Best place to buy loose Tea in NYC?

[JSC437]

Where is the best place in midtown/downtown nyc to buy loose tea (not in a tea bag)? I would like the really good quality tea.... Are there any specialty tea shops or anything? Is Porto Rico a good option?

Thanks very much

 

[gomestar]

Alice's tea cup, 64th and Lex. It's mostly a resaurant, but they have a massive tea menu and most are available loose. They also have a case of scones to go, I'd pick one up as they are devine.

 

[dkzzzz]

Tea: www.mightyleaf.com (even their flavoured teas are superb)

Coffee: http://deansbeans.com (Colombian supremo that actually tastes like supremo)

 

[Xiaogou]

My favorite is Ten Ren. http://www.tenren.com/newyork.html

Originally Posted by JSC4President

Where is the best place in midtown/downtown nyc to buy loose tea (not in a tea bag)? I would like the really good quality tea.... Are there any specialty tea shops or anything? Is Porto Rico a good option?

Thanks very much

 

[adambparker]

Originally Posted by gomestar

Alice's tea cup, 64th and Lex. It's mostly a resaurant, but they have a massive tea menu and most are available loose. They also have a case of scones to go, I'd pick one up as they are devine.

+1 for Alice's. Great brunch on weekends. Smoked Salmon Benedict on a scone is superb!

 

[romafan]

what happened to your coffee quest?

 

[gomestar]

Originally Posted by adambparker

+1 for Alice's. Great brunch on weekends. Smoked Salmon Benedict on a scone is superb!

damn it that's good. I get it on a ham and cheese scone, and then I get comatose after.

Also, try the sausage sometime, it's like a chicken base with a bit of sweetness. A touch of heaven on earth. My girlfriend ordered the "light fare" soup and salad, and the french onion soup was spectacular.

On the tea topic, I actually have come to really like their house tea, it's a base of black tea, a hint of vanilla, and some rose petals which add just a touch of flavor and aroma. It's certainly a far cry from the usual black tar style coffee I like, but what an interesting blend. Their tea menu is pages and pages long, quite the impressive selection.

 

[JSC437]

Originally Posted by romafan

what happened to your coffee quest?

I drink both coffee and tea. Depends on the time of day.

You guys gave me the most fantastic suggestions for coffee (thanks very much for that)... so i wanted to extend my search to tea suggestions.

Ideally... I drink tea while at work and coffee in the morning and at night (when I do my school work).

I work full time and go to grad school at night so my life requires a consistent supply of caffeine.

Regards

 

[Edward Appleby]

Places like Dean and Deluca and Balduccis, as well as a surprising number of those sort of neighborhood coffee stores will have Mariage Freres teas, which are quite good. Dean and Deluca et all don't have much of a selection of more esoteric teas, though. However I really think Mariage Freres doesn't compromise any quality despite its availability, and they have a pretty broad range of styles to choose from and explore.

Just make sure that you don't accidentally get the bags. I mean obviously they're much better than most teabags, but still.

 

[DrZRM]

I know it's not NYC, but they have a web site, and they are one of my favorite tea shops in the country. Red Blossom Tea Company in San Francisco, they are in Chinatown right on Grant Ave. Really nice shop with knowledgeable folks to talk to if you are in SF.

redblossomtea.com

 

[madbulk]

Go a little further... McNulty's Tea & Coffee Company (212) 242-5351 109 Christopher St N.Y.C. http://www.mcnultys.com/ I used to go there to get the makin's for that stuff Aveda offers you for like 50 bucks a pound.

 

[ljowery]

I’ve recently been drinking organic loose teas because I eat all organic produce, so why not drink organic tea, too?

I found a place called LeafSpa.

I prefer to order online, since I work crazy hours!

 

[annaanna934]

i ordered my tea online @ teacraving.com they have quality teas and great service