Tea shops and lounges have been popping up in the Bay area in the past few years, proffering multitudes of loose leaf teas from all over the globe. No longer just a fad with the health-conscious, tea lounges are the new hot spots to grab a hot or cold brew, catch up with friends and abuse the WiFi privileges — and they just may be giving the coffee joints a run for their money. Take a visit to one (or more) of the following tea spots in Tampa Bay and see what all the fuss is about.
GOT TEA? 2202 W. Waters Ave. Suite 4, Tampa, 813-930-0470, got-tea.com. A small shop located next to the popular Chinese restaurant Yummy House on Waters Avenue, Got Tea has smoothies, brewed and bubble teas, including tea slushies, in every flavor imaginable. Try the slightly sweet Taiwanese milk tea. Also serving hard-to-find Taiwanese dishes and the ever-popular Momo Delite frozen yogurt (think: Pinkberry). In addition, Got Tea has free Wi-Fi, some magazines and books, as well as popular Asian tunes playing in the background. —Carlos Hernandez
GREEN ISLAND FROZEN YOGURT N' TEA BAR 10047 E. Adamo Drive, Tampa, 813-374-9006, greenislandyogurt.com. Satisfying the boba ("bubble") tea craving of Brandon residents and surrounding areas, Green Island has become a popular spot in Brandon, providing a respectable number of brewed iced teas and milk teas in many flavors, coffee and smoothie flavors, as well as self-serve frozen yogurt with many toppings. A small food menu with Asian dishes and toast topped with fruits or savory items (think: open-faced sandwich) can hold you over if you're hungry during your visit. Offering free Wi-Fi, board games, and playing some of the latest Top 40 music in addition to some Asian soundtracks as well; a visit to Green Island can turn into hours of fun and games. —CH
HOOKER TEA COMPANY 300 Beach Drive NE, St. Pete, 727-894-4832, hookertea.com. One of the first shops in the Bay area to make tea "hip" (and give Starbucks a run for its money) and the recipient of the 2011 Best of the Bay Readers' Pick for Best Tea Shop, they must be doing something right. Offering a staggering assortment of fresh, loose leaf teas and blends from around the globe — from green and black to oolong and rooibos — for sale by the ounce or brewed and served hot or iced, as well as fancy tea pots and accessories. Enjoy it to go or in their charming shop on Beach Drive.
INFUSIONS LOUNGE 223 S. Howard Ave., Tampa, 813-443-5797, infusionslounge.com. Billing itself as "gastro pub meets tea lounge," Infusions is one of the newer tea lounges on the scene — a chill hangout spot at the end of the long line of crowded bars on the Howard Avenue strip. They've got over 80 tea choices, craft beers on tap, locally sourced foods on their ever-changing menu and all of the art adorning the walls is for sale. As for entertainment, Infusions hosts local musicians, DJs and open mic nights on a weekly basis.
KALEISIA TEA LOUNGE 1441 E. Fletcher Ave., Tampa, 813-977-8266, thetealounge.com. Popular among college students at the nearby University of South Florida and vegans for their vegan food options. Over 100 loose leaf teas to choose from, smoothie options and boba ("bubble") teas. Weekly events include free tea tastings, happy hour deals and workshops on everything from knitting to comedy writing. Kaleisia creates a relaxing atmosphere to have a drink with a few friends, game night, or to have a meeting in the back. —CH
MING MING TEA CO. 7214 Central Ave., St. Pete, 727-623-0920, mingmingtea.com. Talk about knowing your product: Owner Ming Ming grew up on her parents' 650-year-old Huang Tea Farm in the Fujian Province of China, where some of the finest teas in the world are produced. Now these teas — handpicked by Ming Ming herself — are available at her and her husband Gregg's shop in St. Pete. Not only can they provide you with an excellent selection of Asian teas, they're always glad to inform guests about all of the health benefits of their products.
T AND ME TEA COMPANY 2908 1/2 Beach Blvd. S, Gulfport, 727-331-5253, tandmeteaco.com. The new kid on the block in downtown Gulfport, T and Me is a cafe that specializes in loose-leaf teas from around the world, available loose or brewed hot or iced down. Their signature drink is the "Frost Tea": a freshly brewed tea slushy that is tasty and addictive. Also serving a variety of light bites including spring rolls, rice bowls, crepes and frittata. Need "special-tea" accessories? They've got everything from infuser mugs and teapots to full tea serving sets.
TEBELLA TEA COMPANY 227 E. Davis Blvd., Tampa, 813-254-1212, tebellatea.com. Carrying nearly 100 loose leaf teas, including certified Fair Trade and organic selections, available by the ounce or brewed while you wait. TeBella selects teas for their freshness, flavor, quality and sustainability — teas you can feel good about purchasing. Their certified organic teas are free of synthetic chemicals and grown with eco-friendly fertilization and pest control practices. They also carry tea infusers, pots and pitchers. Grab a sweet treat to pair with your drink, like French macarons or a gourmet cupcake made by local artisans.
TEAVANA 2223 N. West Shore Blvd, International Plaza, Tampa, 813-354-0055; 7961 Citrus Park Town Center, Tampa, 813-818-1550, teavana.com. Though it is a chain, Teavana paved the way for specialty tea shops in Tampa Bay (and beyond), offering an array of white, black, green, maté, oolong and such way before the rest of these independent shops came onto the scene — and giving a tastier alternative to a bitter cup of joe from Starbucks. Teavana still resides in the International Plaza and Citrus Park malls selling loose and brewed teas, as well as accessories and some exquisite-looking tea sets.
This article appears in Oct 13-19, 2011.