Teance has a very retail-packaging forward presence. You might not realize on entering that it’s also a cozy tea house. You can order any tea they sell at the counter and drink it at the tea bar or at a table in their upstairs loft.
Teance has some very good teas, but their pricing is somewhat high. Their staff feels more barista-like than some of the finer tea shops. Don’t expect to do a traditional gongfu tasting here. I’m pretty sure they had hoped to have this model in mind (based on the furnishings and tea bar setup) when they first opened.
Still, places like this are rare, they have some great teas, and an obviously loyal group of tea drinkers spend time here. It’s one of my regular places to drink and explore new teas.
This is an excellent tea house for casual relaxation and tea enjoyment. The tea selection is actually quite good — primarily Taiwanese and Chinese teas, but also some Tisanes, Chai and other teas.
After ordering at the counter, individual pots and tea are brought to your table. A small electric tea kettle is provided there so you can steep and resteep to your own liking.
A great place to drink tea and read a book for a few hours on a gray day.
Excellent shop for Chinese and Taiwanese teas, particularly Oolongs and Hong Cha. Gongfu tasting of three teas with the owner is $10. This is a serious tea shop, and the gongfu tasting is intimate. Peter, the owner, is very knowledgeable and engaging.
Song Tea and Ceramics is a lovely, high-end, stylish shop. Think mid-century design-aesthetic plus expertly curated and packaged teas. The ceramic tea ware are lovely. If you’re in the mood to splurge on tea ware, this is a good place.
I’ll be back, however, for the tastings.
