Blue Willow is a place we had heard about in Berkeley for some time, so we were pretty interested in checking it out when we were around the area. The inside is very aesthetic, as it feels like a pretty authentic teahouse when you enter it. There are even sections of the cafe with mats for you to sit cross-legged if you want to. The people there were accommodating and we were able to be seated quickly. For the tea, if you are a lover of authentic tea then you will definitely really like this place. Here, you can get a Tea Flight Menu and in this one we got Black Honey, Black Phoenix, and Menghan. They are loose-leaf teas, and they have an electric kettle there that you can use to refill the tea. I enjoyed the teas, and this is a great place to try out a lot of different types of loose-leaf tea flavors. We also got the chai with date syrup, although it's pretty different from regular chai as it has more muted flavors. I think that their loose-leaf teas here are their strong points. Overall, for authentic teas this place is excellent as it has a wide variety of selections and gives a pretty nice overall experience! read more

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

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Came here with two tea connoisseurs and got to sit at the little tea house on a Friday evening, by reservation only. We had a flight of teas and I also ordered chai tea. In addition to the teas, we also got the mochi muffin and their tea cake. Both were absolutely DELICIOUS and vegan too! The staff was really friendly and they seemed very knowledgeable about the teas flavors, preparation, and more! Would I come back? Totally, we've been back to Berkeley a few times already, specifically to come to Blue Willow. read more

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

Food: 4.5/5 Service/Wait: 3/5 Price/Value: 4/5 Atmosphere/Uniqueness: 5/5 TL;DR: The atmosphere and vibe is perfect for studying and relaxing. It is not too loud and there are a lot of different seating options. The staff I experienced was a bit standoffish and rude, especially when asked about their recommendations. They also took a while to set up my tea flight. Pour some sugar on me tea flight: 5/5; This is really fun to drink and allows you to try 3 different teas in one sitting. There are specific instructions on how long to brew the tea and all the flavors were yummy. This tea flight comes with Jasmine Pearls, Wuliang Beauty and Black Rose. My favorite was the Jasmine Pearls. There are a lot of drink options that are aesthetically pleasing. There are a few food options to enjoy along with your drink. I would return to try different drink options. read more

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I would not recommend this place. There's no staff to attend guests even with reservation. We reserved the private room, no one came to attend. After one hour, we purchased at the cashier and had to wait for our turn. Tea was good, but there was not pastries to purchase. This is not the tea experience you want to have. Please don't accept reservations if you don't have staff. read more

This is a quiet, serene cafe that serves a variety of great teas. Although the tea itself could be bought for much cheaper in bulk, the experience and ability to try different varieties easily is what you're paying for. Your tea is served in a cute tea set with perfectly hot water available throughout the cafe. It's definitely a must try for tea lovers. I will certainly be back. read more

Just lovely. I came in for Mother's Day and had the "You Want it Darker" tea tasting. My partner got a chai and we also had a chocolate cookie and a tea cake. All were delicious. I loved the ambiance. We sat indoors at the low table with the poofs. All the teas were divine, my favorite of the three was Minerals. A nice peaceful spot for a pot of tea! read more

Blue Willow Teaspot - You want it Darker tea tasting - Tea Rooms Near Me - Berkeley, California

Wow! Such a cute place. I'll be back. Small, so consider reservations. I stopped by to complete a tea gift and it had a friendly and warm vibe. read more

We've now come back to Blue Willow Teaspot several times over, and it most assuredly is a hidden gem for this area! Our first visit I absolutely fell in love with their Bourbon Vanilla tea. While I tend to get it iced because they can put any of their teas on ice - it's mouthwateringly delicious and very close to tasting like cream soda. We've also done tea flights (highly recommended) as we wanted to get a small taste of several different teas we might not have tried otherwise and I ended up really enjoying the Red Dragon with the Honey Black Rose as a close second. I also really like that they have a small seating area out front for those who don't wish to partake inside these days, and the service is always friendly and warm. All in all, Blue Willow Teaspot is one of our new favorites and we'll definitely keep returning for more iced tea! read more

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Such a fun experience during Valentine's Day! I did a reservation for the Tatami room to surprise my boyfriend and we absolutely loved it! The service went above and beyond by offering us water for our kettle whenever we needed it, explaining the process of brewing tea, and also recommending their personal favorites. I absolutely loved the staff and the welcoming attitude they had towards us. Their friendliness added to the relaxing and chill atmosphere. There was soft chattering among the customers and everyone here was either working on their laptops or catching up with friends. We had the First Flush Hojicha and it was quite delicious. Such an epic discovery and I can't wait to come back! read more

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

My family and my bf loved our morning tea experience at Blue Willow Teaspot! Everything-- from the atmosphere, the staff, to the tea-- was exceptional. Like others have mentioned, the wealth of knowledge here was enough to fundamentally change my perception of tea. With the precision that the staff treated each pour, you really can't help admiring the artistry. The Private Tasting Room is spacious + decorated with houseplants and various Japanese tea sets. Note: While it's sectioned off from the main seating area, it's adjacent to the front door and register, the front window is a direct view into the room, and the upper wall is only blocked by glass (not soundproof). Not entirely private, but enough to have your own space. Blue Willow stocks select mochi muffins and donuts from fellow local business, Third Culture Bakery. Albeit tasty, I recommend eating beforehand-- You're really here for the tea, after all. TEA FLIGHT: Three of our four teas were brought out in mini teapots and serving glasses, alongside an electric water boiler. Included were instructions for the brewing time and temperature for each. We tried the Dragonwell, Kyoto Bancha, and Red Dragon (my personal favorite). Since the Japanese Soba Cha could be steeped indefinitely, it was brought out in its own kettle. Sitting with the teas steeping was basically free aromatherapy-- so herbal and relaxing. One huge factor in my appreciation was that they were flexible with our last-minute reservation change from a party of 4 to a party of 5 (the Japanese Tea Room holds 2-4, while the Private Tasting Room holds 4-6). We were lucky that the latter was available during our reservation, in which our hostess was kind enough to seamlessly make the switch. Thank you so much for accommodating us! read more

Recommend different tea leaves with different temperature water. Lovely modern store with asian decorations. Good for serious tea drinkers. With milk or plain. Food: offers tea with milk or not. NOT A BOBBA shop. Offers some sweets, last time there were mochi donuts. Ambiance: lots of plants and asian decorations. Recommend you sit there and trying tea trio. Lots of hot water kettles for self service. Neighborhood very industrial. Can be hard to dind. read more

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Blue Willow is hidden away on a corner street with a unique, clean and inviting ambiance. Perfect for working professionals looking for a quiet calm environment or for a nice hangout area with friends. There is no dedicated parking here so you will need to secure a spot on the street. The store staff are very down to earth and happy to help. There are so many choices here for tea tastings. The prices here will not break the bank yet remain high quality enough for the most stringent of connoisseurs. Plenty of packaged teas to go with tea-fare here for your preparation needs. This place can get busy so come here early to secure some house pastries! read more

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peaceful and amazing man favorite find. Great selection of teas and nice staff. Love this place

My friend and I loved this tea house! The intimate ambiance makes it a great date spot. The tea selection is vast, so do a tasting! We liked the Alishan oolong from Taiwan. And unless you're ordering to-go, I would suggest the traditional way of drinking the tea. Totally worth the extra buck. Keep in mind that there is limited seating at this tea house, so you can either make a reservation for a room, or add yourself to the waiting list for the tables that seat two. read more

A hidden gem of Berkeley! I've been here for tea flights as well as just to pick up matcha/hojicha lattes. My one warning is that drinks usually take longer to get than expected (think: 30 minutes for an iced matcha latte, even when the store isn't very busy), but if you're open to being patient and matching the calm vibe of the shop, you won't be disappointed. If you are a tea-aficionado, you must go! read more

I wanted to do some tea tasting and Blue Willow gave a great experience! I ordered the 3 tea flight, customed for $25 for the top shelf teas. - Asatyta: Tasted like a light sencha, like a Japanese roasted green tea - Tieguanyin: Really liked this one but i've been into oolong lately. The flavor was bright and light with a touch of sweetness. - Berkeley Brunch: My least favorite. It tasted a little bit bitter than the other ones and not really my flavor profile. I also got the daily iced tea which was a red oolong from Taiwan with a fruity finish. I enjoyed it even though it was cold out. It was really refreshing with a hint of fruity and sweetness. They brought out all the teas in little brewing pots and then cup to pour them in so you don't over steep them. It's meant for several steeps and there's a cute goose neck kettle on the side to do the refills yourself. Overall, they did a good job making the place look like a teahouse. I spent at least 1.5 hours there just enjoying all the teas. read more

Loved relaxing in this spot and enjoying a "Surprise Tea Flight" with my kid. A definite highlight of the few days we spent in Berkeley. My kid loved his Chai so much we bought some to bring home because we could always use more chai. Parking was easy and the signs gave us a few hours. In theory the pastries should have been good but what we shared was definitely old, however we had it with tea so we adjusted how we are it. Great place for quiet and to study. read more

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Not surprising that this is a business that flags and asks Yelp to remove any negative reviews. Reposting my review - now edited for Yelp censorship. This place epitomizes everything wrong with this area. While large homeless encampments are struggling with daily life (one tent is just across the street), customers here are sipping on $20 pots of tea. The arrogant servers here didn't even apologize to my elderly mother for the flimsy tea vessels that almost burnt her. I had a very bad experience here. Bought more than $300 worth of tea, because my husband saw this place on the New York Times :( Workers were extremely rude and would not change the packaging. We bought 8oz $158 of tea, but they would not split it up for us even though they're not pre-packed. Extremely condescending that their packaging costs $1-2. read more

The teas were quality and delicious, and I'd love to come back to dine in and read a book. The space seems perfect for some quiet, relaxing alone time. We were just stopping by, but otherwise, I would have opted for the full experience! Bright Eyes $7 (cup) [8.5/10] This was quite a soothing herbal tea. The first notes you get especially through smell are chrysanthemum and goji berries and then you get a pretty strong mint undertone and aftertaste. Jujube was a recognizable base note as well. If you also grew up with dessert soups/hot drinks featuring jujube, goji berries and the like, this will feel like home. Wild Honeysuckle $7 (cup) [9/10] This tea was so calming. It was floral without being in your face. It was also really smooth, which I loved. This was a unique try for me! The pastries looked so good too, so I'll have to try them next time. They feature Asian flavors like black sesame, hojicha, ube... Service: Everyone was really sweet and friendly! They offered to let us smell the teas and guided us in choosing our options. I'd encourage reading about the shop and founder as well. I'm impressed by their dedication to tea and the community. read more

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Great ambiance and lovely tea. I did not have much tea experience but the staff was very friendly and helped us pick out teas to try.

I love studying here. the atmosphere is perfect for studying and the spot has a lovely herbal tea smell. the place is pretty cozy and it has limited seating on chairs. they have some floor seating which is nice but not recommended for long studying periods. I love coming here to try out new teas! they have delicious pastries too. read more

Extremely nice knowledgeable stuff, very cute atmosphere and their morning blend is my favorite of all times Cons: a bit expensive, but I guess it's just CA read more

Blue Willow Teaspot - Some good tea - Tea Rooms Near Me - Berkeley, California

I love coffee shop vibes, working in different environments, and tea, so when I saw this spot on Yelp I decided it'd be lovely to try it out! Vibes - 4/5 + cute decor - teacups all around, a little tatami mat seating area, many plants + there's an option to get your tea the "traditional" style, where it comes in a teapot served in traditional earthenware that is cute and useful - customer service was okay, I felt like the employees were not very friendly even as they do know their tea and can explain nuances to you (including the number of seconds and temperature water with which to steep the tea). This experience could have been much nicer if I didn't feel so confused with no friendly help Working Environment - 4.5/5 + solid wifi + peaceful music + usually pretty quiet, with maybe a bit of chatting + you have your own kettle at your table to make more water to steep more tea! how cool is that - a smaller location, by midafternoon all of the tables were taken so some customers had difficulty finding seating. Seats maybe about 15-20 total Tea - 4/5 - I personally didn't like my tea (a pu'er) that much, although I've had and liked similar pu'er before - was also a bit pricey, $7 for the pot My overall impression of Blue Willow is that it's a place where many true tea lovers come - the individuals who know their tea nuances and are a bit posh. It was a good place to come to get some work done if I'm ready to invest for an afternoon, but hopefully they will be a bit friendlier read more

Blue Willow Teaspot - a pu'er (traditional) - Tea Rooms Near Me - Berkeley, California

I had a wonderful time catching up with my friend here. Not only do they have an extensive selection of tea but their teas are incredibly delicious! If it's your first time I recommend the tea flight so you can sample them. The best part is that you're able to resteep your tea. I had no idea you could do that so I thought it was incredibly worth it. We spent about 2 hours there hanging out and sipping tea and it was so relaxing. We left incredibly caffeinated but it was worth it! I'll be back again! read more

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

A beautiful tea room with a wonderful selection of teas. I typically go there to stock up for at home use, and occasionally great a tea to go. They have a nice small room that can be reserved for groups as well. Most of the time I have had success asking for recommendations or information on certain teas. A recent visit I wasn't so lucky with 2 staff shrugging their shoulders and handing me the menu that has some brief descriptions. I stuck with my tried and true favs but if this happens to you ask for someone who can help you. There is always someone there with good knowledge. Enjoy! read more

I just want to start by saying that Blue Willow is such a hidden treasure of Berkeley, and I've been recommending it like crazy to all of my friends in the area! I first came here with my boyfriend a few months ago, as we both like tea and were in the mood for a warm drink on a chilly day. It's located slightly away from downtown Berkeley near the university, and more towards the northern end of Berkeley on the tip of Albany. There is no parking lot here, but street parking is plentiful and easy to find! The interior is so welcoming--decorated to be cozy, with many, many tables. I will note though (and their website also mentions this) that the tables are small and only seat 2, so this is a great date spot! But for bigger groups, they do have private rooms that you can reserve if you want to ensure that they're available. This would also be a great spot to study! The teas you can choose from are divided into three tiers (warm up, well versed, and top shelf). Then, you can choose from either a simple serving or a traditional tea setup. With the simple serving, you receive a teapot, and with the traditional serving, you receive a few more cups. The traditional serving cups have been different each time I've come, but the gist is usually a pot to boil the leaves, a glass cup to cool down the tea, a smaller aroma cup to enjoy the fragrance, and a small cup to drink out of. What We Ordered: - Wuliang beauty oolong (5/5): This oolong flavor was beautiful and strong! I love oolong, so this is a must-try for me again. - Black honey rose oolong (5/5): I loved the warm sweetness provided by the honey, and the floral rose notes paired with the oolong tea. I've gotten this twice now, and this is probably what I'd consider my go-to! Overall, Blue Willow is such a hidden gem, and I love it so much! I almost want to keep it a secret, but I would be doing everyone else a disservice if I didn't let them know amazing this place is. read more

Blue Willow Teaspot - enjoying the wuliang beauty oolong traditional set! ig: badandfoodiee - Tea Rooms Near Me - Berkeley, California

My husband is a big fan of "tea time" so I booked a reservation for Father's Day. We were running late and I called and the staff was really accommodating. I had called earlier in the week and they said to make reservations online for the weekend so I did. I asked if children were allowed and they were. Despite all of this, and the tea being pretty good, there were a few things that I think can be improved on. If kids are welcome, having the option of high chairs would be great. I also think that the tea flight should be an option on weekends and if it is not (which we found out at arrival) it should be clearly stated online, over the phone etc. we drove 50 minutes for a cup of tea...wasn't what I expected and was actually disappointed about this. So if you come on the weekend, just know there are no tea flights. I think the vibe is more a hang out with friends, work/study place to be honest. Well now I know, and I'll go elsewhere next time unless I'm just in the mood for a cup of tea! read more

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

I am just starting my tea journey so I am an novice in everywhere possible. When I entered the place was so beautiful! The tea sets on sale are placed against the window and the teas opposite of the bar. It's so open and allows all of this natural sunlight in. Nina was there and helped me get started with a starter kit of sorts. She answered all of my questions and told me about tea sits that they do. The tea room is spaced out with some a couple nook tea tables. Afterwards she offered if we wanted to stay and drink tea. I had to leave so I end up getting a to go. I would like to come back and spend some time here soon. They offer tea flights here. read more

This place has been in my bookmarks for the longest time! I finally tried it today. Love the calming aesthetic and there's a ton of variety of teas. My bf and I have tried a lot of teas but this place had a lot of new flavors for even us to try. We had duck shit aroma (lol), kamairicha (?), black honey and red dragon. Idk the words to describe duck shit - it has a light, murky flavor. Kamairicha - the chestnut flavor truly comes out. Black honey is if you like a dark flavor. Red dragon was my favorite, very smooth and flavorful. I think what would've perfected this experience for me is maybe some Asian snacks? - red bean paste, rice crackers, etc. They do have mochi donuts tho. The staff are very knowledgeable and friendly. Bill, Marie (Maria? Sry if I got it wrong) , and Neko were all very welcoming from the moment we entered to when we left. Don't be afraid to ask them for recommendations! The menu is also very helpful and descriptive. read more

This place is tucked in the side street from the busy San Pablo ave. We've driven by multiple times to get to Tokyo fish market, but never cared to stop by until I found them on yelp. It's a cute and quiet place to read a book and that's exactly what we did here. We brought our books, ordered one of their premium teas - Japanese sencha, and found a table. It wasn't very busy, but it did take a while for our tea to come. When it came, we were given instructions on how long to steep the tea and what temperature water. Sencha was pretty good. It was light and fragrant when we did it correctly because when the temp of the water is too hot, it made the sencha bitter. Anyway, there was a guy that ordered the matcha latte with date syrup and it looked amazing! I'm sure it tasted amazing too. I'd love to go back to try their matcha latte someday. read more

Blue Willow Teaspot - Premium Japanese sencha - light and fragrant - Tea Rooms Near Me - Berkeley, California

This was my favorite place to study and relax when I was at Cal, and still continues to be my go-to cafe in the East Bay. Berkeley is blessed with not one but two amazing teashops (Far Leaves is the other) and maximum kudos to the owner Ali for standing strong in a city dominated by coffee. It helps the place blends zen serenity and modern chic so well, and of course, the tea is great quality. I find their black tea offerings to be the best, specifically the Assam. But of course - get a big pot and experiment with your buddies. Lots of choices to pick from! read more

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

I'd heard great things about Blue Willow Teaspot and luckily I showed up in town on the day that they reopened the tearoom for indoor seating! Things were a little chaotic at first - it seemed like lots of old regulars were paying a visit to celebrate their reopening. The staff were (understandably!) a little out of practice. Everyone was doing their best to find their feet but it did leave us feeling a little confused as we came in the door. Once we got situated, everything was great. The menu is nicely presented and everything is clear (excepting that prices aren't listed). They're listed roughly by expensiveness. You can order a simple serving (a regular western style teapot with enough tea for 2-3 cups from your first steep), or traditional, which comes in the regionally appropriate style. The main room is very spacious with high ceilings and 4 two-top tables. I liked that the seats had high backs for comfort. They also have a super cute Japanese style room, which seats 2, with an open front. It felt a bit like you were waiting to watch some theatre. There's also a separate room with a low table which I think seated 6. There are kettles by the wall near each table for easy access and top-ups, so you can steep and drink at your own pace. They also have a little bookcase which seemed like you could browse. It's a nice layout. I love my Indian and Sri Lankan black teas so I opted for an Assam tea, simple style. All of the teaware was nice quality and came out pre-warmed. The server talked us through the process. My friend got an Oolong served in the Taiwanese style with a tiny teapot (for a higher number of short steeps). It was quite complex with and 3 different cups to pass everything through to first steep, second keep the tea aside, third smell the aroma, and fourth actually drink it. It's fun to try out. We also enjoyed mochi muffins from Third Culture Bakery which were a great accompaniment. We hung out comfortably for over an hour and others were chatting or reading and writing. It seems like it'd be a great place to write, read, study, or just socialize. Their teaware for sale is also super cute, and they have a great range of teas for reasonable prices. I grabbed a 2oz tub of Ceylon for under $10 and really enjoyed my first cup. Our two teas, two muffins, and tub of tea totalled around $35 with tip. Lovely spot for any tea drinker. Highly recommended. read more

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What a delightful spot! Everything about this place was great - from the ambience, the decorations, the employees, and the tea! Everything was so well done that my friend and I were thoroughly impressed. The teas were really tasty and you really got your money's worth with how much you could steep them. Plus, you could order flights to taste the various teas they have, which is something I never considered possible with teas. My personal favorite was the sticky rice tea, which really delivered on the flavor. We also had the opportunity to meet and talk with the owner, Ali, who was very kind and helpful. If you like teas or are looking for a nice place to work/hang out, this is a great spot! read more

I love blue Willow. I get all my teas from them and occasionally indulge into creative vibes to get some work done. read more

I have not tried their pastry this time, but I went with their puerh tea. The fact they have a water heater in nearly every seating area is simply amazing. The tea shop is very calming and gives you the vibe to stay there for a long time. Service is excellent, and the workers are friendly to talk to. I will revisit this place when I revisit Berkeley in the future. read more

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Increíble te. Love the selection of premium teas. My daughter and I enjoyed the ceremonial matcha. The traditional seating area is by reservation only but there is plenty of seating to enjoy flights of tea. Highly recommend. Vegan pastry options as well. read more

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

Coming here has forever changed the way I view and appreciate tea. The temp and steep time makes such a huge difference to the taste level of each tea! Trisha has been a great help in recommending different teas for my friends and me to try, I LOVED the bug bite black honey oolong she recommended and had to buy a bag home! I could totally see myself coming back here to work out of the relaxing space and enjoy some good and reasonably priced high-quality tea. read more

Stumbled upon such a cute tea spot near Gilman and San Pablo. Didn't realize such a gem was there until I needed some Jasmine Pearl tea to make some macarons. Thanks, trusty Yelp! There's a signage on the door that lists the store number for you to call so that they'll open the door for you. Easy peasey. There's so many teas to choose from and you can buy them in 2oz, 8oz to a pound of you wanted. There's an adorable room for tea tasting, one which I hope to utilize once the pandemic simmers down, and a lovely room in the back that they do japanese tea ceremonies. Fabulous spot to try and buy loose leaf teas! read more

This place is such a vibe! As a fan of real tea, it's a real treasure to find! It's so rare to find a tea place (as opposed to milk tea or coffee). I got the tea flight with 3 teas for $15: duck sh*t oolong, a roasted tieguanyin, and a 2020 green sheng pu-erh. They were served in small (100ml?) gaiwans, brewed once. Further brewing was at my leisure with a kettle provided at each table (the kettle has a thermometer so you can manually control the water temp). Plenty worth $15 for the variety and sitting and enjoying the tea in a comfortable setting. There are many tea choices and the staff was knowledgeable and helpful in making decisions (for example I asked the difference between a Phoenix oolong and a dancong). They were busy so I didn't want to ask too many questions, unfortunately. They also had some teaware for sale. I was looking at the Yixing teapots. Most were on the smaller, personal size, and probably consequently not as expensive ($70-110). Didn't really ask much about their teapots. Definitely recommend visiting!! read more

Blue Willow Teaspot - Tea flight of 3 teas for $15: (bottom to top) 2020 green sheng pu-erh, duck sh*t oolong, roasted tieguanyin oolong. - Tea Rooms Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Great place to get tea service. They have an excellent selection and beautiful space.