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House of Tea
Category: Food Coffee & Tea Coffee & Tea [Edit]
1017 Yonge StToronto, ON M4W 2K9
Neighbourhood: Rosedale
(416) 922-1226
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 10 am - 6 pm
Sun 12 pm - 5 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
7 reviews for House of Tea
7 reviews in English
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Review from Luke B.
Toronto, ON
12/2/2011
I've walked by here several times, but never had time to go in until today.
The store is filled with tea pots of all different kinds. Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, German, French, British, etc. All of them are high quality and drip-free. There's a table covered with different kinds of glass pots for blooming tea, there are cast-iron tea pots, and pots with form-fitting cozies.
When I entered there was only one customer, but he was chatting with the owner as if they were good friends however I overheard that this was his first time in the store. When he left, she came over and offered me some advice on the pots according to what I was drinking. She knew everything about them; the ethnicity of their design, the location of the factory they were built in, the quality of the strainers (and what their appropriate for), and how good they were at retaining their heat. I didn't know you could be that particular about a tea pot.
The only down side about the store is that there are no cheap tea pots. I was looking for something regular just for the time being and everything was at least $60, most of them were $80-$150. I didn't have the budget for that at the time.
The tea assortment is also impressive. There are several kinds of black teas, herbal teas, and green teas. As it was my first time in the store she offered to give me a free sample of tea (about 5 cups worth), so I told her I enjoyed black teas, especially smoked (lapsang souchong). She had me smell four different types of smoked tea similar to lapsang souchong and, like a wine connoisseur, she told me their precise flavours and how I might enjoy them.
This shop is not very well advertised but is definitely one of the best tea shops I've been to. This place is definitely legit; it doesn't have an attractive design with fancy wall paper and furniture, it's more humble than that.
I think this'll be my go to place for tea. 4.5 stars.Listed in: Hot Drinks
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Review from A.J. S.
4/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
In a Good Eats Episode they talk about how to know if a Tea shop you are in is good. Alton talks about the way the tea is stored, the knowledge of the people at the tea store, the number of different ea available and the differences. Generally I have found these to be pretty accurate. I dropped in here on a sunday after randomly finding the place on my yelp app. I had run out of tea and I needed some. The person I met in the shop was excellent, she steered me clear of some mistakes I was making, blended a tea for me as I wanted it, and was just generally a pleasure to be around. I actually felt really comfortable there, for some reason I just don't feel comfortable in places like Teopia or Davids. They had all of the tea I wanted, and they gave good suggestions. I think I will definitely be making this my tea place of choice in Toronto for now.
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Review from Monica F.
7/5/2011
This would normally be a 4 star review for me. Unfortunately, I feel compelled to knock this place back a star solely based on the damage they do to my wallet each time I visit!!
$79.95 for a 500g bag of Peppermint leaves? When I first started coming here, I was a bit shocked by the prices. That said, a 500g bag would probably yield you about 200 cups, I just cannot justify paying that much for tea all at once.
I recommend getting small bags of whatever tea you're getting. Although there may be a small amount of savings when you buy in bulk, the tea looses its freshness after a couple months.
House of Tea is definitely worth checking out. I have barely made a dent in tasting what Marisha and Michael have to offer... Earl Grey Blue Flower, Rooibos Orange-Eucalyptus, Cranberry-Goji Berry, Rooibos Strawberry-Cream, Rooibos Blueberry and of course, English Breakfast are a few of my favourites.
Also worth checking out are the adorable tea accessories that are available. Again, a little on the pricey side but they make great gifts! I mean, who doesn't like tea and/or tea acessories?!? -
Review from Shari M.
Toronto, ON
STEEP THIS....
I cannot believe that this place does not have 5 star reviews all around! Have you tasted their tea?! Its da bomb, yo!!! I feel like screaming from the tea tops how great their tea is!!!
A co-worker told me about this gem over 10 years ago (yes, I am that old). I instantly fell in love (never mind that it is in Rosedale - a luxury neighbourhood that I will live in one day - oh yes).
Marisha - she is a tea angel. Even though I hadn't been in the shop for a while, the sweet tea of a gal remembered me.
My recommendation to everyone, is to let Marisha know how you take your tea. I am a milk and sugar, earl grey gal. The earl grey cream tea she carries is HANDS DOWN THE BEST earl grey I have ever had. No question about it.
Let Marisha recommend some tea for you. Smell the tea. I also really like the honey tea and the O'Connor cream tea.
Please, next time you are at Black Camel, step around the corner and grab some tea. You can't go wrong.Listed in: The hell you say! My ROTD's
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Review from Denise M.
Toronto, ON
12/14/2009 ROTD 1/26/2010
With the air cooling down, I've recently become a tea junkie and this is where I've been getting my fix. They have a great loose tea selection and the women who work here are not only the sweetest people(they always give me a nice sized free sample baggy on my way out), but seem pretty passionate about tea.
Although it seems a little pricey, it's good quality so you don't have to brew a lot. One small bag seems never ending.
The caramel vanilla rooibos with a little milk and honey is my personal fav. I prepared a cup for my friend from the UK who was raised on Tetley's and she was blown away by the rich flavour. -
Review from Chris P.
1/3/2010
Marisha, Tea Consultant and owner, really knows her stuff. With over 250 teas she was able to quickly suggest some options for my quest to find a fruity tea that was mild and not overly sweet. There are hundreds of tea pots, cups, infusers, and more in this quaint shop.
While I waited it was clear that this shop has a strong customer base as Marisha knew everyone's name and asked them various questions like how their home renos were going or how the customer's sister was doing after her surgery. This was returned in kind as I witnessed one customer drop $250 on tea alone, no accessories.
Marisha is a smart business woman. With every purchase you get a free sample of your choosing. These samples are quite generous as you get enough loose tea for about 4 cups. This keeps you trying more and coming back for that delicious blend that you just discovered.
If you enjoy a good cup of tea this is a place you must check out.Listed in: Tea-tering on perfection
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Review from Lynda W.
Toronto, ON
9/15/2008 1 photo
I'm Asian, so I know how to appreciate a good cup of tea. There aren't too many tea shops in Toronto, and it's a shame really. Upon entering House of Tea, there was a very strong unusual smell, that if you aren't used to, can hit you like a ton of bricks. I wouldn't say it is a bad smell, but probably a combination of all the different teas in the shop.
They have a large variety of teas, kept fresh in tin containers (which is how your tea should be stored, in a cool, dry place). Unless you're a tea aficionado, ask the staffer there to help you in your purchase. If you don't know what you want, ask them to recommend something based on what you know you like..
Other than teas, they have some really neat tea accessories, such as tea infusers, tea strainers, 2-in1 kettle cup combos as well as these big ass, cute tea pots. The tea pots are a little on the pricey end of a tea pot ($70) but they are hand painted and funky. Expect to pay a little more than your Red Rose Orange Pekoe tea bags, but once you try the good stuff, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it!
