Tea tastings in the Bay Area?

[seabee123]

It's my mom's birthday, and we're both huge tea aficionados, so I thought of taking her out for a nice tea tasting. I've been to Teance in Berkeley, and it was quite nice--a bar you get to sit at while they serve you tiny teapots of perfectly steeped tea and explain all about the the tea that you're drinking. Are there any other places in the area that are worth checking out?

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Teance
2531B 9th St, Berkeley, CA

[sairuh]

I can think of a couple places, but they are on the Peninsula or in the South Bay.

Many years ago a bunch of friends and I took a tasting class at Tea Time in downtown Palo Alto. It was okay: the tea was very interesting, but the owners who ran the class seemed a bit stuffy. There are new owners now, but I haven't had a tasting with them.

Another is Satori Tea in downtown San José. I've only been there for a sit-down tea with a friend (not a tasting or class), but the service was very friendly. They also allowed us to smell the teas before making your selection, samples lining an entire wall. :) Iirc, you might be able to arrange a tasting with them.

http://www.tea-time.com/home.asp?menuitems=teainfo&pageId=140

http://www.thesatoriteacompany.com/

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Tea Time
542 Ramona St, Palo Alto, CA 94301

[Windy]

Tea Time is wonderful. Current staff is very friendly. Nice snacks and lovely teacups.

Red Blossom in Chinatown has exceptionally high quality teas. It's a store rather than a tea salon, but they'll brew you anything to taste and answer your questions.

Samovar will definitely describe what you're drinking. I like the location in Hayes Valley the best, but there's one in the Castro and another at Yerba Buena. They have theme meals that are paired with tea. Imperial Tea in the Ferry Building is another option, especially if you like Chinese teas versus milk and sugar.

I also enjoy Tal y Tara for tea and snacks. It's in a Polo Shoppe (sic) by the Legion of Honor. Milk and sugar teas primarily; the owners are Irish, I think. Not plantation grade tea like Teance or Tea Time, but many good choices.

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Tea Time
542 Ramona St, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Imperial Tea
1 Embarcadero Ctr # 27, San Francisco, CA

Samovar Tea Lounge
297 Page St, San Francisco, CA

[DavidT]

Lealand Tea Company, with locations in SF and Burlingame. I am guessing the Burlingame location might be a little more congenial.

http://www.lelandtea.com/

[rworange]

Good timing. The SF Chow Digest has an article today about tea. So you can check some of the websites to see if they have any classes.

http://www.chow.com/digest/97081/top-tea-purveyors/

I'm a fan of Far Leaves tea now on San Pablo in Berkeley, but I've never been to one of their tastings

http://www.farleaves.com/tasting.php3

Many years ago I went to an Imperial Tea Court class when they were still at the old location at Chinatown. It was good. They have locations in Berkeley and Ferry Plaza in SF.

https://www.imperialtea.com/teahouses...

There are a few more, but it has been a while. I'll report back when I remember them if no one else posts about them