I'm new to the Bay and trying to actually explore, so I'm really glad I found this place. I came with a friend on a slow Sunday around 4pm. Parking was pretty easy, though there aren't a ton of spots. Since it wasn't busy, we got a lot of attention and guidance on the teas, how to steep them, and what to pay attention to while drinking. We did the 3-tea flight ($25 + $3 per extra cup) and both got a snickerdoodle cookie, which was really nice alongside the teas since they were served without added sugar. This was the first time I think I actually understood tea descriptions. Earthy? Apparently that means I might feel like a little glistening frog licking a water droplet off a leaf in a swamp during the fall . I learned earthy teas probably aren't for me. But then you'll be sipping something, slightly lost, and suddenly be like....wait, I taste the chocolate! The plum? Brown sugar?? You start connecting the descriptions to what you're tasting and learning your own preferences: hotter or cooler, longer or shorter steep, which flavors you keep going back to. The changes between steeps are subtle, which I think is important to know if you're new to tea. It's less about huge flavors hitting your taste buds and more about slowing down enough to notice. We also had a little owl tea pet that we poured water over while setting intentions for our goals. As our conversation moved through life, plans and where we both are right now, I started to understand how tea becomes a ritual. Water to leaf, leaf to tea, tea to you, then back to the leaf for another steep. Calmingly informational is probably the best way I can describe it. I learned about tea, learned a little about myself, had a great conversation with my friend, and left understanding why the whole process can feel so grounding. Sooo I'd definitely come back! I think it's especially nice for catching up with someone when you actually want to sit and talk, a quieter date, or even just trying something you haven't done before. read more

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Who knew you could have a tea flight? I didn't before visiting this spot. First of all, the ambiance speaks for itself, but the service is what set this experience over the top! I appreciate the detail Kebzie shared about each tea. I learned that certain teas can be steeped multiple times, changing the flavor profile. My favorite tea changed throughout the tasting experience due to this. I appreciate that each tea was labeled with the number of recommended steeps and the best temperature to pour the water. We were also given a tea pet which was perfect because my friend and I were discussing our intentions for the coming season. We were both very stressed from work and just life in general so this is just the type of experience we needed. We were able to slow down & enjoy each other's company all while learning more about tea (we're tea obsessed). Thank you so much to the Blue Willow team! My only complaint is that there are limited food options (the snickerdoodle cookie was excellent!). I say this as more of a warning so people don't come hungry, but it didn't take away from the experience. One final note: "If you get a few leaves in your sipping cup it's good luck" ~Kebzie read more

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Blue Willow Teaspot is a charming little nook to grab tea with friends. There's a register up front with a few pastries, and you could set yourselves up in the groupings of cozy seating in the back. I was craving a small dose of caffeine, and was recommended this spot from another Yelper. I was intrigued by the tea flight and selection, but didn't have time for a sit-down experience this time around. The takeout hojicha latte was fine, I could taste a slight nuttiness, and the light date syrup I requested also added some sweet depth. You could also choose between regular milk or oat milk for the latte. I should have requested more date syrup, the hojicha ended up being a bit bland for my liking, and the nuttiness was also quite light. I might try the tea flight experience in the future if I'm passing through, though may pass on the hojicha next time. read more

omg let me tell you, new fav tea spot in Berk! imo they have dethroned Asha Tea House, which I absolutely love but their tea is just next level. I also love that it's on a quiet street with easy parking. Asha is really only accessible by bart or walking downtown (parking is not easy unless you get lucky). I have only gotten one thing at Blue Willow and that's their chai which is a perfect blend of spices and tea. You can sweeten it with sugar or date syrup (which I highly recommend). It's also a great quiet place to get some work done if you happen to be a student or wfh employee. I find the weekdays to be less chaotic than weekends ofc. It's fantastic!!! read more

Blue Willow Teaspot - Kelp bar with an iced chai sweetened with date syrup (: - Tea Rooms Near Me - Berkeley, California

If you are a tea person, you will love this spot! To begin it exudes tranquility. There is bar seating and tables available in a quiet area. There is also a separate tea ceremony space. They have an extensive selection of teas, ranging a variety of flavors and blends. The staff was extremely helpful in finding blends we would enjoy. It's a great place to try out new teas and you can even buy loose leaf! read more

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This was such a fun find in Berkeley! We came after wanting to try something different that didn't involve alcohol and tea sounded perfect. Good: - The private room was really good! We got out own private spot for about an hour and thirty minutes - The service was great - we had our own tea steeper and had enough tea for the entire time - Loved the duck s*** tea and the dragon tea and puerh tea, super tasty and we even tried mixing it a lot - The place is so cute! Very relaxing Bad: - Gets super busy, so make a reservation ahead of time! Overall, really enjoyed having the time to sit and relax and be present with me and my boyfriend! read more

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Love the tea and the treats, jinxuan tea was so so good, will definitely come back to try different options

This place is amazing. TBH it's not in the best neighborhood, but the moment you enter the store you enter into a different world. The tea smells so good, and the ambiance is so calm. We tried the duck s**t oolong and black sticky rice. They are very different but both good. The oolong had a more earthy flavor, while the black sticky rice really smelled like sticky rice! We loved the tea so much that everyone bought some packed tea home. This place is such a perfect location spend time with people you like/love. They also allow you to bring in your own food. I'd go back again if I'm ever in Berkeley. read more

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it is a teaspot in the corner of a road. it is enough to accommodate some people with nice ambiance. they have so many variants of tea and you can just refill with hot water that needs to be cooked through their electric kettles. i think this shop is only for tea lovers who want to enjoy drink tea through small cups like a ceremonial one. no cold tea provided... read more

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Tea lovers dream in Berkeley! I stumbled across this tea spot while searching for Matcha. I adored the large selection of teas including black, white, green from across the world. You can order a cup or a pot to share with friends and enjoy your tea together. There is also a tea bar service where you can order your drinks to go or they also have a large retail section where you could buy the loose leaf to brew at home yourself. It is a great way to try different teas while having a comfortable place to connect with friends I'm looking forward to spending more time here in the future. What a lovely find! read more

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We had gotten a recommendation to visit this place from a friend and it did not disappoint. My partner and I were offered a choice of seating in the main dining hall , bar, outside or communal area but it was a busy time so the immediate space they had open was the communal so we sat there. The ambiance was very green with plants, wonderful pictures , great lighting , and pretty tea sets that adorned the entire room. We went ahead and tried the basic teas as we wanted to experience the tea time experience and it was very good. We will be back to try the matcha and hojicha! If you like tea time and want to take company to have a nice drink, highly recommend this place! They also take reservations so if you want a table, I recommend calling ahead to get a spot secured ! read more

Blue Willow Teaspot - Ginger mint mate and 2017 Ginseng Luiboh - Tea Rooms Near Me - Berkeley, California

Loved the Duck Shit tea here -- so good! The staff shared the stories behind the tea and patiently showed us how to brew it. Had such a lovely time chatting and sipping tea with friends. Can't wait to come back and try more read more

Blue Willow Teaspot - Tea Rooms Near Me - Berkeley, California

Kind of a toss-up between a three and four-star rating, honestly. The ambiance and vibes are cute and "tea-house-y" as previous reviews have mentioned, but honestly I will say that it's more worth it to just do this at home if you have a temperature controlled gooseneck kettle and good quality tea leaves. I felt like we ended up paying way too much for a couple cups, when we could have paid the exact same price for triple the tea leaves at our local Chinatown tea shop. Yes the vibes are cute, but it's probably more appropriate as a hangout/date spot and not really a place I'd consider a regular "go-to". read more

Beautiful beautiful beautiful. I feel such a mixture of happy and calm whenever I'm here. The ambience in itself is unexplainable, I love coming here to read or journal. Absolutely adore being able to experience this place, and brewing tea at my own table. The tea here is STRONG! The staff are sweet and knowledgeable, and very happy to help. I've had the white teas thus far and highly recommend :) read more

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Very cute inside, and the staff were friendly and helpful in figuring out which teas to try. I love that they offer a sampling flight so you don't have to just pick one. It was pretty busy so I think on weekends it's good to have a reservation read more

Nice little spot tucked away from the busy street traffic. Many different teas to choose from or take a flight of 3. There is seating inside, including a tea bar. Or take to go and sit outside. No food, just tea. read more

Blue Willow Teaspot - Outdoor sign - Tea Rooms Near Me - Berkeley, California

Selection of quality tea is unmatched here at Blue Willow, but more importantly is how for years the interior design and ambiance has been well maintained. With different seating arrangements from a private tea tasting room and Tatami mat room (both reservable on their website) you really become immersed in how the tea is enjoyed across the world and in different settings. If tea and the essence of what makes blue willow tea so unique and amazing; is the lively soul and character both have and share with every sip of tea. Recommendations: sticky rice pu'er tea cakes, World Peace Herbal blend, & Soba Cha read more

This is a quaint tea shop tucked away in Gilman district. We loved how we got a window seat without making a reservation. We picked the rainbow flight, along with some dessert. The staff brought the tea flight, and we were enamored with the beautiful tea colors and yummy tea flavors. The sesame snack was a crunchy and sweet, and it went well with the black tea. We liked how we can add our own hot water to make more tea. Will be back to try other tea! read more

Such a lovely space! Atmosphere and seating arrangements are wonderful. The servers Sabrina and Corrine are excellent and kind. The tea is high quality and worth savoring for an afternoon. read more

Blue Willow Teaspot - Atmosphere - Tea Rooms Near Me - Berkeley, California

As tea lovers, my companion and I had wanted to try Blue Willow Teaspot for the longest time! From the second we stepped in, a feeling of calmness came over me and I enjoyed the hours spent sipping on their tea. The interior somewhat reminded me of a Japanese tea house. You feel zen surrounded by the plants, tea-inspired decor, and wooden furniture. There are several tables to sit, work, study, and chat at. WiFi is available and it's a popular spot for workers. Depending on the day and time, reservations or time limits may be necessary. I will say that the service wasn't the best. It took 30 minutes for our tea to come out. The worker messed up on our order and gave it to us regardless which was nice, but still. This is a desirable spot for tea lovers. The menu is expansive with various tea types and tea grades. I was overwhelmed by the options so went with familiarity--Hojicha Latte with Oat Milk and Chai Latte with Oat Milk for us both. You could taste the strong flavor of both teas. It wasn't traditional nor the best I've had but still good. We also shared a pastry--it was fine but a bit drier and cold. Other diners had tea pots which looked super cute so maybe next time I'll go for that. For those seeking a relaxing or calming atmosphere to work or talk, Blue Willow Teaspot is charming and tucked in Northwest Berkeley off Tenth Street. There's free street parking around the area. With how close it is to my home, I'd come back for another work day! read more

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Tea so good I forgot alcohol even existed Cute shop, very friendly staff. We ordered two tea flights (Just Oolong for the Ride and Put some sugar on me) - personally favs were Charcoal Tieguanyin and Jasmine Pearls! Would def come back!! read more

Blue Willow Teaspot - Tea Rooms Near Me - Berkeley, California

So delicious! This is an amazing tea place with very relaxing vibes and everything felt very authentic. I got their iced matcha latte and my friend got a regular matcha bowl and both were delicious. I also bought the marukyu koyamaen matcha powder from here for about $34! read more

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What a cute spot! It's bigger on the inside than you'd expect from the exterior. There's lots of cute seating to choose from, if it's not too busy. The 2021 sticky rice chou and red dragon teas were excellent. The nuts are also nice, though the serving is small for $3. I loved poring over the books and business cards in the little alcove. The bathroom was clean and I was surprised to see incense was burnt in there. The downsides: hours seem inconsistent (online said they closed at 6pm on a Friday, but in-person they said 8pm that day), the cashier wasn't sure which nuts were in the mix, all pastries were sold out, and Berkeley Bucks was a bit of a hassle to redeem (seems like the workers aren't trained on the process). read more

These people know their teas! I love tea. I collect tea. If you like tea and know very little about it please start here. You'll learn how to steep with the proper temperatures and timings. Now that can be a small challenge but that is only part of a tea flight. You can get a simple cup and a snack. You can schedule a full tea ceremony, too! Blue Willow Teaspot makes for a lovely "third place." read more

Blue Willow Teaspot - Apricot danish before tea flight! - Tea Rooms Near Me - Berkeley, California

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My experience at this tea shop was extremely disappointing. The tea itself was unpleasant, and the overall smell of poor hygiene and strong body odor made it difficult to enjoy anything. Staff really need to be more mindful of basic cleanliness. When we arrived, we were ignored for quite some time before finally being seated. The person who eventually served us spoke in a condescending manner, which made the experience even worse. Service was very slow--tables that were seated after us placed their orders and began their tea tasting before we were even helped. We had to ask just to receive service. While the decor was cute, the atmosphere felt unwelcoming, and I did not feel comfortable or valued as a customer. Overall, it did not feel like the relaxing, enjoyable tea shop experience I was expecting. read more

I tried this place with a friend today, our first time. It was so nice inside so pretty so peaceful so calm so serene and all the beautiful teaware was lovely. We had jasmine tea. It was very tasty. The lady that served us explained everything so that we could understand. The were not that many food items to choose from but we were there to drink tea, so it was no big deal. Surprised they didn't have any water fountains to go along with the ambience unless I missed them. We are eager to try more teas as the list they have was amazing so much variety. read more

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What a wonderful little place. The tea is wonderful. Great place to meet friends and try different teas. I just wish they sold some food. Maybe even a couple little cookies with the tea. read more

This is a lovely, cozy spot with a large selections of teas. I had the hojicha latte with oatmilk. It was nutty and lightly sweet. I also saw some tea flights come out that I may need to come back out to try another time. read more

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I was excited to finally try this teaspot after hearing many high praises from friends about it. Upon arriving on this warm day, I was surprised by how many tea options there were. I honestly felt a little overwhelmed. I went for one of the non-custom tea flight before I realized there was an option to customize it. We decided to get the oolong one (bc I love itt). The server took us to an open table and said to wait 20 mins. It seemed kind of long but then we noticed some folks who ordered after us got their drinks. Something wasn't right.. 25 mins later I asked about our order and our original cashier was surprised our order wasn't delivered to us yet. They must have missed it. We had to wait another 10-15 mins for our tea. Just tea... After 40ish mins we finally get our tea and went through the whole flight. I appreciate they have extra boilers around the room to help you refill your tea. Pros: - Wide variety of teas - Refill stations - Clean bathroom - Free filtered water + cups (self-serve) - Great places to work from Cons: - Service. It wasn't horrible but I didn't like that we had to wait 40 mins for our tea to come out. It was not the best first experience but I'd likely come again if I was in the area. read more

Blue Willow Teaspot - cute spot in berkeley. nice quiet spot to work + hang out! - Tea Rooms Near Me - Berkeley, California

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The ambiance and staff and offerings are solid. The culture of the space can shift dramatically depending on the time of day, should you prefer a peaceful and venerable space it would behoove you to attend an event or take a seat at the communal area instead of open seating. read more

I ordered the tea flight with a friend and the price was pretty good for the fun experience of pouring your own tea and the number of cups you could drink. However, there were ants. They surrounded the water boiler we were using and when we looked around, some of the seating on the bamboo mat next to us had that as well. When I opened the lid to refill our pot, I found a couple of dead ants inside, which made me and my friend feel uncomfortable and question the cleanliness of the place. Other than that, it was a great experience! read more

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I've been to this cute spot a couple of times and unfortunately have been disappointed both, but this last one was especially bad. The ambiance is lovely and decor is beautiful but it took 35 minutes to get three chai lattes and when they finally arrived, they were simply lukewarm. Considering we paid nearly $10 per drink, I would definitely say it isn't worth going back again. read more

Such a lovely and welcoming experience at this pleasant tea spot. The server, Rachel, was kind and helpful. She really listened to our questions and explained the process of choosing tea and brewing. There was an exceptional selection and a lot of effort is placed into choosing the right tea the Gaba was definitely my favorite. However, the experience was what truly made this such a delight. I'm today's busy world, this spot is a treasure. read more

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Brief Summary: - Parking is scarce, but you might be able to find it around some of the grocery store area - Various tea types to choose from - Walk-ins are available and reservation might be needed for special seats - Tables, chairs, and bar seats inside to sit and enjoy tea - After finished drinking your tea, there is a cubby on top of the bookshelves, where you can bus the used dishes in We arrived here a couple minutes after the store had opened, and there was a line. The reason for the line was due to guests figuring out which tea to drink because there were so many options. We were also one of the guests, who were deciding on which teas to drink and what type to drink it with. The menu has two sides and separated into tea types (black, white, green, red) and the grade. The price of the grade was on the second page, 3 types in all. Once that is figured out, it was more of "which one should we try? There are so many?" The staff informed us that one teapot can serve between 2-3 people, so we decided to have one teapot and a glass of iced tea. For the iced tea, specific tea leaves are brewed (she mentioned that the iced teas are made from black tea). This day, the iced tea was red dragon, so we chose this because the walk here was warm. They also serve pastries from local bakeries, and we were hungry. In the list we got two pastries, both from a bakery shop called Bake Sum: a small black sesame mochi muffin and the okonomiyaki danish. The staff asked whether we made some reservations, and we told them that we didn't. We proceeded with a set of short reservation like questions (whether we will stay for 1, 1.5, or 2 hours) and we told them the shortest at 1 hour. We then were guided to our seats with the plate of the pastries we chose. There were tables and chairs, and there was also a beautiful lounging area. We requested to sit on the lounging area with the cute round cushions. The tea came by a few minutes later of relaxed chats with the family. The shop's environment and the ambience is fantastic. It is very relaxing. The teas were very delicious. I was amazed on how hot the tea stayed warm throughout our tea session. Hot steam as still rising from ours cups to the last fill. We picked the bourbon vanilla tea for the hot teapot option, and then we got today's red dragon for the daily iced-tea option. Also adding compliments to the pastries. The okonomiyaki dashi was absolutely amazing. What genius created this danish? (we later learned it was from a bakery called Bake Sum). It is the most creative idea and really amazing version of okonomiyaki I have ever tasted. Later, upon leaving and ordering some teas to take home, they have mentioned that the okonomiyaki danish is served on the weekends. I am so lucky to have tried it, now along with discovered a wonderful place to enjoy tea I will also visit the bakery in the future read more

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The tasting experience we joined was particularly interesting and our group was very sweet. The toasted buckwheat was my favorite. Excellent selections, great service and very informed and knowledgeable people work here. Will return here to dissertate in the future, and also to finally try their matcha. read more

So decided to stop by this highly rated tea place on a Sunday. Inside was cute, zen-like with plants, traditional and modern tea pots, cups, etc. You start off ordering your tea in line. Looks like they were fully booked for indoor seating so we decided to try outdoors. We also asked if any indoor tables opened, that we can be transferred inside. Our group of 3 ordered 3 separate teas - kamairicha (best one), red oolong and a gaba (low caffeine but meh). The teas took a while to come out and it was pretty cold outside so the initial experience wasn't great. The tea got cold once it came out and we had to keep going inside for refills. Luckily, about 30 min in, we were transferred inside since a reservation did not show up and we shared the large private room with another group. We found out there are unlimited hot water pots accessible - that would've been good to know when we were freezing outside. None of the staff told us and we kept going in asking for them to refill our tea, which took forever. It seemed we had to figure things out on our own. We weren't really feeling the staff's vibe- they were nice enough but hints of impatience, boredom, nonchalance would come out in their brusqueness and lack of checking in. We didn't feel as welcome. The teas were high quality and the ambiance is nice but it goes to show that service and staff play a huge part in the experience. read more

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Say WHAAAT?! How stinkin' adorable is this place! Cannot believe that I didn't discover this tea room sooner! My stepsister and I were looking for a place to catch up after having a delightful brunch at La Note. Since she was on a no alcohol cleanse, we decided to look for a spot to have tea. After a brief Yelp search, Blue Willow Teaspot popped up. I noticed that I had it bookmarked and we headed down to check it out. Blue Willow is tucked away in Northwest Berkeley and comes with so much charm. I would have never known that this little place was hiding out in this part of town. The ambience is stellar! You walk into a cute tea bar setup with shelves of different teas on display and beautiful tea sets that are for sale. Their tea sets were so damn cute! I could have purchased them all! But, I really have to get my tea game up to make that kind of investment. We were greeted by the super sweet barista who helped us decide what kind of tea that we should drink. I went with the Rooibos Capetown herbal tea and my stepsister had their Jasmine Silver Noodle white tea. We sat ourselves in their back dining area and our barista delivered our tea pots and gave us instructions on how to pour and brew our teas. Both teas were loose leaf and served in different tea kettles, so it was nice for her to come by and show us how to use them. I'm no tea connoisseur, so having tea in tea rooms is a new discovery for me. I've been getting more into tea and I feel like this is a great place to explore a bunch of different tea options. The Rooibos Capetown tea was super fruity and soothing. My sister really enjoyed her Jasmine Silver Noodle tea as well. They provided us each with a pretty large pot which gave us about 4 to 5 cups of tea. I love the décor and setup of their dining room! They have tables spread out and large windows that let in the natural light. Lots of pretty plants that give off a relaxed garden feeling. They even have a traditional tea room where you can sit on the floor and cozy up while enjoying your tea. This room is by reservation only though. It's semi-private as it has a opening that overlooks the rest of the tea room. They also have a larger room that can be used and reserved for larger parties. When we first arrived around 11:00 am, we were the only party there and had the entire dining room to ourselves. However, this place was poppin' around 1:00 pm! We ended up hanging out until after 2:00 pm. It was just fun to catch up in a relaxing environment like Blue Willow. I'm so excited to come back to this tea room! I've already told a few friends about it and we are planning to visit again real soon. Blue Willow is such a Berkeley gem! If you're lover of tea or are getting into the tea phenomenon like myself, Blue Willow Teaspot is the perfect spot for you. read more

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I love tea. And I love places that do tea right. If you are new to Asian tea, go to Blue Willow and try the Black Honey Oolong. Its got to be the most popular tea they sell. Like many of their teas, the Black Honey Oolong is imported from Taiwan. This tea is sourced from a single farm run by a single family. There is a local bug that nibbles on the tea leaves and begins the fermintation process while the leaf is still on the plant. The ambiance here is delightful. Its modern Asian fare. PRO-TIP: If you like the Black Honey Oolong so much that you want to buy some to make at home, they will sell you a 2oz canister of it for $24. If you sign up for their subscription plan to it, it will only be $21 per month. PRO-TIP: If you go on there website, there is a 10% coupon for online orders if you give them your email address. read more

On a rainy weekend recently this place was PACKED, definitely recommend making by a reservation for a sit down experience! In my case, I ended up getting some tea to go: a matcha latte and trying their Ginger Flower white tea. Both were tasty in their own ways! The decor was beautiful and had lovely calm/cozy vibes. The servers were very friendly and helpful even as they were running around with all of the orders flowing in. I am definitely looking to go back for a longer sit down visit. There are so many fun sounding teas to try that I wish they could offer a tea tasting... alas I might just have to splurge and get multiple tea flights (at $20-something a piece for 3 teas my wallet will be crying..). I think I would definitely want to buy some tea to take home after that too haha! read more

Blue willow is a place that was recommended by a friend in Berkeley and I had been meaning to try for a while. The inside of the teaspot is beautiful and Japanese themed with wooden seats and a podium with a ceremonial tea set up where you can sit on the ground cross-legged with pillows. The staff was welcoming and there was barely any wait. We were able to choose a custom tea flight from their menu of tea selections and curate it to our liking which was lovely. All of the teas are loose-leaf teas and they have an electric kettle that you can refill the tea with. Our tea flight consisted of the Black Honey, Black Phoenix, and Menghan teas, all of which were strong-noted and earthy. I also decided to order the chai with date syrup, and while is was very different from regular chai and not at all similar to authentic indian chai it was creamy and sweet with nice muted flavors and sweetness from the date syrup. If you are going however, I definitely recommend forgoing the chai and sticking with their loose-leaf teas! Blue willow is a great place for cozy vibes, and warm tea - especially on a rainy day! read more

Blue Willow Teaspot - Chai Latte - Tea Rooms Near Me - Berkeley, California