The Random Tea Room

This brisk, full-bodied classic hails from the mountains of sri lanka – formerly ceylon, hence the name of all tea grown there. Our house ceylon is on a rotating basis, meaning that we frequently offer different teas from different tea estates & regions, seeking quality & diversity of flavor – but it will always have that characteristic “brisk” flavor for which ceylon teas have come to be prized. Ask your tea tender about the source of our current selection. This brew can be enjoyed w/ or without the addition of milk or sugar.

An exotic, aromatic brew composed of harmutty estate assam blended w/ green cardamom seed, cinnamon, clove, star anise, black pepper & fresh ginger. (This house blend is similar to the mixture used as the basis of flavor for our chai masala. )

Also known as red bush tea, rooibos (pronounced “roy-bus”) is a mineral-rich & highly antioxidant herbal beverage from south africa. Naturally caffeine-free, its flavor is somewhat similar to black tea, though very low in tannins so it doesn’t turn bitter if steeped for too long. Rooibos is characteristically mild & aromatic w/ a slightly citric sweetness & is excellent hot or iced. This herbal tisane can also stand up to milk or sugar.

A fruity delight, the red berry fruit melange is composed of blueberries, black currants, elder berries, grapes & hibiscus. Packed full of vitamins & an excellent choice for kids & grown-ups alike!

A smooth,‏‏ slightly smoky, full-bodied tea made from the broad-leafed tea varietal "dayeh" from yunnan province. Many of the leaves are gold-tipped, which results in a more complex flavor & a deep amber liquor. Exceedingly drinkable, this tea can stand up to milk and/or sugar, but we recommend first trying it alone.

This delectable brew comes from fujian province, a region also revered for its green, white & oolong teas. Surprisingly sweet, mellow, complex & smooth, w/ a tantalizing chocolate aroma.

Tenderly plucked, large silvery buds from the famous mountain where the monks of the buddhist drum mountain monastery grew their tea for centuries. Drum mountain is our house white, exemplifying the slightly sweet nature of white tea, but adding a nuanced vegetal tone often associated w/ only the most refined chinese greens. Drum mountain can be enjoyed morning, noon or night, but is always best relished on its own.

A very‏‏ special house blend of organic pai mu tan (white peony white tea) & cha hua (tea flowers) . Our cha hua hail from jing mai mountain in southern yunnan, where the tea trees range from 800 – 1,200 years old. Every fall the tea trees blossom just before producing seeds & going into winter hibernation. Cha hua have a floral & fruity flavor, recalling apricot or honeydew on the nose, w/ a subtle sweet flavor hinting of fig. Delicious & soothing w/ only trace amounts of caffeine. The addition of pai mu tan to these tea flowers adds body, balance & a nutty character. Enjoy this harmonious pairing in a gaiwan any time of day or night.

Our house darjeeling from the namring estate displays a full-bodied yet mild flavor while retaining the classic crisp flavor associated w/ darjeeling, offering notes of citrus, spice & earth. Perfect in the morning or afternoon, this tea can stand up to milk or sugar, but we recommend first trying it on its own to fully appreciate its quality & complexity.

A blend of peppermint, wild yam, chamomile, fennel, licorice & dried ginger. Designed to soothe the digestive system, whether the sourness is related to the stomach or the intestinal track.

A blend of cinnamon, chamomile, nettle, marshmallow root, dandelion, clove, fresh ginger, lemon, licorice & elder berries. Designed to support the immune system when under attack, in times of health, or just when “something’s been going around.”

A blend of yerba mate, peppermint, lapacho, licorice, nettle & fresh ginger. Designed to reduce inflammation (headache much? ) , Detoxify the blood & put a spring back in your step. Contains caffeine.

A blend of chamomile, kava, lemon balm, motherwort, lavender & passionflower. Designed to assist the body in alleviating stress & worn nerves. Very relaxing. This is calm in a cup.

A house-blended tea composed of the trinity of our house ceylon, harmutty estate assam & organic south cloud chinese red tea.

Harmutty estate assam blended w/ green cardamom seed, cinnamon, clove, star anise, black pepper & fresh ginger. (This house blend is similar to the mixture used as the basis of flavor for our chai masala. )

Sencha is a large family of steamed japanese green teas spanning every grade from coarse to sublime. Our house sencha is a pleasant everyday tea that is vegetal & slightly sweet. This sencha also makes a great iced tea during the warmer months & pairs marvelously w/ lemongrass, ginger & all citrus.

Roasted brown rice & whole leaf japanese green tea are happily married for this classic blend. The toasty, nutty flavor soothes the spirit in colder months & also makes for a gentle iced beverage.

Matcha is a powdered green tea of the highest caliber used in the japanese tea ceremony, chanoyu. It is the unquestionable pinnacle of japanese tea-making. The color of matcha is a deep emerald, & its flavor is intensely vegetal (think wheatgrass) & quite viscous, offering an unrivalled taste sensation. Our shouhaku matcha (meaning “pines & oak trees”) is a “thin tea,” (surprisingly, they get even thicker) & is one of the favored teas of renowned urasanke tea sensei hounsai daisosho. Matcha is vigorously whisked w/ a bamboo tool called a “chasen” in a special matcha bowl called a “chawan,” & as such, the portion is small & cannot be made to go. Chawan (bowl) :

This light, floral, fruity & softly sweet green oolong is affectionately referred to as “the princess of teas.” the leaf style of this winter harvest taiwanese specialty is twisted as opposed to rolled like many other oolongs, yielding a depth of flavor upon the first steeping that often takes rolled oolongs several steepings to achieve. An elegant, delicate brew that is to be savored like a fine wine – on its own.

Our darkest, nuttiest oolong, the king’s tea is infused w/ ginseng, lending its already rich character a sweet finish. It is uncanny: the more you drink, the sweeter the air you inhale becomes. Plainly, king’s tea offers an unrivalled flavor sensation, & due to this quality, it is steadfastly pursued by its devotees once they’ve discovered it.

A cooked‏‏ pu-erh that is shaped into small nest-like cakes & wrapped in paper, tuocha is one of the most popular forms of pu-erh – cooked or raw. Earthy & smooth. Come in for a pot after your next big meal.

From meng hai, china, large mature leaves pressed & aged bring about a refinement of tannins that develop more of a sweet taste w/ the damp aroma indicative to a quality pu-erh. The color is a rich dark burgundy w/ a taste that is smooth, rich & thick. Several brews are recommended & reflect the crispness of fresh forest floor after the rain.

The royale is scented w/ extra bergamot & is comprised of only whole leaf chinese black tea for a high-quality, intoxicating earl grey experience.

The queen of jasmine. Each ball or “pearl” of tea buds is individually hand-rolled! The perfect touch of only the finest jasmine essence will send your senses reeling. An ethereal delight.

Our house yerba mate is shade-grown in brazil. It is full-bodied w/ notes of chocolate & earth & will surely put a spring in your step.

This version of mate is roasted to a rich chocolate hue, exhibiting aromatics of sweet tobacco & leather that lead into flavors of cacao, toffee & toasted grains. Widely popular in brazil as a base to be mixed w/ fruit juice, this is an earthy, full-bodied beverage that can be enjoyed hot, iced, w/ or without milk & sweetener. A dark & mysterious diversion for the mate lover!