What better place to taste tea than in Chinatown, San Francisco? Rows and rows of jars filled with tea leaves take over this tiny space. Ital Tealeaf, located at 509 Grant Avenue, beckons you first with its warm atmosphere. Enter…and all of a sudden the hustle and bustle of Chinatown streets are left outside. You don’t even know you’re in the middle of a busy city.
Know nothing about tea and its nuances? That’s okay. Helpful staff walk you through tasting as many kinds as you like. Jotting down kinds of tea, their smells and finally my likes and dislikes made it easier for me to remember. Just like wine tasting…the smell and the taste do not always correspond. In fact, there are many similarities in tasting tea to tasting wine or food. That’s why it’s a good idea to taste several kinds…maybe even go back and taste a couple for a second time.
These tiny cups pack a world of flavor. Take a deep breath when you enter Ital Tealeaf…sit down…relax…and explore the world of tea.