- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Vital Tea Leaf
Rating Details »
Neighborhood: Downtown
1401 1st Avenue, Seattle
Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 262-1628
1401 1st Avenue, Seattle
Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 262-1628
- Hours:
Mon-Sun. 10:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
13 reviews for Vital Tea Leaf
We were walking to the market when I saw this place. I thought I would grab a quick tea and get on with the day. I was wrong.
The whole family sat and we were thoroughly entertained. I think we must have tried 20 suggestions and we ended walking out with about 6 different kinds of tea. I can't emphasize enough how fun this was. We were really sitting for a show that included some tea tasting. The stories were interesting and the corny jokes were timely. After explaining about some of the rarest teas ion the world and how it grows in one area in china and can only be picked three days a year, we received a free sample. This stuff is HUNDREDS of dollars. Tasted like tea, but I never told him that. It was the thought that counted. We also had some Monkey Pick which was explained as tea that was harvested by trained monkeys. It grows on a cliff and they are trained to go over, with a rope tied on, and pick these leaves. Of course I had to buy some, just the visual image makes me smile... All these industrious little monkeys climbing over a cliff and filling their packs with tea leaves.
This is a great place to spend and hour with friends or the family.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
We stopped by this store to use up the extra 15 minutes of parking we had left, and were very pleasantly surprised by what we experienced.
We were seated and served tea after tea (oolong, green tea, rose, etc). We learned so much about brewing tea-- cleansing the leaves, the temperature and time it takes to brew different teas. I discovered that I had been brewing tea the wrong way for my entire life. And who knew that different tea could be so distinguished and flavorful? They have great high-quality tea. Lychee was my favorite.
They were a bit too pricey for my wallet, but I'd like to go again and again (:
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (2)
I've been looking for Oolong ti kuan yin tea for a while, and haven't been able to find it anywhere. I stopped down the road at another tea shop and they told me to check out Vital Tea. I'm so glad that I did--even though the stuff isn't cheap, I was informed of just how many times I can steep each serving (this is great, as it brings down the cost--I drink a lot!), as well as how long to steep. Both bits of information were really helpful, as I wouldn't have known otherwise and would probably have just assumed. Sure it was pricey, but compared to the stuff that I bought (hoping it would suffice), the flavor and the quality is far better...and I'm no sort of tea expert. The salesgirls were very helpful and explained the benefits of the tea that I was in search for--even pinpointing the exact one I was looking for even when I forgot the name! I'll definitely be back!
By the way, if you're trying to shake coffee, this is the stuff for you.
It is important to note that this is a retail store, not a tea house. If you want to sit down and have some tea you can, and even better, for free. As long as you go in willing to try what they offer to make you, as opposed to demanding specific samples, you'll be treated to an amazing assortment of Chinese teas, and be surprised at the care that goes into making it.
I love this place. They've really helped me discover Chinese tea and I'm eternally grateful for it. They'll let you try the tea for free, and if you aren't into it, you can walk a way; I'm now a regular and I have never seen anyone pressured into anything as one reviewer claimed. The same reviewer claimed they were not knowledgeable, I also have not found that to be the case. They have explained the origin of any tea I've asked about in great detail, so I'm not sure where that review is coming from, but I can only speak from my own experience.
The tea varies greatly in price and quality. You can get lower quality teas at very affordable prices, and you can also shell out top dollar for superior quality. It's like anything else, you pay for what you get.
For a decent quality oolong, I'd roughly estimate $25 for a 2 month supply assuming you drink it a few times a week.
They also have a whole section devoted to tea ware, if it seems overwhelming ask for guidance and advice, they are happy to help.
If you'd like to discover some tea hit this place up, it's pretty eye opening.
edit: oh wow, the photo from InnaB is one I took for UW's newspaper, nice of her to credit it to me. here's the link to that review (only the photos are mine, not the writing): http://dailyuw.com/200...
I was walking through the market with a friend of mine and we decided to stop here and rest our feet. She and I spent the next half hour or so trying various teas. I found it interesting and educational to watch them prepare the teas. I ended up walking home with several of the teas that I sampled
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
While wandering around Pike Place Market, we stumbled on this little gem of a store.
How can you say no to sampling some tea? I couldn't!
I learned so much in that 15 minutes of sitting there. I learned that the way I was brewing my loose leaf tea was all wrong, and I learned that not all teas are created equal.
After all was said and tasted, I walked away with a wonderful variety of new and delicious teas to make at home: my favorite chrysamthemun, energizing oolong and ginseng, soothing mint and tasty lychee black tea.
The tea is pricier than you would expect, but after comparing it to the tea I have at home now, there is a HUGE difference in quality. I think it was money well spent!
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
Be prepared to stay a while at Vital Leaf, as the folks who work there want you to try everything before you go. If you're prepared to sit down and try some very tasty teas and chat with very nice Taiwanese ladies, though, it's a really great shopping experience. They have a large selection of very high quality teas, mostly Chinese and Taiwanese, but also Japanese and Korean. The Taiwanese oolong selection is superb, and is what I return for (dong ding oolong is my preferred everyday drink), but you'll also find many herbal, red, green and black teas. They also have several ginseng-coated varieties. Everything they have is available to taste, and sometimes they'll even send you home with free samples. The prices are fair, but be aware that since these are fine teas it's not cheap. If you want cheap tea, go to Uwajimaya.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
I drink a lot of tea, and it ain't no dusty teabag stuff.
Most of the time, I order from online catalogs (SpecialTeas is great) that carry my favorites: keemums, yunnans, and chocolatey black teas from Fujian province.
Vital Tea Leaf doesn't carry anything that dark, but they do carry oolongs, greens, whites, scented and herbal Chinese teas. Their Seattle location is at the edge of Pike's Place Market, ideally situated for tourists eager to experience something new, which seems to fit with their business model.
The Boy and I sat down next to some overly excited social geeks in town for the Penny Arcade Expo, so we got to witness how they handle complete tea newbies. It was a gracious but accessible crash course in "real" tea, complete with explanations about water temperature, which teas will get bitter if you steep them too long, relative levels of caffeine, and how the flavor of a tea changes over multiple infusions.
All that was old hat for us, but the teas we tasted were pretty different from my usual fare. I rarely drink really floral greens, and have basically never touched ginseng-laced tea, rose petal infused tea, or some of the other things we were offered. Their "roasted" green was pretty standard, and their pu-erh was mild instead of the intense earthy I'm used to. Their oolong was high-quality but not especially complex.
But the real standout -- and maybe this is just because I'd never had this kind of tea before -- was what they called "energy tea," or "Blue People." It's a fermented Taiwanese green blend with ginseng powder, with a unique aftertaste to it... you can inhale through your mouth up to a minute later and get this really unusual sweet sensation on your tongue. We bought a quarter pound for $30, which is on the high end for my tea budget.
I'm not a tea expert, just an enthusiast, but here's what I can say: the teas here are interesting, the employees presenting them are friendly and engaging, and they have at least a decent working knowledge of tea. If you include the tea-tasting in the cost of your purchase, it's a good value, especially if you're new to tea and want someone to walk you through the basics. If not, it's kind of pricey, so learn what you like here, and seek out other sources on the internet.
Like Hitomi K., I was taken aback by the clear glass storage vessels on the shelves, but the tea we actually bought was pre-wrapped in a sealed, light-impermeable bag. And as for the "health benefits" -- the catechins (a type of flavenoid) in green tea have been empirically proven to lower cancer risk, but as for the rest, well... anytime you mix [unfamiliar culture X] with gullible American consumers, you're dealing in platitudes. Just mentally insert the phrase "my great aunt used to say " before any claim, and you'll be good to go. Then if you want, go look up Chinese traditional medicine on Wikipedia later -- the whole history behind it is pretty fascinating.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
A nice little tea shop with a wide variety of teas. The customer service was also very friendly and helpful, yet did not feel the need to explain to me all the characteristics about certain teas and what it might do for me unless I asked about it. I didn't really have much time, so I wasn't able to sit and taste test some teas. But I like how the place is much more Chinese unlike some other very western Tea places. The tea prices however are pretty expensive. I.E. I bought their Jade Pearl which is one of their medium priced maybe medium-low priced teas, and for 2 oz, it still cost me about $10. Ouch. So yeah definitely not a place to buy your daily tea, more for special occasions.
~G
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Cool (1)
This is a relatively new shop around the Pike Place market area. And hopefully, it will be there for a long time to come. I walked by here a few times, sometimes peering inside to look at the beautiful Asian teapots. But a week ago, I decided to adventure inside.
We were greeted by the owner and asked to sit down and try some tea. It's not an authentic tea house. It had a very urban zen retreat feel to it. Mainly the store sells bulk loose tea, tea sets, and offers tea tastings.
The whole shop has a very open feel to it and spans across the hallway. One side contains the tea leaves and tea bar. The other containing teacups and teapots.
The owner is very friendly and asked our preferences on tea and began making us delicious cups of tea. White Jasmine, Rose bud, Monkey Picked Green, and my favorite and his Dragon Well Green.
Tea is quickly becoming a new obsession with me and he helped me learn so much just in one sitting. He's very willing to answer question and truly enjoys the art of tea.
While the tea tasting is free, the tea itself will startle most people. Most of them are priced at $100 for a pound. This is fairly normal for a wonderful tea leaf, which is what he provides. And a pound of tea goes a long way. (it sure isn't Lipton) But for most people getting a 1/4 pound is quite affordable and even asking for a smaller, more affordable amount is not out of the question.
I ended up really enjoying the Monkey Picked Tea and splurged on a 1/4 pound. Nothing like having tea picked by a monkey! I also got a little of his Dragon Well to try against my regular variety.
Truly a lovely experience.
*sidenote*
Apparently, the one in San Fran seems to have more issues, as in false information and pushy sales. This place didn't seem to do that, at least to me. And while some of the teas are overpriced, many of the other ones such as the Monkey Picked are more honestly priced. Just be wise if you are new to tea.
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Cool (3)
My mother and I have become avid tea drinkers over the past couple of years. Therefore every time my mother comes to visit Seattle we take a trip to Vital Tea Leaf and sit and chat with the women there while trying new and exciting teas. We always end up buying something new. Favorites include Silver Needle, Blue Tea, Blue People, and Lychee Black. While the prices are quite high the tea lasts a very long time if you brew it correctly and the tea service is fun, educational and quite beautiful with the glass pots. This will continue being one of the first places I bring visitors to the city.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
i was sad to see vital tea leaf's brand of hustle has made its way to seattle too. there's a lot of misinformation being dealt out about tea from these guys. and a lot of low quality teas being proffered as rare with a rarified price tag.
go and visit, but please keep in mind that:
1. these are not tea people. they are business folks who have likely not been to the chinese tea gardens before.
2) they sell tea at two times the price of reputable tea places.
3) the teas are sub-par. i saw dragonwell that was a blend of stale leaves and newer stock. gross.
go at your own risk.
People thought this was:
- Useful (4)
- Cool (1)
This is strictly a tea store where you can also buy goods associated with tea preparation, tea storage and tea drinking. They have a good assortment of tea pots from China. Vital Tea Leaf is not a tea house and it is not the place to go if you are looking to sit and drink a pot of tea.
They offer several teas to taste. The staff is not very informative and some of them can apply high pressure to buy something once you have sampled some of the teas. Also the teas are made with water that is not heated enough which makes the tea warm and not very hot.
I will not return to purchase tea leaves.
