I find buying tea incredibly intimidating. I know nothing about tea culture, mainly because I’m never exposed to it. You can find good coffee pretty much anywhere these days, but tea? It’s usually sold as an afterthought; you get a cup of hot water and maybe a choice between a couple of tea bags. Why does tea get so little respect? I think it’s odd that that’s the case in this town (some might argue that a certain “tea party” put Boston on the map, after all!).
So like many modern Bostonians, I didn’t give tea much thought until I had to buy a present for a person who loves it. I knew that a quick trip to the supermarket wasn’t going to cut it. So it was with some trepidation and a great deal of hope that I walked into TeaLuxe. Tea is all they do, and they do it well.
The Newbury Street location has a busy outdoor patio perfect for people watching and a bistro-like basement area complete with a “tea bar.” The interior is done in dark woods with red banquettes lining the walls. The overall atmosphere is relaxed and inviting. They may love tea, but they are not snobs. Their slogan is “Tea for All”, and they mean it.
I went to the retail area (a small space on the ground floor chock full of teapots and every tea related item you could possibly want) and decided to take a look at their selection before placing my order at the counter. They had so many varieties and I had no idea where to begin! Thankfully, a store employee took pity on me right away and offered to help. I warned her that I’m not a tea drinker, but that I was there to buy a present for somebody who was. So she asked me a few questions about my friend, and confidently recommended three different types of tea that she thought he would enjoy. She was so knowledgeable, her excitement so contagious, that I happily purchased everything she recommended. The aroma of the tea as she took it out of the storage bins was intoxicating. To top it all off, she packaged it in adorable metal canisters - perfect for gift-giving!
Tealuxe stands as a bastion of “tea culture” in a world with a coffee shop in every corner. If you are tired of the coffee wars, may we suggest a visit to this quirky tea shop to recharge your batteries and learn about the pleasures of tea?

Tealuxe - A Tea Bar
0 Brattle Street
Harvard Square
Cambridge
108 Newbury Street
Boston
231 Thayer Street
Providence, RI