A Community Institution

I've lived in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Park Slope for well over a year now, but have not mentioned one of the most popular 'hangs', the Tea Lounge. Sitting in the lounge, it feels like this 12 year institution has been in the area for decades. Before I even moved to Brooklyn I remember taking refuge here after a long day of exploring the neighborhood. It is a gathering place for all the different personalities in the area to relax and refuel.

With tea in the name, thankfully the list of hot and iced options do not disappoint. The tea menu is diverse, with something to please just about everyone. Since the weather has been sticky and steamy, I've been sipping on their iced black tea. It's perfectly strong, even when the ice melts. It has a nice bold black tea flavor that lasts through the entire drink. There are lots of flavored iced teas as well, but I always go with standard black. What can I say, I'm predictable. Whether you are ordering a full pot of tea, or just a cup to go, prices are competitive and fair, and service is friendly.

This is a very laid back joint, with dim lighting and lots of mismatched couches and tables. It is a welcoming, comfortable place to sit and read, write, or watch your kids play. It feels like you are sitting in a large living room. There is a bulletin board for events and sales happening throughout the neighborhood, and it is always packed with notices. My children enjoy the space, and they even have music classes for kids during the week. There is a schedule of ongoing events such as musical performances. They serve food and alcoholic drinks as well, but of course I usually just go for a cup of tea and neighborhood charm.

Tea Lounge: 837 Union Street Brooklyn, NY: Recommended

Caffe Bene

 

Caffe Bene is a South Korean coffee chain that just opened a branch in NY's busy Times Square area. Right on the corner of Broadway and 49th street in tourist/theater/office central, the place is difficult to miss. Since it's Korean chain, I was curious to see if they'd have some interesting tea and hopefully some tasty food.

Walking up to the cafe we noticed enormous coffee cup and waffle characters waving at the tourists walking by. My friends and I were turned off by this, and almost decided to keep walking. But then realized we were on a mission.  Maybe they'd have good tea!

The interior is spacious and airy, with lots of seating. The main focus appears to be coffee, but
there is 'Premium' Full Leaf Tea, Iced Tea, Iced Tea Lemonade, Green Tea Latte, Chai Tea Latte and something called a Misugaru Latte on the menu. I wanted to ask more about the teas and where they came from but a guy with a camera was focused on me while I was ordering, so I made it brief and ordered a Chai latte. He followed us around the cafe while we were making our selections, which was very annoying. I was starting to get angry but everyone behind the counter was so sweet, that I didn't want to cause a ruckus. I imagined myself on a Korean TV station with the headline 'Angry Tea Blogger Punches Cameraman'.

I was curious about the Misugaru latte, but wasn't feeling particularly adventurous. There was a sign posted near the registers giving a little more information about the roasted barley, rice, and grain powder in the drink. I may try it once the paparazzi are gone.

The Chai Latte was pleasantly sweet but not cloying. I prefer a bolder, spicier chai, but the mild spices with gentle sweetness was comforting. I could taste cardamom, but it wasn't the dominant flavor, which is a good thing. Cinnamon and a tiny hint of pepper and clove were in the background. This is a good choice for a Chai Latte if you are in Times Square.

I also had a sandwich, which was 'fine' but nothing to really mention. There was a green tea panna cotta that looked interesting, and the scones and pastries looked promising. We were really hoping for some Korean food and pastry, and not just a few pre-made sandwiches, salads and generic pastries.

The seating area is spacious and would be comfortable to sit while sipping a cup of tea, a rarity for the Times Square area. But this is only if they stop shouting 'WELCOME TO CAFFE BENE' to everyone that enters the establishment. I would have taken pictures of the decor, but I wanted to get away from the cameraman as quickly as possible.The prices were comparable to any midtown cafe. If I needed a quick cup of tea near my office, this is definitely a better alternative to the other chains in the area. But if I was willing to walk more than 2 blocks, I'd go to Argo Tea in Columbus Circle.

Caffe Bene: 1605 Broadway, NY, NY 10019
Recommended for a Quick Cup

Keko Cafe

Trying to cross off another place on my list, I took a lunchtime visit to Keko Cafe. It's in a quiet part of Murray Hill that is very close to Koreatown. Walking in out of the cold, I was met with a warm and cozy vibe. Cozy mostly because the place is tiny, and chock full of whimsical items. Paintings, trinkets, tea pots, even suitcases adorn the walls and shelves.  It feels a little bit like a European grandmother's attic. All the tables were taken, and everyone seemed to be enjoying their lunch.

This is a good place to sit with a book or laptop. The music playing was Edith Piaf-esque, with an occasional Middle Eastern flair. Since it's a small place you can hear all the conversations around you, but it would be comfortable to sit for awhile and slowly enjoy a pot of tea.

Service was efficient but brusque. The cafe specializes in both tea and coffee, and they have a descent selection of basic teas. One look at the wall of tea canisters reveals they are all from Harney & Sons. Certainly not a bad thing!

I'm on a Darjeeling kick, so I ordered a pot. It came in a small pot with the strainer inside, leaves steeping. The only problem I had is I couldn't find a place to put the used strainer. So I was forced to leave it in the pot and drink it quickly. The first cup was quite nice, a quality, smooth Darjeeling with that lovely muscatel flavor. But by the time I was ready for a second pour, the tea was bitter and almost undrinkable. I should have crammed the strainer on the tiny saucer, or asked for a second plate.  I thought the tea was reasonably priced at $5 a pot. The food however, was a bit expensive.

Sandwiches are small, without anything on the side except a miniscule slice of pickle. The pickle slice was so small, I wondered why they even bothered with it. Prices for sandwiches were over $7. There is a nice list of salads and crepes on the menu, also expensive, but may be a better choice. There are assorted pastries if you want a sweet bite with your beverage. I noticed they have an afternoon tea menu as well, which seemed reasonable at $13.

Keko cafe is a fine choice if you are in the Murray Hill neighborhood. Unless you go to Koreatown for a limited choice of teas, this is your best bet in the area.

Keko Cafe:121 Madison Ave. NY, NY 10016-Recommended
Highlights: Harney & Sons tea selection

A Visit to DAVIDsTEA

I admit, I have a 'thing' for Canada. I've never met a Canadian I didn't like (and I've met quite a few), and I have loved every Canadian city I ever visited. They also have Mounties and great health care. What's not to like? When I heard that Canadian tea-purveyor DAVIDsTEA recently opened two shops in NYC, I practically grabbed my coat and ran out the door.

I decided to visit the West Village location, as it was more convenient to my office. Getting back and forth in an hour is key! Taking the subway from Midtown and ending up in the charming West Village is always a pleasant experience. Walking through the historic streets of 19th century brownstones and federal style buildings makes me a most happy lady.

The shop is on Bleecker street, the bright wood stands out from the other stores on the block. Walking in I was immediately hit with a loud and enthusiastic 'WELCOME TO DAVIDsTEA!!!' I was a bit startled, but enjoyed seeing all of the smiling faces behind the counter. A sample cup of tea was ushered into my hands as I looked around a bit. A friendly yet laid back employee asked if I needed any help. We chatted for a little bit, and I could tell that he loved working at the store. He seemed relatively new to teas, but was passionate and had all of the basics down. It seems that DAVIDsTEA is known for their flavored blends, but they also have a nice selection of White, Black, Green, Oolong, and Pu-erh as well. When I mentioned I was looking for a new black tea, he instantly started grabbing canisters for me to smell. It was a whirlwind of tea happiness.

If you've been following this blog at all you know I'm not too keen on flavored blends. But while I was smelling the slew of black teas, one called Glitter & Gold jumped out at me. I'm not much of a girly girl, but this tea had sugar gold balls in it. The man helping me mentioned that the tea gets glittery once it steeps. My inner teenage girl started jumping up and down.

I selected a Wild Black Yunnan to purchase. I was looking for a breakfast black tea, and it was picked from wild tea trees. I haven't tried it yet, but the idea is intriguing. I also decided to get a glass travel mug as I have been coveting one for weeks but hadn't pulled the trigger. While paying for my purchases, I was offered a complimentary cup to go. Of course I jumped at the chance to try the Glitter & Gold!

After leaving the store I eagerly uncapped my cup, revealing a black tea with gold glittery flecks slowly floating through it. The teenage girl squealed a little bit. I unfortunately couldn't get a good picture of the glittery goodness, so here is just one of the cup on someone's stoop. It tasted sweet, very cinnamony with a hint of orange and vanilla. Probably not something I'd purchase for myself, but it would be fun to serve at a holiday party, or give as a gift. It is festive, and comes with free entertainment, after all.

My visit was a great break from the day. The store is cheerful and filled with a good selection of tea and accessories. Walking around the neighborhood is always an enjoyable history lesson with historic buildings at every turn. The area is also home to quite a few other tea shops. McNulty's for tea buying in an old-school atmosphere, Bosie Tea Parlor for a lovely afternoon tea break, the always-wonderful Tea and Sympathy, and The Tea Set, a tea cafe that is on my list of places to visit. I sense a West Village tea crawl coming soon...

 

DAVIDsTEA (multiple locations) 275 Bleecker St, NY, NY 10014- Recommended

Highlights- good selection, friendly service, free samples

Harney & Sons SoHo

If you live in the NYC area, a great way to kick off National Hot Tea Month is to check out the enormous selection of teas from the Harney & Sons SoHo location. I once visited their beautifully rustic shop in upstate NY, and have been eager to visit the new store ever since it opened. The SoHo store is quite large and airy, with a floor to ceiling shelving unit for their loose teas, very different from the cozy upstate shop.  This is not a bad thing, they fit in well with the other stores in the area.



There are two parts to the store. The first is the large retail space, that has the huge tea selection, and a 'tasting bar' where you can sample the tea of the week, as well as any other tea you would like to try.  They also have tasting flights, which is a fun way to try new teas. There are also shelves and tables holding teaware and bagged teas.  After taking in the scene, I headed straight to the back of the store to the small cafe area, which is separated from the main space with a couple of bookcases. 



view of the store from the tea lounge



The cafe has 5 tables, and a nice little bar area for a quick cup, or to order a cup to go. Cups are $3, a small pot is $6, and large $8.  If you prefer to drink one of their specialty teas, you can add $1 to your order.  I thought the prices were reasonable given the quality of their tea.  If you are looking for a bite to eat, there are also sweet and savory food options. I took the last available seat and had a look at the menu. 

After sitting and studying the large menu, I decided on a white tea.  It was late in the day, so I wanted something light and refreshing. I had a few questions, so one of the experts was called over to explain the differences in the white teas they had available.  I chose one that sounded light but still flavorful, the Mutan white.  After a few minutes I heard a timer go off, and my pot was brought over.  The liquid was bright yellow, similar to other white teas that I've tried. The aroma was faintly floral and nutty. The taste had the same nuttiness, and was also a bit buttery.  It had a nice smoothness, with a soft texture on the tongue. Suitable for my late afternoon tea break, but not something I'd want to drink earlier in the day. The nutty flavor lingered for awhile, which made me smile as I relaxed and read my book. The noise from the retail area drifts into the cafe, but it was pleasant to sit there on a cold day, reading a book and sipping tea.  I will definitely be back to try more. They even had a small section of 'Yellow' tea, which I know nothing about. I am looking forward to trying them!



Mutan White tea from the cafe

After my tea break, I browsed around the shop a bit.  I noticed they were selling thick and thin matcha, and realized I needed to have some matcha to try at home.  So I picked up a small canister of thick matcha.  As I was standing by the tasting bar, one of the employees asked if I wanted to try the matcha.  She brought out a chawan, whisk, and scoop, and prepared the tea for me.  She even showed me the proper way to whisk it.  Realizing that I didn't have a proper chawan, or the accouterments to prepare matcha correctly, I ended up purchasing the things I needed to make matcha at home. I have been drooling over handmade chawans on etsy.com, but realized that for my fledgling efforts I just needed a basic one.  My new tea bowl is quite lovely to look at! But that is for a future matcha post...

I was very impressed with the staff throughout the store.  They were all extremely friendly, helpful, and very knowledgeable.  I wish I lived or worked close by! But it's just a short train ride away, so I will definitely be back at Harney & Sons soon to try something new.