10 Great Places for Tea
USA Today‘s Larry Bleiberg reports that tea has come a long way from the white-glove formality of Downton Abbey. He interviewed Karen Palmer, Good Taste editor of TastingTable.com, to come up with some of her favorite spots:
Dushanbe Tea House (Boulder, Colorado): “The setting’s as spectacular as the tea at this hand-hewn tea house transported from Boulder’s sister city in Tajikistan.”
Dobra Tea (Burlington, Vermont; Madison, Wisconsin; Asheville, North Carolina, and Portland, Maine): “This Bohemian-style tea room was the first U.S. off-shoot of a collection of Czech tea lounges that originated in Prague shortly after the fall of communism.”
Madame Zuzu’s (Highland Park, Illinois): “Rock star Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins indulged his weakness for tea when he opened this shop last fall along the Lake Michigan shore north of Chicago.”
Plain-T (Southampton, New York): “Started by a former professional ballet dancer with a passion for tea’s healthful benefits, this wholesaler also runs a weekend lounge focused on those qualities.”
Taste (San Francisco, California): “This lounge focuses on Chinese and Taiwanese blends and traditions.”
High Garden (Nashville, Tennessee): “Come to this Music City mecca for special tea blends designed to combat a variety of ailments including sore vocal chords and hangovers – both potential Nashville hazards.”
The Hazel Room (Portland, Oregon): “You’ll find tea with a kick at this café, which serves tea cocktails along with other drinks and snacks.”
The Steeping Room (Austin, Texas): “Visitors choose from five different kinds of tea service, including one called the Kasbah Express, which includes an assortment of Middle Eastern appetizers, tea cookies and rosewater-honey-drizzled fruit.”
Miro Tea (Seattle, Washington): “Art and tea go together like a cup and saucer at this Seattle shop that includes gallery space and donates commissions to charity.”
Bellocq (Brooklyn, New York): “Once based in London, this upscale boutique and tasting room brings its offerings to the up-and-coming Greenpoint neighborhood.”
Here’s more on the Dushanbe Tea House: Two for Tea in Boulder.
(Photo of detail of Dushanbe Tea House ceiling ©Susan McKee)
