Vancouverites may know their coffee and craft beer, even their wine. But when it comes to tea, we have a lot to learn. Forget that dusty tasting, over-steeped cup with the string hanging over the side — loose leaf teas are joining the revolution in this city’s newest beverage obsession.
Pristine, white, modern, calming. Walk into any David’s Tea location and be met with a soothing feeling before you’ve even sipped your tea. Arranged by colour, their eight tea types are easily identified so you can explore your favourite flavours and discover new ones. Or, shop by ingredient — mint, chocolate, ginger, apple — and knowledgeable sales staff will guide you in the direction of your perfect cuppa. And while the store is a great shopping experience, if you order online, you’ll receive three free samples.
Get swept away in the fantasy of this playful Kitsilano tea shop. With over 60 teas available, including several blends made exclusively for Neverland, you’re sure to find your new favourite leaves. And while there is certainly bags of tea for home brewing, you’re also welcome to a perfect pot in-store, best accompanied by homemade pastries like macarons, cookies and bars. Need a little spike to your afternoon beverage? Try one of their tea cocktails and truly delve into the magic of Neverland.
This traditional English-style tea shop instantly transports you to tea salons of old. Dark wood, warm and friendly service, the rich fragrance of bergamot, you’ll want to cozy up right there for your afternoon cup. Instead, choose from their impressive selection of 115 teas, all carefully selected to create their signature blends. You’ll want to display their ornately decorated tins proudly on your own shelves and maybe even pick up one of their lovely china mugs.
As Vancouver’s exclusive distributor of TWG loose leaf teas, downtown’s Urban Tea Merchant is by far the mecca of tea in this city. With over 250 to choose from, as well as signature macarons, daily tea service and full-scale dining, this is an excellent option for your home tea collection, for a special event or gathering, or simply to enjoy a restorative cup at the end of a long day.
At this high-concept tea bar in Kitsilano, “tea hunter” Pedro Villalon is on a mission to educate Vancouverites about tea culture. From the obsessive sourcing of unique teas to how they’re steeped to even how they’re consumed (best on the floor, as is traditional in Asia), the entire ritual of tea drinking is not taken lightly here. Choose from their tightly curated selection of loose leaf teas as well as some beautiful tea ware. The whole thing is a heightened experience.