This seller ships a huge variety of tea directly from India to your home. The tea arrives so fast, you will have your first flush in your cup before your local tea shop has it on the shelf!
This is your direct link to a small tea farmer in Wazuka, Kyoto. Not only the shop, but also the tea plantation is well worth a visit. In addition to this, Obubu offer guided tours through their plantation as well as tea picking days, 2-week Japanese Tea Master courses, and 3-month internships.
If you like stylish Japanese tea crockery, then Koto Tea is the shop to browse. If you can peel your eyes off their mesmerizing collection of Chasen, a look at their teas is well worth it too as all their matches and other Japanese teas are JAS/USA certified organic.
The management here consists of experts in alternative medicine, botanical medicine as well as dieticians and therapeutics on the lookout for natural ingredients. Their choice of organic and pesticide-free teas very much reflects this. Their range of Japanese teas is eye-watering and all teas are tested in their laboratories in Germany.
Alistair keeps a wonderful selection of sensational teas. Here, you will find teas of outstanding quality and fascinating shapes from all over the world. It is a great pleasure to see he manages to source such teas.
In 1978, Albert and Gwendalina Gschwendner laid the foundations for what was to become a highly successful franchise chain. Their home is Germany, but they have retail places as far as Chicago. Sadly, the Swiss shop no longer exists.
TWG are of Singaporean origin. The acronym originally stood for The Wellness Group, which was later changed to The Wellbeing Group. Depending on the outcome of a law-suit in Hong Kong, you may one day see it rebranded as TW without the G. Founded in 2008 (1837 is a reference to the Singapore Chamber of Commerce), it looks remarkably like Mariage Frères and was equally remarkably quick to establish itself as a luxury tea brand.
At this most elegantly lit and beautifully located shop in Winterthur, tea is well taken care of. Many teas are sold sealed for freshness. What separates this merchant from the others is the fact that the matches are even kept in a separate fridge. This is extremely good practice but rarely seen elsewhere.
If you know what makes a Gyokuro different from a Sencha, you will be more than pleased with the offerings here. If you know what role Uji plays in Japan’s tea history, you will be excited to hear that all tea sold here ships directly from its heart of Japanese tea. Free shipping on orders in excess of $36, and if you don’t reach this threshold, have a look at their outstanding snacks (Especially matcha senbei and genmai senbei. They’re both even more highly commendable if you have ever tasted the two respective teas, matcha and genmaicha).
Young in comparison with the many well-established places mentioned here (The store located at Europaallee popped up about 2016; Schwarzenbach has been around since 1864), La Cucina offers a surprisingly good choice of select teas. They also sell spices, among which a commendable ‘long pepper’ can be found.
Mainly Darjeeling Teas (First Flush, Second Flush, Autumn Flush) plus a few others. Free shipping included (i.e. the price reflects shipping costs).
Teekontor Hamburg (Wasserschloss)
Hamburg is steeped in history related to the trading of tea and spices, and the Teekontor (located at the Wasserschloss) does this more than justice. Not only is the Teekontor with its high vaulted ceiling stacked to the top with beautiful teas and mouth-watering delicacies, but it also comes with a restaurant where there is more to be discovered.
This picture does not do justice to the baffling moment when you stand in front of a Mariage Frères tea wall (for example in Paris or in their newly opened shop near London’s Covent Garden) and you find yourself spoilt for choice. Luckily, they also have a website with more than flowery descriptions of their classy teas. MF is of French origin, and so you will here often find teas scented in a French style.
The hustle and bustle of London is not everyone’s cup of tea. This shop is an oasis in London with its small but refined selection of teas and its knowledgeable staff. Located just off Piccadilly Circus, it is a little difficult to spot and so you often find yourself alone or with just two other customers. This can give rise to interesting discussions with all present involved, which makes for an entirely different shopping experience. (Hint: Ask to see some of the tea they keep in the big tins behind the counter). Here, you can also enjoy a freshly made cup of tea in tranquil surroundings before hitting the noisy streets of London again.
Länggass Tee (opened in 1983) is a wonderful place where everything takes place calmly and in a relaxed Bernese atmosphere – at least this is what it feels like for people from outside Berne. The shop is well worth a visit, but the real secret reveals itself when you climb up the spiral staircase. There is a cozy restaurant upstairs where all teas are served in their respective crockery.
After 18 years, E. Reiser and E. Gerber are bidding their farewell from Rapperswil. Fortunately, they have found successors, and it will be interesting to see in what direction the Teehus develops in the future. (Many thanks to the couple for the good past work).
This shop is a truly wondrous place. They have a website, but it would be a pity not to visit in person. The world of spices, dried fruit, chocolates, peppers and so on is indescribable. Run in the 5th generation (All male heirs are called Heinrich, hence their logo), the shop has a select choice of teas from around the world. Spice merchants have always had an excellent nose in tea and this place is very much a point in case.
The full name is The Queen Camellia Tea House & Tea Room, and you will find both in Lucerne’s old town just around the corner from each other. Needless to say that it can be quite handy to have a tea shop next door when you leave the tea room. What makes the latter particularly attractive are their tasting sets that allow you to sip more than one tea and compare the drinks simultaneously.
This teahouse has only just opened and is already making a good impression. Where else would you find a place where you can taste three different kinds of Long Jing teas all from the innermost circle of China’s West Lake area ? Where else would you find a tea menu that offers two varieties of Dong Ding oolong that have both won contests in Taiwan ? Wei Feng is a very knowledgeable owner and certainly knows how to source good tea. Secret hint: Ask for Duck Shit tea – and trust me. You won’t receive a clip behind the ear but a warm smile instead.
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