This shop gets 4 stars because it’s adorable, and it’s a tea room… in Utah! If you think that finding a good cup of coffee is hard in a place where the dominant culture believes hot, caffeinated beverages to be evil, try finding a good cup of tea.
That being said, this wouldn’t be a 4 star tea room in any other state. I ordered a Keemun to go, and they poured some hot water over the loose tea and gave it to me in a paper cup. Just like a starbucks, they didn’t seem to care about the ratio between water and tea, nor did they give me any way to prevent the leaves from over-steeping. I tried very hard to do the high-quality Keemun justice by drinking it all between the 3 and 4 minute marker, but failed. Instead, I ended up with an undrinkably bitter cup only ten minutes after receiving it.
I’d still be curious to try this place again to see how they brew tea for their in-house customers. Because, as I said before… it’s a tea place… in Utah – so it’s well deserving of second, third, and even fourth chances.
I have been hearing a lot about David’s Tea ever since joining Steepster, and I must say that I became very curious about it. Not having any in the U.S., I was incredibly excited to learn that there are a few in Halifax, which was on my itinerary during a recent vacation. I can’t tell you about the tea itself yet, since I haven’t quite made it as far as brewing a pot, but the design of the store itself is what blew me away. It was so modern and young looking with bright colors and a lovely, minimalist space. No wonder why it has converted so many young people to tea! I also ogled all of the delicious tea-ware, including a gorgeous glass thermos and tiny tea tumblers. I don’t know when I’ll next make it to a physical store, but I definitely plan on frequenting their webpage.
Zingerman’s is an excellent high-quality food purveyor specializing in sandwiches, but not lacking in a tea selection. They mostly sell Rishi tea, but specialize in several varieties that are not widely available in supermarkets (such as Whole Foods). The owner has published a book entitled “Zingerman’s Guide to Good Eating: How to Choose the Best Bread, Cheeses, Olive Oil, Pasta, Chocolate, and Much More” that includes a guide to picking out tea. When in Michigan, I always stop here to check out their selection.
