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Granville Island Tea Company
Category: Food Coffee & Tea Coffee & Tea [Edit]
117 - 1689 Johnston StVancouver, BC V6H 3R9
Neighbourhood: Granville Island/False Creek
(604) 683-7491
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 9 am - 7 pm
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
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$$
- Parking:
- Street
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
45 reviews for Granville Island Tea Company
Review Highlights
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"And boy, do they know how to make a great cuppa chai." In 19 reviews -
"Very friendly people here." In 3 reviews -
"...in the quieter part of the Granville Island Public Market." In 4 reviews
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45 reviews in English
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Review from Littlefish B.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 2/18/2012 2 photos
The chai latte is still a favorite stop of mine during the winter. But have to compliment the staff. I had my parents with me and took them in, all the while extoling the virtues of the chai latte. I ordered one and the staff member overheard me tell my parents that this way they could try the latte, too. Before I knew it he'd poured not only mine but tasters for my parents aswell. And it worked - they went home with the mix themselves.
This is great customer experience, great customer relations and good business. Kudos to you, GITC. You're a class act.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/12/2009
Heaven in a cup. The only place in Vancouver to get this heavenly Chai Latte. There's nothing else… Read more »
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Review from Roanna Z.
3/19/2012
If tea shops were more like pubs, GITC would have a happy hour. Not just a great quality tea shop, but a place to take your weary bones, have a rest up and, if choosing from a hundred teas doesn't stress you out too much, you can enjoy the moment and chat with friends.
Right in the middle of the public market building in a swirl of Bakeries, Butchers and Charcuteries, you'll find some respite here.
PS. Loose leaf is where it's at --just so you know.Listed in: It's raining... get inside…
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Review from Kwoky L.
3/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
I thought I knew tea until I came to Granville Island Tea Company. They have an unbelievable variety of teas that I've never heard of, a wall full of them. Imagine Belle's go-to library in Beauty and the Beast except maybe a tiny bit shorter shelves.
I had to do a tea presentation in school and I thought it would be a great idea to get a small amount from different tea groups. Not only was the guy patient at showing me the different kinds of tea, he even offered to get a few complimentary samples so that I don't have to buy a bunch of them for the presentation. That was very nice of him! However I did get some Dragonwell for myself because it's the best green tea from China in my opinion.
They sell tea leaves at a minimum of 50g, which is quite a bit if you don't drink tea very often. Some tea sells for $40 per 100g, which is quite expensive but they smell amazing, especially milk oolong, which is the guy's favourite. Even if you can't afford it but want to try some of the tea, they sell a cup of brewed tea for a couple of dollars (extra for premium teas), which is still cheaper than a regular latte from a coffee shop. -
Review from Christian H.
Vancouver, BC
3/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Do you know the difference between white tea, green tea, oolong tea, and black tea? Do you know what temperature to make the water and how long to steep the leaves? I do know after listening to my partner talk to the workers at Granville Island Tea Company. They are very knowledgeable and willing to share their knowledge. They let us see and smell the differences between the teas. They explained why some teas are more expensive then others. They even gave us small samples of teas to taste at home so that we can buy them later if we like them. I highly recommend stopping by...
And as always... Have Fun!!!Listed in: Vancouver Vitals
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Review from Sherry A.
5/10/2012
LOVE LOVE LOVE the concept of a TEA BAR that uses real seasonings like cinnamon and ginger!! Fell in love with the chai tea here and ended up buying a pound to bring back home for friends. Great spot for tea lovers and souvenirs!!
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Review from Taylor K.
2/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
Another tea shop that I love going to whenever I am in Granville Island. I got myself a bag of lavender tea and it is so aromatic and delicious.
They know their stuff and trying a tea that I never had is always a delightful. I also tried a cup of their vanilla almond tea and it had a good flavour and was so yummy.
A tea can by yummy and delicious.
A good, herbal tea can always lift my spirits up and if you are in Granville Island, do check them out. Take a bag of tea home and steep them and you can have yourself a tea party. :)Listed in: Baby friendly
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Review from Stu C.
1/26/2012 3 Check-ins Here
The Granville Island Tea Company is located in the heart of the Granville Island Market. All the teas they sell are loose leaf and in multiple varieties (green, black, herbal, decaffeinated, etc). Depending on the rarity of the tea, most cost between $7-12 for 100 g. However, there are a few ultra premium teas, like Milk Oolong, that will cost ~$40 for 100 g. Although most teas are a single type of tea, you can have teas blended together to provide a new flavour at no additional cost. With that said, they have several of their own blends already under different names that are quite varied and tasty. A common blend that I enjoy and that they carry pre-made is the Monk's Blend.
The tea selection at the Granville Island Tea Company is quite vast with at least 50 different types of teas (not including the blends). If you want to try a cup before you commit to a 50 g to 100 g purchase, you can buy a cup of any of their teas. The freshly brewed teas are served HOT will set you back ~$2.50 for 12oz. They also will sometimes have small samples of the day that you can try, to see if there's a tea you never thought of to add to your cupboard.
In a few instances, I've needed help finding teas for my sister or a friend. In each occasion, the staff has been helpful and provide great recommendations. To add to this, they seemed genuinely interested in talking about tea. That sounds so odd to write/read, but the people there seem to really enjoy all things about tea.
The Granville Island Tea Company also has a small sitting area where you can sit and enjoy a freshly brewed cup of hot cup of tea and take in the sights, sounds and people of the market.
Overall, the Granville Island Tea Company is a place I like to go get my loose leaf teas and would recommend it to others that are looking for a new cup o' flavour. -
Review from Purdy J.
1/4/2012
Excellent tea selection, super friendly and knwledgeable staff, wonderful atmosphere to enjoy your tea in the busy, bustling market.
Teas are served pipping hot (no lukewarm or sorta hot water) and costs ~$2.50 for 12oz. Staff is helpful and provide great recommendations. So much variety from caffeinated, non caffeinated to teas for pregnancy. Current favorite tea is the ginger roibois!
Lovely small seating area that is perfect for people watching and getting away from the crowds. The wall of tea is pretty awesome. -
Review from Louisa P.
Burnaby, BC
12/19/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Their. Chai. is. AMAZING. Real ginger all the way!
The staff are extremely knowledgeable and recommended a fantastic tea for a party I was having. Brewed up beautifully and everyone wanted to have some.
Thank you! I'll be back there every time I'm on GI. -
Review from Eva B.
10/19/2011
Fall is here and along with it a recommendation that will warm you up from the inside out.
Granville Island Tea Company sells both piping hot cups of tea and loose leaves so you can brew some up at home. I have been going here for a number of years now and the staff have always been very friendly and helpful. I love the wall stacked high with tins of tea and the rolling ladder installed to reach even the tallest shelf. The additional seating is a nice bonus over the old space.
They have a large selection of quality teas. They give away free advice, free samples and if you don't like your loose tea when you get it home you can bring it back and exchange it. What more could you want in a tea shop? -
Review from Cheryl M.
Squamish, BC
2/27/2012
Best tea spot on Granville Island. The lemon ginger is delicious. Best price too. Large pot for less than $5.
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Review from Susie H.
8/29/2011 3 Check-ins Here
This place is amazing! If you can manage to find it in the bustle of the Public Market, it is worth your time to drop by. They have two counters - one for buying loose leaf to bring home, and one is a take-away drinks station.
Although the company boasts carrying around 150 blends of tea, the staff were very friendly when I went up to the counter clueless of what I wanted. They asked me a couple of questions about what roast of tea I wanted (black, green, white etc) and within minutes narrowed down 150 to 3 blends. I also didn't feel obligated in any way to buy all or any of them. I chose the Monk's Blend (very nice - tried some this morning!) which was $4/50g (about 40 servings). They also gave me a free sample of the Cream Earl Grey, which was enough for about 3 servings. Not too pricey at all!
I also grabbed an iced tea lemonade ($3.75) on my way out - delish! Their iced drinks come unsweetened or lightly sweetened so you can add the right amount according to your taste.
I will definitely be back for more tea in the future. Even if you don't drink tea, or don't intend to buy any, I would suggest visiting next time you're on the Island - the store is really cool and I've yet to see anything like it in the area. -
Review from mandie j.
6/15/2011
Some of the best tea I have ever had (but then again I haven't been to any Asian countries :()
Super easy to order online, but if you are in Vancouver you should visit! This place and the rest of Granville Island is one of my favorite places on earth. -
Review from Navita R.
Vancouver, BC
11/24/2011
The chai tea late is to die for!!!!! not sure about anything else.
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Review from Allison G.
Vancouver, BC
3/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was absolutely thrilled when they expanded next door into what used to be Gaia Garden, because now there is ample space to sit down and spread out. The Wall of Tea in all the neatly labelled boxes is esthetically pleasing. Their house-made Chai is amazing, and while it does contain a small amount of butter (less than 1/4cup per gallon of chai mix), it adds a depth and richness to the drink. I've seen a lot of people freak out about the butter in the chai mix, but honestly people, how much chai are you drinking???
Lots of different varieties of tea, and they are happy to offer ideas on mixing and blending different kinds of make something new and shiny.
We had a problem with a tea we bought (it tasted like soap, it was yucky!), and they replaced it no questions asked, no charge.
The tea baristas are quirky and fun, always chatting with the regulars and the tourists.
In short, we love this place, and our tea cupboard at home is full of different kinds of tea from here! Yum! -
Review from Crystal H.
Vancouver, BC
2/19/2010 11 Check-ins Here
A lesson in ordering tea is much like a lesson in cocktails - let the tea mixologist make a decision for you.
Without an idea of what I was craving, outside of caffeine, the barista/tea sommelier, whipped up a chai tea that was like no other. Black tea steeped and then buzzed up with a spice mix made with milk powder and... butter ?! and voila, I was holding in my hands one of the most luxurious cups of chai I have ever tasted. I didn't know butter belonged in tea - but I have a sneaking suspicion, I'll be sidling up to that tea bar again soon, just to double check. -
Review from Rachael T.
Toronto, ON
1/27/2010
With the newly renovated and expanded GITC, I was excited to see whether I could get a cup of Jasmine Dragon Pearls and check it off my Must Trys.
This tea resembles something I bought in Beijing... like rose petals, super aromatic, and very very tasty.
I tried to get some information from the lady who was making my drink. although I was getting confused with which teas were good with what....
In the end, I decided to keep it simple and get the jasmine pearls in hot water.
This tea was very light and soft in taste... definitely not as strong as my Beijing tea. It had its floral accents but I was waiting for something to WOW me.... and it never came.
For a cup of specialty tea, it cost $2.75......... if you're a tea connoisseur, it's worth a shot. -
Review from Katrina N.
3/30/2010
Best chai latte ever, ever.
I want to kidnap the lady who made my latte, smuggle her across the border, and keep her in my house.
That's how good it was.
But they sell their chai mix online, so I don't have to! Hooray!
Online and in the store, they also sell a large variety of black, white, green, herbal, oolong, and rooibos teas. The quality is superb. The prices are super-reasonable, too!
If you're on Granville Island, buy a delicious pastry from one of the many vendors at the public market. Then go find Deborah. She'll take care of you. -
Review from Vanessa G.
11/16/2010 6 Check-ins Here
I have had a Chai here several times mainly because everyone would not shut up about how good they are. Then i heard about the masala chai.. and that blew my mind. Now i am just waiting for more suggestions because these teas are not on a menu anywhere.
Customer service is great here, and i love going to this shop. -
Review from Josh W.
Vancouver, BC
10/14/2009
To me, evaluating a Tea shop takes a bit longer than a cafe. The quality of each product can be more variable and employee knowledge can reach much deeper.
My room mate and I have been pleased with our tea purchases at the market over the past few months; but it was my most recent experience purchasing some Lapsang Souchong that pushed it over the edge. The girl I chatted with was friendly and knowledgeable, recommending the similar tasting (but less potent) Russian Caravan, and discussing their intricate procurement process.
Their herbal tea mixtures are spot on, particularly the Rooibos Black Currant medley.
Whether you're a tea connoisseur or a run of the mill Tetley drinker, this place will have something for you. My biggest tip: ask the staff for a recommendation, they really know their stuff! -
Review from Peter S.
5/10/2010 4 Check-ins Here
OK. I have only tried their Chai here a couple of times, but it is absolutely incredible. So rich and smooth.
They prepare it quite differently than most other places, and you can tell.
Well worth a visit even if it is summer! -
Review from A C.
Vancouver, BC
7/5/2011
Awesome tea selection. If you like chai you have to try a cup of their hot masala chai, it's out of this world, for reals. They can even make it with soy ; )
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Review from Tina H.
4/5/2010 1 photo
This place is known for their chai latte. I came here on a coworker's recommendation. I *had* to try the chai latte, and so I did.
Just under $4 for a small, it was a decent price for what you get. Tasted pretty good. Only problem was that it was quite sweet. I think I would make sure it wasn't so sweet next time.
They use a high quality assam as the base and then an in-store-made chai mix that includes a spice mix, skim milk powder and... butter! Sounds like a full fat full flavour chai latte! And that it was! Too much sweetness for my liking though. They mix it up in a blender.
Service was quite pretentious. The guy called me Cinderella for some reason. I dunno if he was being a turd, trying to be funny or something but he was pretty weird. Another guy was somewhat helpful. I felt a bit rushed even though there was no lineup.
Overall, decent place for a chai latte when you're in the area. I'd ask for it less sweet next time, even if that includes less chai mix (though I think they put extra in because 2 people put the chai mix in the blender). I would never shop here for tea as there are other places in the city with friendlier service and a lot less stuffy, less claustrophobic atmosphere. Definitely one of the highest ranking chai lattes in Vancouver that I've tried. This place has inspired me to try making my own chai latte mix, though I dunno about including butter in it... Something about drinking butter puts me off a bit.
Give it a try if only for their chai latte (~$4), or another cup of tea. It seems pretty affordable, averaging around $2-$3 per cup of tea depending on if it's premium or not. -
Review from Dani B.
6/12/2009
They brew a mean cup of tea. The best place about this place is you don't have to buy in bulk, you can have a cup to stay (or to go) for one flat price, no matter which one you want.
I usually go for one of the more expensive teas and grab a cup for road. Their selection is amazing and they give you detailed instructions on how long to brew the tea, etc.
A great little spot in the market, I totally recommend stopping by. -
Review from Noa G.
Vancouver, BC
8/26/2008 3 photos
This place serves the best chai tea in the city, hands down.
I was introduced to this tiny spot about a year ago, and have been back many times since. When it comes to their product offerings (a wide selection of teas from around the world, to take home or drink on the spot), the employees at Granville Island Tea Company are extremely knowledgeable and very pleasant. And boy, do they know how to make a great cuppa chai! -
Review from Jennifer B.
11/16/2009
As a Chai tea-ologist, I am always in search of the perfect Chai... Granville Island Tea Company doesn't mess around with theirs. Even better ordering it with fresh ginger & cayenne. Perfect.
Recently during my last visit I was told this little tea shop is happily expanding next door within the market. -
Review from Linda H.
Vancouver, BC
4/27/2011
This is by far my favorite place to sample and purchase tea. The owner and all the staff are friendly, helpful and knowledgable. Amazing how they keep the "wall of teas" straight in their mind and seem to know exactly which ines to recommend. The Lady Hannah Whole Fruit is wonderful hot or cold.
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Review from Kim M.
Vancouver, BC
4/18/2011
I'm always lucky to find Mark free to make new recommendations. I'm afraid I can no longer end a day without a cup of Waterfront blend! Via all the other glowing reviews, I see I must next try the Chai. Can't wait! KM
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Review from Alex N.
1/26/2010
SO MANY CHOICES!
But i opted for a chai. And it was purely, simply, amazing.
But having that delicious cup in my hand did hamper me from loading up on all the delicious treats the market had to offer. So, I suppose it's a blessing in disguise. -
Review from Adam R.
Vancouver, BC
3/13/2010
I can't give a glowing enough review of this establishment. Not only do they have THE best tea (I'm not kidding, the quality is superb) but each and every time I have been there to buy loose tea, the staff have been exceedingly warm and helpful. If you ask, they will give you sample sizes of tea to try and when buying, if you ask for 100g and they measure out 20g over, they just give you the extra at no charge. Wow! Where do you find that these days?
With the vast array of teas they offer and staff that genuinely appreciate your business, I am a customer for life.
Update: on a very windy Friday I walked my kids over to Granville Island. The owner saw that they were a bit cold so he made them a couple of hot drinks, gratis. It was so very kind and underscores the sort of service you get here. -
Review from Michele C.
8/12/2009
Very friendly people here.
Their tea mixed with lemonade was just out of this world, and for a good price, too.
Their selection is massive. All those containers filled with tea, dang was it cool. I was a little overwhelmed, but the people know what their selling and are always ready to help. Bravo!
4 stars, because it's so very far away from. Why San Jose? Why?! Why must my city be in another country, and not close to this tea shop?! -
Review from Mike G.
Vancouver, BC
10/26/2009
Wow! What a find - thanks Yelpers! Best chai latte I've ever had and great, friendly service to boot.
I'm a tea fiend and still need to try some of their looseleaf... I'll be back! -
Review from Chris B.
Vancouver, BC
6/17/2011
Ridiculous selection of fragrant teas, but really it's all about the Masala Chai. Best chai in the city.
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Review from BB H.
Burnaby, BC
3/28/2010
Fan-freakin'-tastic gem hidden in the quieter part of the Granville Island Public Market. Massive selection of loose tea for sale but also you can select pretty much any tea if you just want a hot cuppa, and get this it's very reasonable! For G-Isle that's a rarity.
A 12 oz. cup of tea for $1.75! Eat that, Starbux!
The staff are also super nice and love to explain the teas. -
Review from Jenna L.
1/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came by after hearing they make really good chai latte, but was confused because it wasn't on the menu. But I thought better ask than be sorry! And she made it for me! Large cup for under $4 for this awesome cup of chai tea is absolutely great :) My sister had rose tea latte and it was equally good. I would love to come back! The service was attentive and prompt, really sweet ppl working here :)
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Review from Ross E.
5/9/2011
I was about to write on here about how great their chai is, and judging from the other reviews I'm not the only one that loves their chai latte. It is a MUST try!
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Review from k e.
2/20/2011
I stopped here for a cup of tea and maybe a little bit of loose tea to take home when I was in Vancouver on vacation. The staff is incredible! We got a full lesson on tea and smelled a ton of teas before we made a choice for the perfect cup. They were just so knowledgable and friendly.
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Review from Sarah O.
5/11/2009
This place is so cute. A trip to Granville Island isn't complete without getting a cup of tea. Workers are friendly and helpful. Will update when I've tried most of their flavors!
Listed in: Tea Lovers
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Review from Alisa B.
Updated - 4/1/2010
Just wanted to make a note that I LOVE the new corner location! Love it! Still with the yummy ginger chai! tasty tasty!
Listed in: Best of My Best, Best Places to Get Groceries!, Places You'll Find Me in…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/12/2010
Best chai I have ever had in vancouver hands down.
me: "I'd like a chai please"
helper: "Lovely,… Read more »
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Review from Anna W.
10/17/2010
Every time i go back to Vancouver, this will be the place that i stock up on Tea.. They have the best smoothing tea in the world.. You name it and they got it... My best will be Vanilla Earl Gray, Orange Blossom Oolong.. there tea is soo smooth and there is no bitterness. Staffs are very helpful there in letting you pick your own tea. They also freshly make tea there either cold or Hot.
