit cluttered maybe, but not messy. Lots of color. A nice tea house feel.

My tea arrived, piping hot, after an approximate 10 minute wait. The glass teapots are zoomy. (Large pots are Mono Filios; not sure what brand the smaller pots are.) The tea was enjoyable, the ambient music pleasant and subtle enough not to compete with conversation, and I did not feel pressured to buy anything else or to vacate the table as soon as I was finished.

The only negative was that my teacup smelled slightly of dish soap — at least for the first 2 cups. Not overpowering, but noticeable. It’s comforting to know the cups are sanitary, but it might be nice if they could find an unscented detergent, if there is such a thing.

On my way out I spied an antique teapot on top of a cabinet and asked about it, as I had come into possession of a similar one. The counter girl immediately went to the back and brought out a gentleman who gave me the history of the pot and how the shop had acquired it. I thought that was very nice of them both to take the time to do that on a busy Saturday. Little things do mean a lot. I’ll be back.

The very first time I went here was a tea tasting. It was also my first experience with organic loose leaf tea. The only other tea I had ever drank was Lipton Ice Tea served cold! Up until this tea tasting I had no idea what I had been missing.

The tea tasting was fun and very infromative. Thia McKann knows her stuff and expains the teas very well.

The tea shop is really nice. I have yet to go there and sit and enjoy some prepared tea. The tea that was prepared at the tasting was excellent and I do plan on going back to try some outside of that event.

The have a wide selection of organic teas and so far I haven’t been let down by the ones I have purchased.

My only problem with the shop is that parking is tough. Its in a crowded strip center and all the spaces are always taken when I go to buy my tea. I have to end up parking on a side street but its worth it. The tea there is excellent.

I will definitley keep going to The Path of Tea!

Very nice place for a nice cup of tea. They serve the tea in very cool glass teapots. Great attention to detail in the tea service. I like the fact that they steep it for the proper amount of time (and with the right water temperature) before they bring you the tea. I like the sniffing bar and they are very helpful with advice and suggestions for teas to try.

This is not the best tea shop I have ever been in, but it is the best tea shop in Houston, as far as I am aware.

While it is a bit frustrating that their rather lengthy selection of teas is geared largely toward a more, shall I say, casual tea drinker, I understand why, from a business point of view, you need to do that.

But they don’t serve coffee, they don’t serve bubble tea, and they don’t serve chai lattes, which means they have a leg up on everyone else as far as I am concerned.

I do wish they’d introduce a third, even larger size tea pot for those really long sit and chat occasions, but maybe it doesn’t make any business sense to do that. I drink a lot more tea than most people, so I get it.

The atmosphere and decor here are marvelous. The prices are good. And if you are hungry, you can go next door to Field of Greens and Path of Tea will let you eat your food while you drink their tea. Sweet deal!

Small and quaint. A nice place to drink a cuppa with friendly knowledgeable staff my only disappointment is that while all the teas in the shop are organic (which is a plus) there just wasn’t enough variety on the menu for me. This doesn’t mean that I will not go here again because I probably will but I would like to see more blends. DO NOT let this distract you from visiting it is a very nice establishment with quality teas and is much loved in it’s neighborhood. I simply like a big variety where I can get all confused and then ask the staff for their recommendation :)