Yoshantea

This business could benefit from a bit more signage or explanation of what they sell. The establishment is divided into a very high end shop that sells loose tea leaves and a place you can sit and have tea. The shop part tanges from $40 to $300 for 100g of tea so not for a casual purchase. There are no signs nor did the store associate explain what they sold in the tea shop. We asked about the tea tasting that is mentioned in some of the reviews but were told you need to reserve two days in advance. We then asked if they serve any kind of tea and were handed a menu. The menu didn't make clear it was a personal pot of tea but this was quickly explained after we ordered one tea.

After figuring this out we settled to a thoroughly enjoyable experience. We each had our own tea set that came with a kettle of hot water, a tea pot, a cup to smell the aroma of the tea, and a tea cup to drink out of. We had probably around 8 cups of tea in a beautiful and peaceful environment.

Today I will be reviewing my tea tasting experience at Yoshantea.

I found this place by simply driving by it. It looked neat so I called to see what it was about (I love all things tea).

The tea tasting experience is about 20 bucks

A very sweet lady guided us through a tea tasting of a variety of Oolong teas as well as an osmanthus and another tea whose name I forgot (oriental something)

She took her time with us and taught us about tea, the region it comes from, the weather the tea grows in, how's its made, it's history, brewing techniques and even ideal material for tea sets like clay etc. She was fun and very engaging. She guided us in finding the notes in the tea and it was just an overall great experience. I'd like to go back with some more friends soon

You can also just go and purchase fine teas without the tea tasting experience

This is a review on the tea tasting experience.

Right off the bet, even before the tasting started, we were asked by Betty, the SOLE worker in the shop, to ensure we have enough cash for tips. It appears we are the first tea tasting group that morning, though knowing the time of our reservations, there was no setup ready. It felt like Betty was all over the place with setup while trying to cover up her unpreparedness. There was no grace that should normally come with the calmness of tea tasting.

When things are finally setup, customers come in and Betty left us unattended for two times at least 10 minutes each. One time was even after mentioning to her we have lunch reservations and need to leave soon. We ended up serving ourselves the tea just so we can finish tasting all the teas before having to leave.

It's true that business is hard, but if there is no capacity to serve a tea tasting and walk in customers, maybe management need to review the approach so service is not horrible for both. And the nerve to still want that cash tip after providing extremely subpar service is just shameful.

Will not be returning and will not be recommending the tasting nor the tea to anyone.

This place is worth visiting over and over again! I decided to sit for another tea tasting and had the pleasure of having Betty talk my friend and I through the tea selection and process. It was the most relaxing and educational hour we had in such a long time. Betty did an amazing job of giving us a detailed presentation of how to prepare the tea, how the tea is processed, the key notes we should taste, and so much more. My friend and I are already making preparations to come back to take their roasting course. Every dollar you spend here is well worth it!

My friend and I did the tea tasting ($39 for two people), which was a fun experience. My parents thought it was expensive for a tea tasting, but I think the 1.5 hour experience was worth it. Ann answered all our questions and seemed really knowledgeable and willing to help. She actually spoke in Mandarin to us, but also offered the option of Cantonese or English.

We came on a Sunday when it wasn't too packed. You're supposed to make a reservation, but we got lucky that it wasn't busy. We were told to come back an hour later, so we got a quick bite before heading back to the tea shop. The tasting is done one-on-one/two so it makes sense that you need a reservation. Oops.

I like hot tea but don't know much about it. I tend to like the default jasmine tea served in Chinese restaurants (LOL, if that even is the correct tea). Neither my friend nor I like boba/milk teas, though.

Tea tasting teas: Four oolong teas, one oriental beauty tea (also oolong, actually), and one black tea. It was very informative. Who knew it was possible to actually roast the caffeine out of tea? Counter-intuitively, more roasting means less caffeine.

The lightly fermented/fresh oolong tea was my favorite. Sadly not available as a tea bag, although there are similar versions.

You can get individual tea bags at $1.85 each, sets of one flavor for around $18, or if you choose 16 tea bags they give you a nice box to package the tea bags in. Teas can go well into the hundreds of dollars here, but we never felt pressured to buy at any point. I did buy tea bags to try.

They also offer takeaway drink options. I would definitely love to try those next time. The atmosphere of this place was so relaxed and quiet. It's a great place to study.

It's also free to sign up for a VIP card which helps you earn points. I believe after spending $200 you get 10% off all future purchases.

With its upscale furnishings, good quality bougie tea and great service, YoshanteaLA is something you would imagine in Century City or Pasadena. So, it's definitely a nice surprise to have them open in Arcadia which I think helps to diversify the businesses here.

What they offer in a nutshell:
- Top notch tea from Taiwan for purchase in a variety of sizes ($20s-$150+)
- Tea pots and sets
- Tea tasting (~45 minutes for $19.50/person)
- 'Dine in' DIY Tea (tea set on loan during your stay + pastry for about $10.95/person, exact price depends on the tea)

I only did the tea tasting and ordered drink to-go, so I'll just be talking more about those.

***Tea tasting***
Reservations required just by calling them in advance. Sharon was in charge of my tea tasting and she was very friendly and knowledgeable about the history of the company, different tea preparation techniques, stories of the origins of the tea, and how to drink the tea. I was given five different oolong teas + black tea to taste. These aren't the complicated tea blends you would find in some tea shops, but they are teas in their truest and purest form. A standout to me was the Osmanthus Oolong Tea. Just a few moments after the infusion with hot water, a beautiful floral, sweet aroma came out and I could actually taste the sweet undertones! (Won't be syrup sweet just saying but subtle sweet as Mother Nature intended).

What surprised me was how much nuances there were in each of the teas. Over time, the flavors themselves changed. In particular, I felt the Fresh Dong Ding Tea became more and more "full" of flavor and the Oriental Beauty Tea's natural sweetness was more present in my second round of tasting and then faded in subsequent rounds. Who knew that each tea could give you a different journey of its own.

Towards the end, you would expect them to go into sell mode, but in fact they didn't! I actually asked about the products on the shelves myself. Even then, she wasn't pushy at all and I felt so much at ease.

***Takeaway/To-Go Menu***
Like what other Yelpers have said, there's no boba. I did order the heavy roasted Dong Ding Tea milk tea with half sugar and was curious how this compares to the roasted oolong milk teas from your usual boba shops. Obviously the tea quality will be different but I'd also say that the sugar content is finally Asian normal! It's not hitting you with sugar tea water unlike how others do it. Though, I can imagine that some folks with a sweet tooth would want probably at least 100% sugar.

***Location*** If you're a local then you would know this place is just a few blocks away from Arcadia High School and public library! Who knew huh? Parking lot is behind the store and can be accessed from Santa Anita right before Duarte Road (before the gas station) or the tiny entrance on Duarte Road. So beware of the afterschool traffic right past 3pm.

There is a calmness that I immediately felt when we entered this tea house. Sharon was so helpful and welcoming. Her knowledge base is incredible as we learned so much about the various types of oolong tea, the growing, harvesting, and steeping.

We chose roasted dongding a new variety to us and look forward to enjoying our tea adventure.

Will be back to this tea house next time we are in the area. Free parking right our front.

Highly recommend.

Say all you want, as a customer, I am entitled to my experiences at this his establishment.
Barrage and lengthy rebuffs doesn't make you right, nor how I feel about my experience.

I feel like I understand tea now!
My husband has been getting more and more into tea, and I've tried a few here and there, never really getting it. While passing through the area he checked for a tea shop and found this place.
It was quiet and serene, but Jennifer and Anne were very friendly, informative, and welcoming. They sat with us to explain the teas we were testing (prior to purchasing them) and we got to experience a lovely tea tasting. It was very calming and they are so knowledgeable. Getting to watch Anne make the teas like she has a doctorate in tea making was incredible. She guided us through multiple brews and really took the time to make sure our tea was perfect.

And boy was it. I enthusiastically wanted to buy more tea! I can't wait for my husband to brew us some and maybe do a little mindful tea-drinking on our own. Absolutely can't wait to come back here for the tea tasting services.

Yoshantea Tea House is a high quality, traditional Taiwanese tea shop located in Arcadia, just down the street from the Westfield Santa Anita Mall. Established in 1880 in Taiwan, Yoshantea has a very rich history of growing and making quality teas, and the taste speaks for itself. Between the history, great service, delicious tea snacks, relaxing ambiance, and rejuvenating teas, Yoshantea should be on every tea lover's radar.

I have been here twice now, and both experiences have exceeded expectations. The place itself is rather small, but the space is well-designed and feels sophisticated. It provides a very calm environment, perfect for relaxation on a Sunday afternoon. Towards the front is the shop, where you can buy gift boxes, tea ware, and drinks to go, and towards the back is where you can dine in and brew tea yourself. I highly recommend staying for a few rounds of tea and enjoying yourself here.

Full disclosure, I'm no tea expert by any means. I actually don't usually drink it at all, as I don't care much for it, but every tea I've tried here has tasted great. My friends who are really into tea also love this place, which is why we will likely be back at some point soon, despite not living in the area. For about $8, you can choose from a long list of teas and brew it yourself at your table. Don't worry about not knowing how to do it, because the servers will explain everything you need to know to make your own perfect glass. The $8 do-it-yourself kit comes with complementary gourmet snacks, as well, and lasts about 7-8 rounds (cups).

If you've never been, but enjoy tea, I'd definitely recommend checking this spot out. It can be a quick 30-45 minute visit, or a more lengthy experience based on your needs. I'd recommend at least a good 45 minutes to not be rushed, however. Service is great, and the shop in front has great gift options for tea lovers. Prices are a little high for some of their teas, but for the basic experience, it can be quite cheap, especially considering the quality. I also think it provides a very unique experience in the San Gabriel Valley that I haven't seen elsewhere. And yes, I've looked for similar places to this and was unsuccessful. Go ahead and give this place a try!