Any of you guys go to Tea Houses/Restaurants?

**pipskicks** · 04-15-2012, 08:43 AM

Like the ones with afternoon tea? I find it very girly and I'm usually one of the few men in the place, but I LOVE tea and my girlfriend loves the afternoon tea experience so it's a win win

**Oblique Human** · 04-15-2012, 10:37 AM

This is funny 'cause in my country, coffee houses are more frequented by the ladies. But you just cannot beat a good cup of tea/coffee outside in the afternoon. I actually was at this place in Islamabad today with my wife around 3:00 pm, its in a Cul-de-sac, we sat outside flanked by fountains, I had Darjeeling, she had coffee, partially cloudy golden afternoon, nice.

**_JP_** · 04-15-2012, 11:44 AM

I go to a nearby tea house to purchase some of my tea, but I rarely sit there and have one.

**StillShaving** · 04-16-2012, 09:09 PM

AFAIK such tea houses are practically non-existent in the south-east US. I only know of one or two nearby and I believe the one serving proper English tea has closed.

**pipskicks** · 04-17-2012, 10:08 AM

:( that's terrible. We have at least one that I frequent a lot called Chado, I love it. I think there's on in India and London? Not 100% sure you'd have to look it up. I like to buy their teas, but my girlfriend loves their afternoon 3-tier rack with pot of tea etc.

Not the most masculine way to spend the weekend, but I like my tea so I'll do it :)

EDIT: Sorry in Mumbai not London: http://www.chadotea.com/tr_india_lower_parel.php

I love their tea but I'm not sure if I'd order it online with shipping, I would rather go in and smell it.

**ouch** · 04-17-2012, 12:11 PM

I call it the kitchen.

**pipskicks** · 04-17-2012, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by ouch

I call it the kitchen.

If only that could be a "date"

**nosedog** · 04-24-2012, 02:20 AM

I like a good afternoon tea and am even happy to partake by myself. I was disappointed once to have a fancy afternoon tea at a fancy hotel and find they only serve Twinings tea. Now I have nothing against Twinings, but it is mass-market tea, not high quality tea, and when paying $$$ for a fancy afternoon tea I expect quality.

The Tea Room in Sydney's QVB was very nice.

**pipskicks** · 04-24-2012, 06:11 AM

Originally Posted by nosedog

I like a good afternoon tea and am even happy to partake by myself. I was disappointed once to have a fancy afternoon tea at a fancy hotel and find they only serve Twinings tea. Now I have nothing against Twinings, but it is mass-market tea, not high quality tea, and when paying $$$ for a fancy afternoon tea I expect quality.

The Tea Room in Sydney's QVB was very nice.

Agreed, good but that's like Starbucks mixing a Folgers cup for you.

**ouch** · 04-24-2012, 06:40 AM

Originally Posted by pipskicks

Agreed, good but that's like Starbucks mixing a Folgers cup for you.

Do they over-roast the Folgers, like everything else?

**pipskicks** · 04-24-2012, 07:24 AM

Originally Posted by ouch

Do they over-roast the Folgers, like everything else?

No, but they hand pick the Folgers from the supermarket :)

I'm actually not a coffee fan, I wouldn't know about over-roasting, but none of these places I've been to (Starbucks/Coffee Bean) does a tea better than I can. I guess coffee is more difficult, but brewing some tea takes 5-10 min. tops and is WAY better than any of their $1.50+ cups of tea!

**ouch** · 04-24-2012, 07:47 AM

Originally Posted by pipskicks

none of these places I've been to (Starbucks/Coffee Bean) does a tea better than I can. I guess coffee is more difficult, but brewing some tea takes 5-10 min. tops and is WAY better than any of their $1.50+ cups of tea!

You can find lots* of great info on tea in The Cafe subforum.

*more than any other tea site

**pipskicks** · 04-24-2012, 07:56 AM

Originally Posted by ouch

You can find lots* of great info on tea in The Cafe subforum.

*more than any other tea site

I'll have to check it out, although my girlfriend works at coffee bean and tea leaf and went to culinary school so when she's around it comes out amazing :)

I seemed to have been introduced to brewing tea years ago and just on my own go to shops, search online etc. I'm not a crazy obsessed tea fan, but I definitely appreciate a good brewed tea over the Lipton crap I started with.

I used to drink coffee unfortunately my stomach can no longer handle it (just weak stomach problems), but tea has been an awesome replacement, especially brewed tea, so many!!

I do have to look around though, I only recently tried Matcha tea and was surprised at how good it was, just a little rough on the stomach lol.

**malocchio** · 04-24-2012, 02:44 PM

great tea house in the Ferry building ,san francisco

**pipskicks** · 04-24-2012, 02:59 PM

I haven't been to a lot, mostly this one that is popular (and from what I've heard the best in LA) it's called "Chado." They have a website but I think the only other shop is in Dubai, but they have a nice place, 3 locations here now, one is inside the Japanese Historical Museum.

Cool place, I'd like to find more places though. I did go to a place that served tea and burgers, and had art. It seemed like it was all about the art because not only do I not want to remember the name, my tea tasted horrible. Like worst ever. I think they gave me Robitussen's cough syrup with water in it.

**The Nid Hog** · 04-24-2012, 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by nosedog

The Tea Room in Sydney's QVB was very nice.

Wow, that brings back memories. I was there right after its restoration--maybe in 87? What a beautiful place.

**The Nid Hog** · 04-24-2012, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by pipskicks

Cool place, I'd like to find more places though. I did go to a place that served tea and burgers, and had art. It seemed like it was all about the art because not only do I not want to remember the name, my tea tasted horrible. Like worst ever. I think they gave me Robitussen's cough syrup with water in it.

You're in LA? There's a cool tea room (called Tula's) upstairs at the Museum of Jurrasic Technology in Culver City.

**pipskicks** · 04-24-2012, 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by The Nid Hog

You're in LA? There's a cool tea room (called Tula's) upstairs at the Museum of Jurrasic Technology in Culver City.

I have seen that building a million times, never heard of that tea room. I'm moving to Long Beach very soon, but I think my girlfriend will make me drive there to see it.

I've always wondered, what that museum was and never looked it up either lol.

The really poor place with the burgers was right around there too, hopefully it's a lot better than they were. They had some "Hello Kitty" type vibe which my girlfriend was all into, but their actual tea was terrible!