This was my first time coming here and it was wonderful! This shop is very welcoming and a great ambiance. The employee working in the front was extremely friendly and helpful! The decor is beautiful and very different. It has a very inviting and relaxing vibe! Somewhere I would love to come study at. When you walk in they have art work clipped on the wall from each month. They have lighting fixtures that are stars that were so cute! The table tops are made out of pennies. They have regular chair seating and then they also have seats with pillows and cushions and a very beautiful map above that. The menu was very colorful and full of options. I decided to get the Macha mango bubble tea and it was delicious! They ran out of small cups so he gave me a large cup instead. They definitely don't skimp on the booba and the tea itself was very flavorful. They also had many different milks, and teas to choose from. They had cardamom cookies which I've never heard of but from what my friend said, they are amazing! They had a lot of other cookies and treats and they all looked great. I'll be here again for sure and hopefully next time I'll sample their delicious looking treats! read more

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Delicious teas here and the atmosphere is great. Was greeted immediately upon arrival. I got a small honey-green matcha tea with milk bubble tea and it was delicious. Lightly sweetened with honey. My s.o. Got the traverse city cherry festival tea which apparently is what their most popular/famous tea is. Everything was delicious. read more

Eli Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

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I cannot get enough of their orange crepe green tea.....LOVE IT!!! Amazing!!! We need another Eli Tea in Rochester or Troy soon, please and thank you! read more

Meh. Came in for some Local Bubble tea. Just wasn't impressed in the slightest. Probably the worst made bubble tea I've ever had.

Quality Tea items with a substantial variety. Service is friendly and helpful. Metered parking nearby and Eli Tea Merchandise available for purchase. read more

Wandering around Birmingham with my BF and we ducked into Eli Tea for a quick cup of tea to warm us up. It is small and cozy with friendly service. I ordered a Turkish Double which is tasty and perfect for a chilly November night. My sweet potato macaroon was good, too. We didn't try any but their bubble teas look yummy and all-natural. Nice little place overall. read more

Eli Tea - Sweet potato macaroon - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

I like this place primarily because they serve bubble tea. However, the consistency of the tapioca pearls varies from visit to visit. A couple of times they were pretty hard and another time they were just average. One time they were just about perfect. My last visit they were kind of hard and I was not enjoying my tea as thoroughly as it was possible. That's why I took away one star - the boba is not consistent and not always as yummy as it could be. Otherwise, it's alright. They usually have yummy cookies, or treats. read more

Visited last week with my sister + friend. They were so nice and helpful with my menu questions. I got the Matcha Mango with extra matcha and soy milk and that was a win! I was so pleased with my order that I didn't hesitate to drink it all before I remembered to take a photo. Will be heading back soon to try the Peach White! read more

Life's Better at the Beach (pool) with Eli Tea Blood Orange Tea mixed w lemonade and a dollop of raspberry sorbet! GLORIOUSLY REFRESHING read more

Eli Tea - Blood Orange Eli Tea w Lemonade and Raspberry Sorbet - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

Cool tea spot. I like the variety they have and they're always helpful when you can't narrow down what you're wanting/in the mood for. The ambience is nice because it feels relaxing but also conducive to study in. I like the small area of games they have for when you just want to have a quick game while hanging out. I think this was a green tea latte; just got it because I love matcha read more

Eli Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

Their peach white and Thai bubble tea are one of my favorites! Their staff is always very friendly!

Stopped in to Eli tea last week for the first time and loved the space. The decor is so cute and cozy for the small space. They have a large selection of loose leaf teas, which is what I had come for. The woman working didn't seem overly excited to sell any or give suggestions. I actually walked out with one I've already had because I felt bothersome deciding what to order. The website seems to be more helpful and I think I will order from there from now on. Although, they do advertise a board game night and would love to go back to try it. I would also recommend stopping in for a tea to go. read more

I love this place! Amazing tea, delicious food, and knowledgeable staff with the patience of saints, considering all the random packs of ill-mannered children who come in and try to "trigger" them. Wow. read more

Saw a review that said an employee was rude and refused to make tea 10 minutes before close. My friend and I were doing homework here (at our favorite tea shop) every day that week, and one night two guys came in while we were packing up to leave (around 3 minutes before the shop closed) and asked for bubble tea. When the employee working said she was out of boba, they proceeded to yell at her for the next 15 minutes. Just wanted to set the record straight, since the employees here are the nicest people ever. Occasional rude customers aside, Eli Tea is pretty much my favorite place in the world! They have a great selection of teas, are always willing to accommodate strange requests (pro tip: try asking for hot bubble tea next time), the ambience is very welcoming and cozy, and the staff are all amazing. Definitely recommend stopping by the next time you're in Birmingham! read more

This place is a hidden gem!!!! Never visited even though I live in troy. They have great boba- perfectly cooked- and really awesome flavors of tea. Love that they're vegan friendly and supportive of local artists. Definitely recommend and it's a nice place to chill with friends. read more

Eli Tea - Yummm earl grey lavender with almond milk, green tea mango, and Thai chai - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

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I stopped in to get my usual boba and I bought their new zodiac box. I'm so glad I did! I've been wanting to get more into tea recently, and this box is perfect! It's got 12 teas (one for each zodiac sign) and each is so unique! Totally worth the money for the amount of tea you get. Very pleased with my purchase. read more

Eli Tea - Zodiac Box - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

The other day I was thinking about what to get my gals for Valentine's Day and saw this adorable zodiac box at Eli's!! Perfect occasion, super cute!! read more

Eli Tea - Cutest thing ever!! Must have :) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

Ordered the black milk bubble tea but there was absolutely no tea flavor, it tasted like milk with some ice thrown in. Also the boba in the drink were not cooked properly, some were hard, some were super soft, and some were in between... definitely would not get bubble tea here again. Of note, while the owner has said some shockingly rude things to his customers in his yelp comments, the rest of the staff were friendly during my visit and helpful with any questions I had. read more

Went to Eli's Tea on a Saturday night after the movies. The place has a good vibe and atmosphere. Very big tea selection. If you check in with yelp, you get free tea biscuits, so make sure you check in! Overall, pretty cool tea place with a Wayne State connection! read more

Eli Tea - Who ever said nothing is free didn't wait a day. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

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The best place to have tea in Birmingham. The staff is friendly and helpful in picking out a tea. They have a wide selection of different teas. Not to expensive, like most places. They have really good desserts. The matcha cookies was my favorite. read more

Eli Tea - Green Tea and Matcha cookie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

Great! Just needs to be friendlier. I'm not fund of Birmingham businesses that are dry and snotty with non regular customers. Especially, since I'm from Birmingham and can walk there without crossing Woodward. read more

This tea room is the perfect place for any rainy afternoon (dry ones too, but rainy ones are my faves). It's always comfortably warm, cozy and has some of the best relaxing smells going on. On my first visit here, I had instant deja vu, as I realized it used to be a popular ice cream chain that I frequented in my teenage years. It's a nice little reminder I get whenever I visit, but ice cream parlor no more. Eli Tea is quiet and quaint, and it almost feels like a library to me. Like somewhere you go to spend hours getting lost in whatever book you're into these days... So inside there isn't a ton of seating, especially for large groups but I've never seen it really busy, so I'm always able to grab a cup and a cookie to snack on for a bit, if I'm not running errands like a mad man. You can also get tea making accessories like disposable tea bags, reusable tea infusers, loose tea containers, tea pots, travel mugs, etc. They have it all! Speaking of having it all, boy do they ever! So many kinds of teas! And they're not expensive at all! The teas are stacked behind the counter and there's a board with all the teas listed right beside them. I love floral teas, lavender especially, so I always go for something either lavender and/or rose to sip on. I love that they offer two different types of lavender that I'm just obsessed with, Miss Katherine's which almost has a sweet taste to it and the Colorado which has a very strong lavender smell AND taste. I usually buy both just because some days I'll want the sweeter lavender, but other days I want that bold, punch all of my tastebuds in the face at once, lavender taste. Between the two, you really can't go wrong either way, but they have so many other tea options to choose from, I've got to branch out and try some more of them. They'll sometimes have tiny take home samples for like $2 of special blends like over the summer I got one called, "Peach White", that had jasmine, rose and hibiscus in it! It was delightful and I've been meaning to get a couple ounces of it ever since. The staff is super friendly and knowledgeable as well. They can definitely help you figure out what you like and what you don't like if you're new to tea. My favorite part is when they pull down a tub of tea, take the lid off and wave it back and forth so you can get a delicious breeze of loose leaf tea! read more

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Great teas, great vibes, knowledgeable staff. A true gem in the community. I would recommend Eli Tea to both locals and visitors!

I'm a fan bc they're a quaint local tea shop. But I was a bit disappointed with their boba :( The tapioca were in great shape (whew) but I ordered a Thai tea and there was just no balance. The tea was weak in flavor, color and body, which is already a Thai tea no-no. It was served to us fresh steeped, kudos on that, but probably not steeped long enough and lukewarm with a few ice cubes floating to their quick deaths. The overbearing flavor was just honey and sweetness. None of that spicy tea flavor, or the rich cream. I might have guessed 2% milk, maybe. Granted, they happily took our orders 20 minutes before closing on a slow night, which we really appreciated but I was bummed upon first sip. I had read many raves about the boba here, so it was an extra hit. Otherwise, I love that they feature art from local artists. Great spot to hang out and catch up with friends. They sell cute tea accessories and other goodies. Great variety and selection of teas. I'm still on the search for proper boba in the area, though. read more

Their chai Thai bubble tea is my favorite! The staff is very welcoming and there are so many options to choose from.

My friends and I were reluctant to go home so early after dinner, so we wandered around downtown Birmingham. Not much was open, but we are SO happy to have bumped into this place! It's a relaxed, open atmosphere - perfect for hanging out for a while. The tea selection is pretty broad, with a few choices in each type of tea (green, white, oolong, black, etc.). The prices are very fair, and the staff prepare it precisely. They have the classics, and also a few choices for the adventurous. I tried the Cherry Festival and Hazelnut Rooibos teas. I liked the Cherry Festival one, though the hazelnut was not really detectable in the Rooibos tea,.. It was really the service that made this an amazing experience. The staff were incredibly friendly and had exceptional hospitality. They really added to the chill atmosphere, and maintained a very clean and neat space. I guess they were supposed to close at 10pm, but most of the seating was full of people past 10:30pm. The server was so hospitable, and was sheepish/reluctant to answer when we asked if they were technically closed already. I'll definitely come again if I'm ever in the area. Also! When I went, there was check-in offer for tea cookies. GET IT!!!! They had cardamom cookies when I was there, and they were so delicate and amazing. read more

I enjoy this bubble tea place a lot. It is a little pricier than most places in metro Detroit but it is in downtown Birmingham so you have to expect that with every place downtown. My favorite drink is the Ube Tres Leches tea. It's not like any other boba tea I've had before. It's really sweet so if you enjoy sweets you will love it. read more

After taking my 10 year old cousin-in-law to the movies, we stopped by this cafe for a bubble tea. I've seen kids drinking it, and my cousin never had it. As we read through the menu together I noticed the flavors looked a bit mature and I thought hey if she doesn't like it, I'll drink it. False. The tea was made with organic "rice water", and what was compared to a "vanilla milkshake" tasted like watery rice pudding water with a cup of ground cinnamon spice. I think the guy needs to revisit what a vanilla milkshake should taste like.... I had to toss it. I tried really hard to finish it, but every sip dried out my mouth. I don't recommend this place to kids... or anyone who wants bubble tea... THIS IS NOT BUBBLE TEA. read more

Stopped by for a cup of tea to try this new-ish Birmingham spot. Were offered a selection of 3 cookies from a good array available, so we went for it. Not usually a tea maven, so I appreciated the menu. It was divided into 3 sections, with different general types of tea, at 3 different price points. A very nice place to relax, take a break from shopping or the day's work. read more

Eli really is a master of tea. Stopped in on whim after drinking coffee all morning (whoops). But we found Eli and his staff to be very engaging and knowledgable regarding all their teas and pros/cons to each depending on your preferences. We also tried the little cookies, I know others who have reviewed seemed to enjoy them but if I'm being honest I wasn't thrilled with them. But the tea alone would bring me back in a heart beat. read more

Highly recommend! We found this shop late after dinner and was still open, tea selections was extensive but not overwhelming, especially for a tea noob such as myself. Decor clean and the staff was AMAZING. Ps thanks for the check in offer! The cardamom tea biscuits were very tasty read more

My first visit here and the individuals who worked here were the nicest people. The atmosphere is great and relaxing. The tea was interesting and they help you pick out what's your in the mood for by describing the tea to you. Free refills of hot water with a small pot of tea. Finally the biscuits were super tasty and went well with the black tea we chose. I'd definitely return in the future when I'm visiting the area. read more

I've been to Eli Tea so many times because my favorite drink, the lavender hazelnut soy, keeps me coming back! Unfortunately, that is the only reason I come in there. The place is extremely tight, which is normal for downtown Birmingham...but I just wish the space was utilized more wisely & they experimented with the layout. It just feels so cluttered. read more

Eli Tea - Lavender hazelnut soy - my go to! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

Incredible staff, really awesome atmosphere, and delicious tea. No better place to hang out on a lazy afternoon or after a busy day at the office. read more

Eli Tea - Perfect place to sit, read, drink, and think. Definitely a must try! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

I'm always in search for a good boba place while I'm traveling bc it's one of my favorite drinks. The boba was a real let down here though :\ the texture was thick and lumpy (instead of chewy) like they didn't boil it long enough and the flavor? There was none. Usually places let them soak in sugar water or syrup for more flavor and idk if that happened here. The tea itself was also gridy? I felt small pieces of powder mix here and there. Can't tell if it's from the rose mix or if that was matcha but either way, kinda disappointed they used a powder instead of a tea bag to avoid that. I'd probably give three stars bc it was pretty and free biscuits but the tea was really that much of a bust especially for the price. But overall I wouldn't come back though. read more

Eli Tea - White rose matcha w boba and the free tea biscuits - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

You smell the aroma of teas as soon as you walk in. Even when sick. Cute tea shop in Birmingham. Lots of options to choose from and delicious baked goods. There cardamom biscuit was great. read more

Eli Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

Eli Tea, doesn't sell tea, it sells a feeling. Specifically one of conscious superiority at having evaded the Starbucks across the street in favor of an 'edgier' experience. Their simple (and I do mean simple) beverages/snacks aren't what puts this establishment at a lofty four star rating. It's their aesthetic. For the same price as a generic St@rb#cks latte, you can get a decidedly less generic variety of tea or coffee (take that! Minion-esque capitalism!) Then, you can choose to enjoy it in a venue which, while still contrived, does have a pleasing design and the added benefit of local art displays. In short, Eli Tea isn't perfect, but it makes me feel good (edgy) and how obnoxious would it be to expect more?? read more

Very nice ambiance in the store, helpful employees and barista, and vegan sweets. Their teas are creative, original, and not overly-sweet. I would recommend the lavender hazelnut soy for your first go. If you come here expecting frothy, sugary bubble tea, turn around. The great thing about this place js that it takes traditional black-milk-bubble-tea and gives it a flavorful twist like lavender, honey, or matcha. It is not too sweet, but it's a tad bland, so go for the bubble teas with some sort of nut addition (i.e. Hazelnut) EDIT: They added a bubble tea menu! We tried the Green Tea Mango, Peach White, and Pumpkin Chai and they're all amazing! Note that the GTM tastes more like mango juice, PW is more milky but was the favorite out of all of them. read more

My togo cafe for studying. The ambience is calming and and not too loud. Love the tea selections and that you get free yummy cookies when you check in. My favorite tea the Assam tea with tapioca- it's perfect, not too creamy and with just slight sweetness. read more

As a tea lover, I absolutely love this place! The selection of teas is almost overwhelming as there are so many choices. I tried the lychee green tea, one that I never heard of, and I loved the aroma and taste. Presentation of your tea is nice, and interior is cozy and hipster. Prices are also very fair for downtown Birmingham. As for the bubble tea, I am a fan. However, if you're used to very sweet and artificially flavored boba, you may not like it. Their boba is naturally sweetened with just a little bit of sweetness. For me, that is perfect. But for others, you may be disappointed. They have unique boba flavors - I tried the Honey Green Matcha as well as the Matcha Mango and both were refreshing and flavorful. The tapioca pearls are of the perfect chewiness. Can't wait to come here again and try more teas! read more