Now that my Chelsea office is in south Chelsea (on 14th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues) I’ve been frequenting tea shops in Lower Manhattan as I travel between there and my FiDi office (90 Broad Street). I wanted to share my top picks for tea south of Union Square as a follow-up to my previous post on best tea cafes in Chelsea which also includes more information about why many of my patients have received health benefits from replacing their daily coffee with some form of tea!
Setsugekka (74 E 7th Street): I can’t say enough good things about this matcha spot run by Tea Master, Souheki Mori! They grind their own matcha in-house that you can also purchase online to make for yourself at home. Not sure how to make matcha? They’ve got you covered by offering classes on how to do it! They also sell handmade ceramic pieces for serving tea and display work from ceramicists.
Cha-An (230 E 9th Street): I have fond memories of dining at Cha-An for many years now as this lovely teahouse has been open since 2004. In addition to matcha and sencha teas from Japan, they have an exciting menu with vegan options for desserts and savory items and even cocktails including a Matcha-tini! It is a great place to bring dates and out-of-town visitors.
Yaya Tea (206 Grand Street): Yaya distinguishes itself from other bubble tea purveyors in that it freshly brews tea daily through a purifier filtration system. Their menu also includes savory foods with some vegan options, and they sell some of their tea blends in glass jars for home brewing. It is also conveniently right across the street from Kamwo (the oldest herbal dispensary on the east coast pictured to the right), where I often purchase herbs in bulk.
Know of any other places below 14th Street I should check out? Let me know!
