It doesn't look like much from the outside, but don't let that fool you. Walk into a cozy and serene shop that is perfect for catching up with a friend or sitting down to work. The vibes are impeccable: many different nooks and styles of tables to sit at, outlets and Wi-Fi. I love that there are raised mats and pillows to sit at for some of the tables instead of chairs. And that's all without even getting to the tea!! The tea menu is lengthy, varied, and informative, not to mention wildly affordable: a pot of tea runs from $6-12 and typically gives you at least 2 cups of tea. Each tea order arrives with an electric kettle so you can keep the tea hot and refill as many times as you like. The snacks are adorable and the staff are very kind. They sell tea and tea implements as well. Perfect for any tea lovers in your life. read more

An old favorite, haven't been back for many years. Nice to see that it's still operating with good tea, treats and new customers read more

Far Leaves Tea - Tea Rooms Near Me - Berkeley, California

Okay, this place was hidden like a secret meeting spot. It is close to the new Kaiser. 2nd, I didn't realize that it is an actual tea cafe, my mistake. There were hella people in there. The tea & accessories selection is pretty intimidating for a newbie like me. I got home and brewed my new tea in my new glass tea set. I don't think I will ever go to tea bags again. I have acquired another deep and possibly wallet draining hobby... read more

Super sweet tea place. Very knowledgeable about tea. Mellow atmosphere. On top of that, some delicious snacks to munch on. Highly recommend.

Cute tea place for a nice chill afternoon! They have a tatami area for the people who want to immerse themselves in the experience, but if you're just here to study and catch up on some reading, there's seating for that, too! Far Leaves Tea is a pretty small place, but it's lowkey and not your typical overcrowded coffee shop. We got the green tea pomegranate, which was tasty but not super special. They serve tea traditional style, so they give you a kettle and you seep the tea in a pot and pour it into a tea cup. read more

See all

Came here on a Saturday afternoon! It's soooo cute inside! So many options for tea & you can get a flight to try multiple. The three of us got matchas and they were so smooth & earthy. I love the vibe here & can't wait to come back! read more

Super cute hidden space. Amazing tea and super friendly service! Great for catching up with friends or a non-bar date.

Far Leaves checks all the boxes: - amazing tea selection - reasonable prices - comfortable seating - good wifi - friendly and informed staff - great selection of tea accessories - small business not connects to some corporate octopus - Good atmosphere to study or read - decent toilet! I'm going as often as possible. read more

I went here last week to get some tea as part of a gift and there was only one person working and they were stuck with one customer for at least 20 minutes; I just left after that and found a much nicer place near Gilman where I got service as soon as I walked up to the counter. I won't be back. read more

I am writing as an online customer, I have been ordering from Far Leaves by the pound for over 6 years, I hope they never run out of Cloud Mist Green tea. I have never found tea that comes close to the flavor or quality, I take it with me when I travel. I am always so impressed with how fast they ship my order and I love the little surprises they include. Thank you Far Leaves, I ran out of tea yesterday, and my fresh supply just arrived! read more

Warm, cozy, chill study spot. Not a whole lot of seating but most people leave in an hour or so. Good selection of tea and really appreciate the individual kettle, pouring pots, towel, and tea tips! (I.e. temperature and steep times). WiFi bandwidth not the best but it does encourage you to try and unplug. Really digging the tatami mats and plants. Tasteful decor and well run spot. Wish lighting was slightly brighter! read more

See all

Great ambiance and great service. You can work there, write, meet a friend, or just go to drink tea. They even have some great gift items for others. I had a fantastic work session with a colleague. It's quiet and spread out enough that you don't feel locked in. read more

I'm glad to find this place after some horrible antisemetic experience at Blue willow tea with their obnoxious staff members. Tea shops should be welcoming, safe and peaceful spaces. Thankfully this exists as an alternative! read more

** oasis in Berkeley-*** Need to unwind? Disappear? Study? Read? Meet up with juice zen friends ?? This is definitely your place with an assortment of amazing tea and OCHAZUKE (basically a hey comfort soup with rice , sewed , and of course green tea as the broth ). You'll walk up to the counter, peruse the tea menu, please your order, then find a cozy couch/chair/table/ or Tatami and chill *remove shoes please * There quite a few outlets and of course they use electric kettles so you won't have to walk back and forth for a refill. You can get 3-4 steeps from each order costing$6.01. !!!!! Love this place :-) So I definitely am a bergamot and black tea gal, I recommend the following teas (with honey/sugar & milk/soymilk... sorry kids no almond milk) : - rose grey (pomelo/pear/cherrywood) - Yunnan Black (date/molasses/cinnamon) - Monks Blend (cream/grenadine/cotton candy) - red peony (honeysuckle/molasses/cinnamon) Not five stars because I need more savories and robust biscuits for my tea lol but the ochazuke makes up for everything read more

See all

This place is outstanding! I love the atmosphere of the inside room. Despite the comfort and quietness of a traditional feel. They offer a variety of teas in abundance, from floral to bold. I recommend this place to the fullness. Undoubtedly, this is my favorite tea place to visit and take home tea. read more

Great spot, a hidden gem! Super quiet and peaceful oasis from busy San Pablo Ave. Beautiful tea service - you order by the pot from an extensive menu. I was greeted with tiny sample cups to try teas and served a lovely set up with a blooming jasmine tea. I was waiting for my car to get serviced across the street and what a lucky find to hang out in this beautiful spot, relax, and get some work done. The employee today was beyond gracious and kind. Will definitely be back! This would be a great place to go with a friend you genuinely want to catch up with (quietly!) or to work on a project you need to get out of the house to get done but you still need a calm space for focusing. read more

Best loose-leaf tea in East Bay! I've been buying my tea here for ~8 years. The cafe is alarmingly calming - if you're looking for quiet tranquility, then this is the cafe for you. I'm an animated, loud person, and every time I walk through the door at Far Leaves Tea, I feel compelled to check my behavior at the door out of respect for this uniquely tranquil and divine space. I've only ever bought bulk tea to-go. They have an impressive collection that's always high quality, and if you can't decide, they'll make a couple tiny cups of tea for you to sample (this was pre-pandemic, not sure if they still do this). My favorites are the Rooibos-based Herbal Chai, Earl Grey, and Lavender Earl Grey. read more

Far Leaves Tea - Rooibos-based herbal chai, Early Grey, and Lavender Grey loose leaf teas - Tea Rooms Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is a most serene place to get a spot of tea on San Pablo Avenue and one I wasn't quite expecting given that we parked in front of a dive bar that looked like it was doubling as a meth lab. Four of us just came back from the Rosie the Riveter museum in Richmond where we were bowled over by the lucid remembrances of 95-year-old park ranger Betty Reid Soskin. When we entered this tea house, it was quite calming and appeared to be an idyllic setting for us to converse about our experience at the museum. But first a table. There were no open tables for four, so instead of getting all New Yorker on laptoppers holding the big tables hostage, the server conjoined two tables for two without incident. We decided to share two $5.50 pots of their tea. My friend Maggie favored the Blood Orange with citrus, hibiscus and berry (photo: http://bit.ly/2rdrQQ0). It was lightly fragrant and citric with an underlying warmth I found soothing. The rest of us were favoring something a tad sweeter, so we ordered the Chocolate Mint, which had an undeniable appeal in its rich mix of cacao, mint and malt (photo: http://bit.ly/2sP6aGI). That was quite nice as well, but hey, what if we combined the two teas? Would our random and reckless act of tea leaf combining be viewed with altruistic disdain by the staff? After all, they meticulously handcraft each tea with precision and patience. At least that's what their Vimeo said on their website. Their slogan, or perhaps it's their mantra, is: Slow down. Pay attention. Savor life. I guess we didn't offend him because he really liked the flavor a lot. The hybrid tea actually hinted at Terry's Chocolate Orange, the spherical chunk of chocolate that separates into segments just like, you guessed it, an orange. Remember those? He said they would start mixing the new flavor next week, and then we realized we contributed to the burgeoning "freemium" economy where good ideas are generated and capitalized by someone else. Oh well, I guess until I open up Ed's Tea and Eats with my mom's old Japanese furnishings, Far Leaves can run with it since they appear to have the right attitude toward their business. TEA - 4 stars...teas prepared with care and flavors that hint versus hammer AMBIANCE - 4 stars...if a decor could be becalming, this be it SERVICE - 3.5 stars...staff matches the decor, natch TOTAL - 4 stars...slow down...pay attention...drink your tea read more

See all

Honestly probably one of my favorite spots that I got to check out while we were visiting Berkeley. Loved the space and it reminded me of the tea shops my family and I would visit in Korea. Everything is designed beautifully, and I loved everything about our experience. My sister and I tried the genmaicha and it was lovely. Definitely recommend if you're in the area and looking for a zen tea break! Thank you to the worker for being so helpful and giving us such great recommendations too. (: read more

See all

I came to visit Berkeley for a couple days and never explored Berkeley and coming to this tea shop was a pleasant experience! Right away when I first walked in I loved the ambiance, definitely a great place for getting work done or to catch up with a friend while drinking tea. There were so many tea selections and I hope that I can come back to try more of their flavors. On the day that I came midway the electricity went out and the workers were accommodating and were not going to have us pay. However, I did end up going back to pay the bill because I really appreciated the thought and I wanted to pay for the exemplary service they showed to my friend and I. Would definitely recommend trying out this place! read more

A hidden gem! Such fantastic ambience, with beautiful decor, lots of plants, and nice lighting - really transports me to somewhere else. The tea is fantastic, really strong with lots of layers. And the employee who was there (maya) was so helpful and kind. She gave me a great recommendation and explained how everything worked. I am so glad I found this place and will definitely be back! read more

In all my years of attending undergraduate at Berkeley, I had no idea this little tea shop was just a few streets away. I stopped by here with a friend on a weekday afternoon for some studying and tea, and overall I liked the ambience as well as tea selections it offered. The interior is a little dated-feeling, but not in a way that made me feel like it was grimy or unclean. There are individual tables on one side, as well as raised tables and shoe-free seating with low tables on the other. There are little decorations to set the mood here and there, and I thought it was a quite quaint and picturesque little shop. There are also hot water heaters at every table (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/far-leaves-tea-berkeley?select=hCDuEt3fixkxyMVt54lvEg#wpYqLXmrBoi0mH6pyTV5iA), which also means that there are outlets at each table! Fantastic for lap-top studying, and there are plenty to go around. If you order a pot of their hot teas, each comes with a glass teapot with a strainer inside, drinking cups, and a separate dish to put the tea strainer so the tea doesn't get overly strong (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/far-leaves-tea-berkeley?select=hCDuEt3fixkxyMVt54lvEg#oqPUbG646kxMaUzhTu050A). This all comes in addition to the hot water kettle that is set at the right temperature for you, since some teas are best brewed with boiling water, others steeped in less than boiling water, and so on. I'm not well-versed enough in tea culture to know how authentic all this was, but I enjoyed the experience and had a blast pouring and steeping and repouring (because who doesn't love tea parties, right?). We went with the osmanthus oolong (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/far-leaves-tea-berkeley?select=hCDuEt3fixkxyMVt54lvEg#s8JIVI0DhzRTTe89qtN-yA) this first time, and it definitely did not disappoint. I'm an avid tea drinker, and I most often drink loose-leaf teas from China or Taiwan, so the varieties offered here were right up my alley. I've never seen true osmanthus oolong (with the actual plant, not the processed powder or syrup) elsewhere, so I was very keen to try it out. Osmanthus has this wonderfully aromatic flowery scent, and that paired with the slight smokiness of the oolong was perfection. I would love to try the other varieties Far Leaves has to offer, but I have a slight suspicion that this one will be my weakness. After some intense tea-pouring and (some) studying, we were feeling hungry and ventured to try their little desserts. There were three flavors of mochi offered, and we opted for the taro and green tea (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/far-leaves-tea-berkeley?select=hCDuEt3fixkxyMVt54lvEg#NmQIrfmzzVb5EiXaULECbQ). These were not bad, but not super memorable. The inside fillings were of different flavors that I now don't recall, but I remember wishing that they had been clarified as well since I was expecting the entire thing to resonate with one flavor. My friend also wanted to try their taro bun (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/far-leaves-tea-berkeley?select=hCDuEt3fixkxyMVt54lvEg#QlUqMz2IceBmY_kerdPJYg), which was nicely steamed to order. The bun itself was definitely reminiscent of Ranch 99 prepackaged frozen food though, so I probably wouldn't get it again, not because it was bad, but because I didn't think it was worth the price point per unit. Service was friendly, wifi was decently fast, and the calming ambience of a tea shop as opposed to the ubiquitous coffee shops in the area was a nice change. I'll definitely be back. read more

See all

Definitely a hidden gem in berkeley! it was kind of in the middle of nowhere but wow the tea selection is great and the vibes inside were amazing! i would've come here religiously to catch up with friends or even just study on my own but i discovered it so late and had to leave berkeley before i could make this place my go-to spot. the music was so soothing and there's plenty of seating for you to enjoy your tea and take cute pictures! would definitely come back again read more

Must be a best kept secret for a phenomenal selection of tea this side of the Far East and points elsewhere. I was between appointments and found myself near my special friend's workplace. Wanting a quiet place to visit, she suggested Far Leaves. Cozy, yet spacious, it's a fabulous tea house. read more

this establishment is run like the military. from the moment we entered, we were inundated with a tea knowledge so vast and expansive that our mere mortal minds could never fully comprehend. the lovely one (1) employee of the establishment was popping their pussy so severely that their worn out black docs were begging for them to take a rest. but no. we foolishly attempted to change tables after a white man who watched anime out loud got off the mat in which one of our sets of bare feet would rest upon (ps, wear socks to this establishment you WILL have to take off your shoes). when we (my lesbian lover and I) tried to move our delicate teacups, the Far Leaves employee of the month swooped in like gay batman and gathered our tea with a ferocity never seen before in this post capitalist modern techno hellscape. the top ceo's are begging to have them on their teams yet they remain blood bound to far leaves tea with a loyalty only seen in the greatest soldiers of the guild. our tea was over seeped immediately but that was our fault. prepare to do all the work of having a little drink. lots of love, clit and tit read more

Best. Tea. Place. The worker was extremely helpful and knowledgeable and extremely nice. The service was fast and amazing. They explain exactly how to brew the tea you ordered. The place itself has a beautiful vibe; decorated with traditional art and a plethora of tea sets and teas! The tea itself is amazing and flavorful and honestly worth the money. 10/10 place! Uncle Iroh would love this spot read more

I had a fantastic time here! High-quality tea and owner accommodate our group with great service and hospitality. I will 100% recommend their tea, especially the cloud midst green tea! read more

Far Leaves Tea - Tea Rooms Near Me - Berkeley, California

Love, love, love Far Leaves! Seriously the best place to go if you want to relax. The ambiance allows for that. I came here with some cousins who were visiting from out of town and we were whispering the entire time. We ordered two teas. One of them was matcha and the other was a black tea. You're given your own kettles to heat up and a thermometer to check water temperature as some teas require certain temps for optimal steeping. We had a party of 5 and two teas were enough. You are also welcome to ask for more water if needed. The decor also contributed to its overall vibe. Definitely was a new experience for me!! read more

See all

Wanted to checkout the new location, since this has been my favorite teahouse to get some work done in or bring friends for awhile. I like that they have food, and it's pretty yummy. I tried the soba and the mochi, really nice to have quality food at a cafe! The tea cookies are sooo good, and perfect with tea. There's a lot more space in this location, and it's a lot easier to find free parking in this area. I love that they keep the hot water heated up on electric warmers to keep your tea fresh over time, and sometimes they re-fill your water which is sweet, and they have the best tea accessories! Of course, the tea is amazing, too. My favorite is the herbal chai with a little bit of soy milk and honey. Since it's a warehouse and there's not as much sunlight, it's a little cold, so I miss the warm cozy feeling of the previous location where they had a loft and big windows, but I like that they kept the tatami space where you can sit on the floor at a little table, Asian-style. One of the reasons why I loved Far Leaves was because it was open until 9pm every night, but now it's only open until 7pm, which is great for the staff but now it's even harder to find a good spot for people like me who work best at night. Oh, and I think they should open one in Oakland, too. =) read more

Beautiful, calm environment with knowledgeable recommendations for teas to were you are presently.

Beautiful urban respite with teas galore. Very knowledge and friendly staff will help you choose. Beautiful Chinese teapots for sale. A must see. read more

See all

I really enjoyed coming to this place and doing a gaiwan tea service. They have a fantastic selection of teas in general particularly their oolongs and it's a great place to hang out, relax and drink amazing tea. It's a very quiet and intimate spot to enjoy an afternoon. I really enjoyed sampling their oolongs. Also a FYI their buns are from 99 Ranch as confirmed by the staff, so not sure if that's really worth getting. read more

Really great place to relax and get your study on. They got some Japanese bites like Mochi and tea galore! I really like the relaxing layout. You can step up a ledge and sit on these mats and study without your shoes! Plenty of outlets and free WiFi so you can study for hours with no disturbances. They will give you a legit tea pot and you can reheat whenever you want as it's plugged to a water kettle! I enjoyed my lychee black tea :) read more

Lovely little tea shop that makes you feel like you're visiting your Japanese grandmas house. The person working there was very knowledgeable about tea and had great recommendations. They are very friendly and the shop has a very chill/cozy vibe. Great place to order a pot of tea and read. I will definitely come back and would highly recommend. I went on a Sunday but it wasn't busy so I had a whole table to myself. There's also a table outside in a little patio area. read more

I want to live in this teahouse. It's the best teahouse in the Bay Area by far. I wouldn't be surprised if it was the best in California. The aesthetic of the teahouse (including the dishware) is incredible. You can also order mochi!! If you're ever in the Bay Area, please check it out! It's worth a trip. read more

Great selection of teas. There are a couple tables with outlets and free WiFi. Only qualm I have is that the areas not right next to a window are pretty dim, so it can be a little gloomy there. But overall a very calming experience. The outside area is a little strange and can be loud from cars, but it's a stark contrast from the inside. read more

Far Leaves Tea - The shop! - Tea Rooms Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

Now that I'm far from them and have tried other places, I realize my score was undeservedly low.

I like this no-attitude, cozy Asian tea house. Good place to go for a large variety of quality (albeit pricey) Asian teas.

Far Leaves Tea is located within an understated block on San Pablo, and just a few doors down from Black Oak Books. If the web site guy that I was meeting hadn't suggested it, I probably wouldn't have recognized it driving by. What I did recognize was the nearby corner of Parker and San Pablo, which was alleged location of a solicitation of prostitution case, of which I served on hung jury several years ago. My point is that in that piece of history and my current meeting over tea, I had no clue what was really going on in the neighbourhood. I enjoyed my pot of tea, the conversation, and the cozy, yet comfortable room and seating. I found Far Leaves Tea to a quiet and refreshing alternative to the much louder artisan coffee shop scene. It was easy to talk, to relax, and discuss interesting subjects in a unhurried and peaceful manner. read more

I'm so glad they moved to San Pablo Avenue, within walking distance of my house. The tea here is affordable compared to other tea bars in Berkeley. What is most refreshing about this place is that it is free of any hint of tea-snobbery. They are eager to answer your questions and help you learn how to steep the tea yourself. The snacks are good (mmm, Macha trail mix) but expensive. The lunch boxes are...well, I could have bought the same bento boxes from Berkeley Bowl. I would only buy the lunch here because it's convenient. And sometimes, when you're sitting with a friend, drinking smooth, flavorful tea and listening to the in-store fountain, you don't want to get up to go get lunch anywhere else. read more