JMTS 005: A Tea Lover's Guide to New York City's East Village
Though much better known for its nightlife, New York City’s East Village is a Mecca for tea lovers.
In fact, I'd wager that the East Village has more specialty tea shops per capita than any other neighborhood in the city.1
And no, we’re not talking tea bags (shudder!) here. We’re talking about places that take the quality of their tea leaves seriously. These shops and cafés offer an experience, an oasis of calm, an opportunity to learn something new about the pleasures of Camellia sinensis.
(Fun fact: all tea - green, black, oolong, or white - comes from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. How the leaves are manipulated and processed is what determines the color and style.)
Personally, I love tea. I love the taste. I love the way it makes me feel. But most of all I love the ritual.
A cup (or bowl) of tea is an invitation to pause, take a breather, and savor the moment. And - let’s be real - it gives me an excuse to enjoy something sweet while I’m at it.
The tea shops listed here all evoke a sense of place -- from the origin of the tea they serve, to the cultural heritage of the shopkeeper, to the unique role the shop plays in the neighborhood. Every single one of them will transport you.
Now that there’s a hint of crispness in the air, isn’t it the perfect time to enjoy a cuppa?2
Here are the nine special spots in NYC’s East Village for tea:
Cha-an Teahouse, est. 2004
230 E. 9th Street, 2nd Fl., New York, NY 10003 (between 2nd & 3rd Ave.)
www.chaanteahouse.com
Hours: Mon 3-8pm, Thurs 2-8pm, Fri 2-9pm, Sat 1-9pm, Sun 1-7pm. Closed Tuesday & Wednesday.
Climb the narrow staircase to Cha-an and step through a portal to Japan. Japanese tea and desserts are the specialty here - homemade mochi, black sesame crème brûlée, kakigori (shaved ice) with matcha syrup and red bean paste - served in a softly-lit, bamboo-accented, tranquil space. Green tea, white tea, kuromamecha (black soybean tea), tea cocktails… there’s something for everyone. The full-blown Afternoon Tea menu is available by special reservation only on Fridays and Sundays.
Cha-an Bonbon, est. 2019
238A E 9th St. New York, NY 10003
www.chaanteahouse.com
Hours: Thurs 1-6pm, Fri -Sun 1-7pm. Closed Monday - Wednesday.
The little sister of Cha-an, located a few doors east on 9th Street. Matcha lattes and hojicha soft serve parfaits are the draw here, or try the mochi-studded chocolate chip cookie for a unique treat. Takeout only.
Prince Tea House, est. 2020
204 E 10th Street, New York, NY 10003 (between 1st & 2nd Ave.)
www.princeteahouse.com
Hours: Sun-Thu 12pm - 11pm, Fri-Sat 12pm - 12am.
If floral patterned tea cups with matching saucers are more what you fancy, this location of Prince Tea House will get your pinkies up. The "Asian-European fusion" concept is exemplified by their signature Purple Yam Mille Crêpes Cake. Teas are sourced from France. Ample seating and a vast menu make it a popular hangout for NYU students.
Physical GraffiTea, est. 2011
96 St. Marks Place (between 1st Ave. & Ave. A)
physicalgraffitea.com
Hours: Daily 12pm - 7pm.
Located in the Physical Graffiti building once featured on a Led Zeppelin album cover, this temple to tea is a neighborhood fixture. Choose from floor-to-ceiling canisters filled with more than 200 types of loose leaf teas and herbal blends - either to brew at home or enjoy freshly steeped in the cosy ten-seat café. Stop by on the first Monday of every month for a workshop on the basics of brewing tea, taught by owner Ilana Malka.
Setsugekka 雪月華, est. 2017
74 E 7th Street, New York, NY 10003 (between 1st & 2nd Ave.)
www.setsugekkany.com
Hours: Weds - Sun 1pm – 5pm. Closed Monday & Tuesday.
Head to Setsugekka for high-quality matcha, expertly prepared for each customer by Japanese tea ceremony master Souheki Mori (or one of her students). Compare and contrast matcha from different tea growing regions, or take home the very special matcha stone-milled in-house. Ceramics and calligraphy exhibitions add to the ambiance of the small but welcoming space. Inquire about Japanese tea ceremony lessons held during off hours.
Kettl, est. 2020
348 Bowery, New York, NY 10012
kettl.co
Hours: Daily 9am-7pm. Book reservation for counter seats online.
You’ll find this tiny outpost of Brooklyn's Kettl, specializing in Japanese tea sourced from Fukuoka, improbably housed in a shack at the intersection of Bowery and Great Jones Street. The target audience here is discerning and spendy. Learn the difference between your sencha and hojicha while perched on one of three counter stools at the window, or wander west into fashionable Nolita with your iced matcha to go.
Kolkata Chai Co., est. 2019
199 E 3rd Street, New York, NY 10009 (between Ave. A & Ave. B)
kolkatachai.co
Hours: Mon - Sat 10am - 7pm, Sun 10am - 5:30pm.
Founded by two brothers, first-generation Indian Americans, on a mission to bring authentic, 'Aunty-approved' masala chai to NYC, and "Get rich or chai tryin'." With conviction, humor, and swagger, these guys deliver on their promise. Made from 100% organic Assam tea and your choice of milk, the fragrant chai is robustly spiced with cardamom, cloves, and anise. Pop-up events and collabs further underscore their commitment to community building. Limited seating, mostly outdoors.
JMTS Tip: Don't miss the excellent independent bookstore next door, Book Club!
Tea Dealers & Ceramics, est. 2017 (aka 29B Teahouse)
29 Ave B, New York, NY 10009 (between 2nd & 3rd St.)
www.teadealers.com
Hours: Thurs - Mon 12 - 6pm. Closed Tuesday & Wednesday.
For the true tea connoisseur, Tea Dealers & Ceramics offers premium and rare teas from around Asia, and artisan tea wares for sale. Previously a tasting room, the storefront is currently retail and takeout tea only. Unusual offerings like 'black matcha' from South Korea make it worth a special trip.
The Hideout Chai Bar, est. 2016
42 Rivington Street, New York, NY 10002
www.thehideoutnyc.com
Hours: Tues - Sun 10am - 7pm. Closed Monday.
It's not easy to encapsulate the essence of this place: oat milk craft chai served in Heath ceramics, in a minimalist, hiphop-infused café and gallery. Owned and operated by native New Yorker Chris Brunet, the idiosyncratic, meticulous, and rarely crowded hideout hits all the right notes — warming spices, super chill vibes.
Tea Lover's Guide to the East Village: Maps
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👋 O genki de ne,
Julia Morrison
This bold statement is not fact checked. If I only knew how to calculate such matters!
Or head to their websites and place an order online!