438428 Wed Sep 05 12:51:11 -0700 2007 10 14 Washington DC & Baltimore Area 0 2913223 Ok so I have a tea maker and love loose leaf tea for it. I was really excited when I was at Wegman's the other day and saw their selection of loose leaf tea. They had some pretty good stuff at very good prices, much better than Teavana price wise, although I like the Teavana experience from time to time. I like to be able to smell the teas or taste little samples before I buy it. I hate just looking at a list. There used to be a little tea shop in downtown Annapolis I really liked, but it closed. Does anyone know of any other tea shops where you can smell or taste samples of it in the NOVA area preferably, but would also go to downtown for it? Does the Teaism location on 16th/ Pennsylvania have anything like this? Wed Sep 05 12:51:11 -0700 2007 92426 ktmoomau 1 2913244 Not a shop but here are two tea vendors I've purchased from for many years. Both offer excellent service & a huge variety of choices. Both sell samples at a modest price. It's fun to order a bunch & taste away... Upton Tea: http://uptontea.com Specialteas: http://specialteas.com/ Wed Sep 05 12:55:02 -0700 2007 2913223 11069 fauchon 2 2913256 Yes they do have good sample prices I just looked one up, which is good I tend to order tea and then either I or the bf doesn't like it unless we can smell or taste it. Thank you will have to check that out. Wed Sep 05 12:57:15 -0700 2007 2913244 92426 ktmoomau 3 2913586 If you are willing to shop online...I bought my aunt a bunch of loose teas from Mighty Leaf earlier this year and she loved them. Wed Sep 05 14:12:59 -0700 2007 2913256 38500 caphill2320 1 2913259 Swing's Coffee over by the White House sells loose teas. I believe the Teaism near Dupont also. http://www.swingscoffee.com/ Wed Sep 05 12:57:56 -0700 2007 2913223 12359 monkeyrotica 2 2914175 Oh good, online in nice and I appreciate those too, but I was really hoping for the whole experience of tasting, smelling, ordering. Wed Sep 05 16:53:35 -0700 2007 2913259 92426 ktmoomau 3 2915345 I'm pretty sure the Swings at 17th and G Street NW lets you sample the bulk teas before purchase. Thu Sep 06 05:14:39 -0700 2007 2914175 12359 monkeyrotica 1 2915641 I like Old Town Coffee Tea & Spice in Old Town Alexandria. Thu Sep 06 07:21:20 -0700 2007 2913223 10859 brooke 2 2916732 Oh Good! That isn't too far from the house maybe I can even get the BF to go this weekend. I can sweeten the deal with the Pita House. Thu Sep 06 11:41:35 -0700 2007 2915641 92426 ktmoomau 1 2916565 There's also Ten Ren teas in Rockville. Thu Sep 06 10:59:42 -0700 2007 2913223 89040 SandpaperTongue 1 2924077 There is a chinese (taiwanese?) tea house in Georgetown that has the best selection of high quality loose leaf teas in the city. It is http://www.chingchingcha.com/aboutus.html . Lots of good stuff and they do a nice tea meal. More expensive than Upton, but I often find that the premium is worth it if I can try the tea. I have bought some very, very expensive teas that I ended up not liking. Good luck. Sun Sep 09 07:54:54 -0700 2007 2913223 123216 moogjuke