Teahouses [[& loose tea leaves) in the city of Detroit

**English** · July-26-11, 11:17 AM

While living in Ann Arbor, I became addicted to the Tea Haus. My advisor and housemate hooked me on tea as a great drink for studying, writing, and working. I've also come to appreciate Teavana in 12 Oaks, although it's more expensive than Tea Haus.

I recently purchased a beautiful teapot from Claire at the Bureau of Urban Living, and matching mugs from BX Ceramics at City Bird. It has been wonderful to enjoy tea during summer mornings, or to brew a pot and sip as I work [[or, as when I'm posting to DYes, take a break from what I'm writing in another window).

Are there any Detroit businesses that sell looseleaf teas? I'll go by Eastern Market today and do some nosing around. Better yet, with all the indie coffeehouses springing up, does anyone else believe that a tea house might work in the city?

[[I feel as if there is [[or was) a teahouse in Corktown, SW Detroit, or Delray, but I can't remember if they're still open.)

**Kathleen** · July-26-11, 11:25 AM

Perhaps you're thinking of Fiona's Tea House that closed a few years back because the land was swallowed up by the new MGM Casino.

**English** · July-26-11, 11:40 AM

That's it! Thanks, Kathleen. Nothing since then?

**Downtown Lady** · July-26-11, 11:48 AM

Hi English:

I found these here:
http://www.teaguide.net/tearoomsmichigan.htm

The Coffee Café [Tea room and merchant]
719 Griswold Street; 313-962-2049
* Coffeehouse that serves good tea located in the city downtown.
* Dessert tea, a good cuppa any time.
* Loose leaf teas and teabags served in teapot or teacup.
* Iced teas, chai, other tea beverages, caffeine-free selections.
* Bubble tea.
* Fair Trade products.
* Take-out available.
* Smoke-free.
* On-site parking.
* Internet access.
* Credit cards.
Open Monday through Friday 7am to 4pm.

Flora's Tea Room at The Whitney [Tea room]
4421 Woodward Avenue; 313-832-5700
* Frilly and feminine style in an historic or landmark building.
* Located at a cultural venue.
* Dress-up and costumes welcome.
* Afternoon tea, theme teas.
* Loose leaf tea served in a teapot.
* Smoke-free.
* Private tea parties for adults and children outside regular hours; seats 100.
* Outdoor seating.
* On-site parking.
* Credit cards.
Tea served Tuesday through Friday 12noon to 3pm; 24-hour advance reservation required. 9/09 Updated [[by Director of Tea Services)
Kawaiian Café [Tea room]
Asian Village on East Riverfront, 521 Atwater Street; 313-259-0025
* Asian fusion style in a shopping mall.
* A good cuppa any time.
* Iced teas.
* Bubble tea.
* Take-out available.
Light meals. Teapots and accessories.

**Detroitnerd** · July-26-11, 11:48 AM

I've heard of the Purple Door Tea Room on East Grand River Avenue, but I've never been.

**j to the jeremy** · July-26-11, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by Downtown Lady

Hi English:

I found these here:
http://www.teaguide.net/tearoomsmichigan.htm

The Coffee Café [Tea room and merchant]
719 Griswold Street; 313-962-2049
* Coffeehouse that serves good tea located in the city downtown.
* Dessert tea, a good cuppa any time.
* Loose leaf teas and teabags served in teapot or teacup.
* Iced teas, chai, other tea beverages, caffeine-free selections.
* Bubble tea.
* Fair Trade products.
* Take-out available.
* Smoke-free.
* On-site parking.
* Internet access.
* Credit cards.
Open Monday through Friday 7am to 4pm.

Flora's Tea Room at The Whitney [Tea room]
4421 Woodward Avenue; 313-832-5700
* Frilly and feminine style in an historic or landmark building.
* Located at a cultural venue.
* Dress-up and costumes welcome.
* Afternoon tea, theme teas.
* Loose leaf tea served in a teapot.
* Smoke-free.
* Private tea parties for adults and children outside regular hours; seats 100.
* Outdoor seating.
* On-site parking.
* Credit cards.
Tea served Tuesday through Friday 12noon to 3pm; 24-hour advance reservation required. 9/09 Updated [[by Director of Tea Services)
Kawaiian Café [Tea room]
Asian Village on East Riverfront, 521 Atwater Street; 313-259-0025
* Asian fusion style in a shopping mall.
* A good cuppa any time.
* Iced teas.
* Bubble tea.
* Take-out available.
Light meals. Teapots and accessories.

Asian Village is no longer around.

**Downtown Lady** · July-26-11, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by j to the jeremy

Asian Village is no longer around.

Oops, I knew that. I guess I should read instead of just copy and paste!

**English** · July-26-11, 12:08 PM

Thanks, Downtown lady! I will call the Whitney this afternoon. From the description it seems more like they've got things set up for fancy tea parties. I'm hoping for a place to sample and purchase.

Am heading out to EM right now to catch the Tuesday market. Looseleaf tea seems like something that R. Hirt might sell, or maybe Rocky Peanut. I'll report on what I find.

If any would-be entrepreneurs are looking for a cool business idea, I think that a full service tea house would fit the bill. A wide selection of teas, tastings, and a few tables for those who might like to sip would be just great. I loved the Tea Haus in A2 because until this year, Cake Nouveau was right next door. You could get a cupcake and sip tea in either place -- the owners encouraged people to sit wherever there was room. It was lovely.

So maybe something like it would work near a bakery or a sandwich shop... maybe in Midtown near Avalon? Anyway, just sharing something that I usually leave the city to buy... should probably log off & head out.

**JBMcB** · July-26-11, 12:13 PM

Not in Detroit proper, but Goldfish tea in Royal Oak has a pretty good selection. Seems pricey, though. Great atmosphere.

Isn't there a tea/coffee place in Eastern Market? Or am I thinking of Rafal's?

**Parkguy** · July-26-11, 01:42 PM

Rafel's used to sell quite a variety of teas and about a dozen varieties of roasted coffee in bulk.

**Detroitnerd** · July-26-11, 01:51 PM

Rafel's left a void that had people driving out to Penzey's. Seems like if somebody wanted to open up a cool shop selling spices, teas and coffees, it could be a winner. Just sayin' ...

**ellsa** · July-26-11, 03:30 PM

English you are on the right track to the Eastern market. A lovely lady sells teas that she blends in her home in Detroit. She is at the Tuesday Market as well as Saturday. I have loved all of ones I have bought.

**English** · July-26-11, 03:34 PM

Originally Posted by ellsa

English you are on the right track to the Eastern market. A lovely lady sells teas that she blends in her home in Detroit. She is at the Tuesday Market as well as Saturday. I have loved all of ones I have bought.

Elisa, you're right on the money! I just got back from the market & met Mary Jones of Intu Specialty Teas! I came back with four beautiful teas [[one white, one rooibos, and two black) and a new brown betty teakettle. She is thoroughly knowledgeable and I look forward to being her customer for many years to come! This is exactly what I was looking for. Highly recommended.

I still think there's room in the Detroit market for a tea house. Maybe I'm just weird, though.

**English** · July-26-11, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

Rafel's left a void that had people driving out to Penzey's. Seems like if somebody wanted to open up a cool shop selling spices, teas and coffees, it could be a winner. Just sayin' ...

Totally agree. Rocky does what it can, but it's not the same as Rafal's. I'm fascinated lately with different kinds of salts and peppers. Growing up in the D, I thought there was just the two kinds -- Morton's and whatever pepper my mom put in that bumpy glass shaker.

**ellsa** · July-27-11, 05:57 AM

Originally Posted by English

Elisa, you're right on the money!

...I usually am unless you count the times that I am dead wrong, off the mark, or way over the line, LOL.

I am glad you connected w/ her, she's a great addition to the market.

As for the tea room...I don't know...it seems antithetical to the bustle of Detroit [[perceived or not). We had one in the town I live in that closed a while back....I never went in...a little too fussy for me. But a cool Asian influenced business, I'd probably stop once in awhile.

**epiphany** · July-27-11, 07:08 AM

Originally Posted by English

Thanks, Downtown lady! I will call the Whitney this afternoon. From the description it seems more like they've got things set up for fancy tea parties. I'm hoping for a place to sample and purchase.

Am heading out to EM right now to catch the Tuesday market. Looseleaf tea seems like something that R. Hirt might sell, or maybe Rocky Peanut. I'll report on what I find.

If any would-be entrepreneurs are looking for a cool business idea, I think that a full service tea house would fit the bill. A wide selection of teas, tastings, and a few tables for those who might like to sip would be just great. I loved the Tea Haus in A2 because until this year, Cake Nouveau was right next door. You could get a cupcake and sip tea in either place -- the owners encouraged people to sit wherever there was room. It was lovely.

So maybe something like it would work near a bakery or a sandwich shop... maybe in Midtown near Avalon? Anyway, just sharing something that I usually leave the city to buy... should probably log off & head out.

If a tea room were to open in downtown Detroit I would probably move back in a flash. These are the types of businesses that Detroit lacks that seem prevalent in other cities. Detroit desperately needs more stuff like this.

I would really love to see a place that not only serves fine loose leaf teas, but also bubble teas and fun snacks or bento style lunches and sushi. If I had the money, I would open that sort of business right away.

http://www.teashop168.ca/menu-tea-drinks.asp. If something like this place opened downtown I would pack my bags and move back from the suburbs tomorrow.

**English** · July-27-11, 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by epiphany

If a tea room were to open in downtown Detroit I would probably move back in a flash. These are the types of businesses that Detroit lacks that seem prevalent in other cities. Detroit desperately needs more stuff like this.

I would really love to see a place that not only serves fine loose leaf teas, but also bubble teas and fun snacks or bento style lunches and sushi. If I had the money, I would open that sort of business right away.

http://www.teashop168.ca/menu-tea-drinks.asp. If something like this place opened downtown I would pack my bags and move back from the suburbs tomorrow.

Agree. It's because Detroit is so gritty that we need spaces and activities like this. I am type A as all heck -- but when I take the time to brew healing herbal tea, or do yoga, tai chi, or walk by the river, I am doing something that helps my health. I thought that stuff was a lot of hooey before I moved to A2, but a lot of the health issues I had as a city resident were solved by eating better foods, getting active, and [[especially) managing stress.

One can buy good bento box lunches at Wasabi's in the Park Shelton. We absolutely do need a place that sells bubble tea, though...