Ippodo tea house

This tiny place hidden in between two buildings, not far from Grand Central, is only providing Japanese green tea from a matcha base. They have “here” or “to go”, ice or hot.

I chose “to go” and ordered an ice matcha slushy for $4. It tasted really good! They have different type of matcha, some bitter, some sweeter, depending on your taste.

This teahouse was first created in Japan with several stores in Tokyo, Kyoto, Hokkaido, and opened one abroad in New York City.

It takes only 2mn to make the tea and for the busy people in Grand Central, you will have a “to go” in your hands in less time than you think.

I also discovered there was a Japanese restaurant on the 2^nd floor but I was mostly interested in there tea.

http://www.ippodo-tea.co.jp/en/shop/ny.html

Hiroko's place

Hiroko’s place isn’t a place dedicated to tea but I absolutely wanted to mention it because I actually love that place. It is more known as a Japanese restaurant but it doesn't serve traditional foods like ramen or sushi. They have curry, omurice, French fries, a bit different from what you are probably used to.

They have a small selection of 5 teas and a few deserts for those who would like to stop for a small 4pm break, which I highly recommend as a shopping break in Soho.

I haven’t found any places like that in New York City yet. It’s a very cute place that releases a very special atmosphere. I would like to say this restaurant is a coffee place where you feel like home. There are a couple of tables, a piano, a shelf with Japanese manga and magazines, two sofas, and of course Japanese music.

When I entered the café, it was empty. I was the only customer. There was just the two cook, the three waitresses and ooji-sama (grandfather) as I like to say. I always see him there, sitting on the sofa, and I’ve never understood what he is actually doing, but I feel now he belongs to that place so each time I come, I know he will be there cutting some papers and stuff for some reasons I don't know.

Back to my story, I sat at a table near the window at the back and I could here all the employees talking all together in Japanese. I ordered one of my favorites desert: “a green tea parfait” and a hot Ceylon tea. The parfait reminds me some of my nostalgic time in Japan and I know I can only find it in that café.

Hiroko’s place, a well-chosen name that makes me think that each time I’m going there I’m actually going to a friend’s house.

http://www.hirokosplace.com/

(Closed on Wednesday)

Radiance Tea House & Books

It’s Tuesday 10am, I’m in the middle of the business area in midtown. As I am pushing the door, I can hear a traditional Chinese music. There is only 1 customer.  It is surprisingly peaceful.

I sat at a table for once and this time I ordered an ice tea, as the weather was too unbearable to drink a hot tea. As a difference from some other teahouse, this one provides particular home made ice teas served in a carafe. There is a special summer selection of a dozen different ice teas. If you feel fruitier, sweeter or anything else, don't worry you will find the tea that suits your taste.  You also know what is inside (flowers, raspberry, honey etc.) but especially you can see on the menu the benefits of each tea: weight loss, skin purification, blood cleaning etc. That also can help you to choose your tea. I thought that was a great idea.

Unfortunately, I haven’t found this teahouse very warm although I appreciated the place very much. I couldn't understand as the waiters were speaking Chinese, but it seemed they were quarreling. Both of them were fighting to get the customers. The customers could easily feel they were over watched. I didn't know if the lady was new and if she was watched by her boss but I found it ridiculous, annoying and disrespectful to behave that way in front of the customers. I hope it happened only once.

Besides that the tea was very good, I hope you will have the chance to try. 

http://www.radiancetea.com/

Tea Drunk

Located in the East Village in 7^th street and avenue A, Tea Drunk teahouse seeks authenticity. In that tiny teahouse there are only three tables, a bar with four sits, two waiters and seven customers.

As I entered the teahouse, I went to sit at the bar, as I usually do.

The owner proposes an important selection of Chinese tea that impressed me. 

They have a great selection of Oolong tea and pu-erh tea. I took a pu-erh tea called You Le, which is very light. 

The waiter explained me that the owner has imported the tea from China where she traveled for a couple of months. She explained that she wanted to select the tea by herself. To bring back the right tea, she worked with the Chinese people in the tea field and participated in each step. Her goal is to offer real Chinese tea experience to its customers.

I met a few customers to whom I talked. One of them discovered a long time ago Oolong tea. He used to drink only this tea. When he found that teahouse, he asked for some Oolong tea but the employee replied “which one?” He would have never imagined that there were different types of Oolong tea. For him oolong was oolong as a chair was a chair. There were more tea than he imagined. He tried all the tea and since then, he is a regular customer in the teahouse.

This teahouse also offers tea-tasting every Tuesday nights.

This is a place for real tea lovers who are seeking tea experience and who are willing to meet other tea lovers and talk about their personal experience. Something to try!

http://www.t-drunk.com/