Steeped in Seattle

Hipsters to a Tea

Although tea is definitely the focus at Remedy Teas—with its 150 organic loose-leaf teas from all over the globe—this is not your grandmother’s tea service. The Capitol Hill cafe’s ultra-mod décor draws an artsy, hipster clientele, giving the tea-drinking experience a trendy-nouveau twist. Here you’ll find a contemporary, casual “high tea,” complete with tea sandwiches, scones, and on the opposite side of the hip-tea spectrum, a menu chock-full of organic tea smoothies and tea lattes. Matcha vanilla mint latte, anyone?

Good to know:

All of the teas available in the cafe can be purchased through Remedy’s online store.

Also try:

Miro Tea, where the drink menu stars fusions like a Green Tea Mojito and a tea-infused hot chocolate or Steepologie with 250+ loose leaf tea blends and herbals, plus a steep bar for hot or chilled tea.

Serious English High-Tea Timers

For a very traditional take on tea, both The Georgian in the Fairmont Olympic Hotel and the Queen Mary Tea Room in Ravenna serve fancy finger sandwiches and tea cakes accompanied by fine bone china brimming with steaming selections of quality teas. The Georgian is the pick when it comes to sipping in an opulent setting (think lavish chandeliers, Palladian windows, and crisp linens). Less-formal Queen Mary, though still elegant in its own right, features traditional English home comforts, heavy floral drapes, ornate wall décor, the occasional Union Jack, and tea paraphernalia dripping off the shelves.

Good to know:

Both The Georgian and Queen Mary offer children’s tea menus, and reservations are highly recommended.

Also try:

Hotel Sorrento’s Holiday Tea in December, where sweet and savory bites pair perfectly with black, herbal, and green tea—plus a select cocktail menu.

Asian Tea Culturists

Downtown’s Vital Tea Leaf Seattle offers free tea tastings every day of the week, from 11am to 7pm. Beside the delicious taste of rare and imported teas that are difficult to find anywhere else, you can learn everything you ever wanted to know about Chinese tea and tea culture. Also stock up on a stunning array of ceramic and porcelain tea sets. Meanwhile, Panama Hotel Tea & Coffee House, built in 1910 by Japanese-American architect Sabro Ozasa, stars exposed-brick walls and teas from around the world. Snuggle into a comfy chair while enjoying brews such as Jasmine Pearls, Jade Oolong, or West Cape Chai.

Good to know:

Ask servers at Vital Tea Leaf for picks based on your flavor preferences, and inquire at Panama Hotel about the Japanese bathhouse in the basement.

Also try:

Gossip Espresso & Tea, Oasis Tea Zone, and Seattle’s slew of other bubble tea joints, which feature dozens of flavors with chewy tapioca balls.

Courtesy The Georgian

GO:

*The Georgian 411 University St; fairmont.com/seattle/dining/thegeorgiantea • Gossip Espresso & Tea 651 S King St; gossip-tea.com • *Hotel Sorrento’s Holiday Tea 900 Madison St; hotelsorrento.com/menu/holiday-tea • Miro Tea 5405 Ballard Ave NW; mirotea.com • Oasis Tea Zone 606 E Pine St; oasisteazone.com • Panama Hotel Tea & Coffee House 605½ S Main St; panamahotelseattle.com • Queen Mary Tea Room 2912 NE 55th St; queenmarytea.com • Remedy Teas 345 15th Ave E; remedyteas.com • Vital Tea Leaf Seattle 1401 First Ave and 2003 Western Ave, Ste 109; vtlseattle.com •

*Visit Seattle partner