If I could describe my experience (and the owner) in one word, it would be "charming." Which is pretty fitting for a tea room. First of all, this place wasn't what I was expecting, especially in the new space, which is very cozy. But my girlfriend and I came in and found ourselves treated to a traditional tea ceremony by the owner, who was, as I said, charming. It was incredibly relaxing to just sit and sip tea, making conversation with someone who doesn't seem concerned about how quickly the world around her is moving, and just slow down for a bit. It was a great experience, and I would recommend it, especially to the workaholics that tend to populate the area. And at the end, she just bade us goodbye, we left her chatting with another friend that had stopped by, without paying her anything. I'll have to stop by to get some tea there sometime. I can't testify to the tea except for the kind that she served us, but that one was quite good - as someone who usually drinks tea that is about half sugar, it was a surprisingly tasty experience. read more

The owner of this establishment is THE EXPERT in tea (we've been told, in the U.S.)... Whatever, she is great! A beautiful person with a sharp mind and witty personality, she treated us with warmth and generosity. Never a REAL tea drinker before, I walked out of there with more knowledge than I ever knew one could have on a timeless beverage with so many health benefits. She came highly recommended. I can see why. Go here, spend the money for some high grade tea and allow her to pour for you. You can't know what you're tasting until you slow down and enjoy some of the ceremony that comes along with. read more

One of the best tea shop experiences I have had the pleasure to have! The owner has som of the most WONDERFUL tea and knows everything! The prices are a bit high, but as a tea buyer, I feel they are also reasonable. You will never get bad tea here as the owner is VERY selective and goes to great lengths to know where her tea is coming from by purchasing directly from the farms! I love this aspect of the process anfd it is always nice to sit with a cup of tea and listen to her stories about the journey the tea has made from the farm into my cup! read more

Soothing is the first word that comes to mind to describe Floating Leaves. Also, tranquil, quiet, peaceful. As some other yelpers have mentioned, the owner is very helpful in helping pick out a tea. Unless you're a connoisseur who recognizes each tea on the menu by name, take her up on her offer to advise, and she'll steer you to a good choice. Another poster was right about the chairs being slightly uncomfortable, but they will inspire you to good posture. Finally, the matcha and sesame flavored shortbread cookies were lovely little nibbles to accompany the tea while reading my book and whiling away a Saturday afternoon in calm. read more

Wonderful tea shop- one of my favorite so far in the US. Shiuwen is wonderfully knowledgeable about tea and this shop has the best selection of oolongs I've seen in a while, and well priced for fine teas. I will definitely continue to buy from her through her website read more

Oh Ballard, why must you be so far away? If I lived nearby, I'd spend lots of time at Floating Leaves just to hang out with the adorable, sweet proprietor. I wanted to buy more tea in hopes that she would be my friend. The place is beautiful, tucked away a little off the street. Walking in there is somehow like getting a massage: suddenly you just feel relaxed, you breathe more deeply, and life seems more serene and manageable. In addition to some lovely and distinctive desserts (the chocolate cake is decadent richness followed by a subtle taste of orange blossoms that's almost more of a scent than a flavor, that blooms in your mouth like sunshine), she has a plethora of teas to delight a snob like me, and is extremely helpful in choosing one to suit your mood. Behind us, two people who seemed to know one another invited two strangers to play Mah Jong with them. That seemed to perfectly sum up the serene warmth and friendliness of this little treasure. read more

Great Asian tea house right in downtown Ballard! I was a little nervous to go in and sit down for tea alone in the middle of the day.. but with the help of the very kind woman working behind the counter, I was pleased as punch (or, berry tea) in no time! The kind lady helped me pick out a great tea I really enjoyed and I wrote in my journal for about an hour and relaxed. A great place to recharge and renew before facing the rest of the day! read more

Fantastic tea shop. The owner Shiuwen is extremely friendly, funny, and generous. The selection of tea, particularly Tiawanese tea, is very large, and Shiuwen has extremely detailed knowledge of not just the growing regions of these teas, but in some instances even the specific farms. She was very good at describing teas and recommending teas I would like. We sampled a couple of teas with several infusions each. The prices were all about half of what I am used to paying in San Francisco for similar quality teas. read more

I highly recommend stopping in when in the area. Shiuwen is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about tea. She can recommend a tea based on your wine/ale preferences. The selection and quality is well worth the price of the teas she sells. If you go, ask for a tea tasting. It was the highlight of the visit. She also has an online store which makes it convenient for ordering. read more

Best teashop in Seattle for Formosa Ooolong. Enjoy sitting and talking with the owner and other customers while you sample her wonderful teas. read more

The best spot to buy tea in Seattle! I've been coming here for years, and the quality and variety is unsurpassed. Friendly and knowledgable service, a lovely experience every time I go. I drink the House Green every day. Tea from Floating Leaves also makes a great gift! Very reasonable prices, and extraordinary flavor. Highly recommend. read more

If I could give this place 6 stars I would! I love this place to death! great gifts: tea pots, cups, loose teas, travel cups...etc..!!! The woman who i believe owns it is awesome. Shes so sweet and very helpful in picking out the tea of your choice!!! Her baby is ADORABLE too!!! I got this awesome travel tea cup from this place that allows you to use loose leaves on the go! it has a built in strainer with a badass bonzai hologram, yeee yee!!! If you havent been here, GO NOW! read more

Such special snacks to go with the special teas! They didn't have much to eat before, but now Floating Leaves has a new menu of beautiful, authentic Japanese sweets as well as homemade matcha pound cake and sponge cake rolls filled with whipped cream that are out of this world, made by Setsuko. Combined with their extensive tea selection and an Asian atmosphere of quiet contemplation, a stop in here left me refreshed for the rest of the day. read more

Good tea! Good tea! Good tea! I haven't been since the move, but as long as they are getting the same teas, no reason for me to change my rating. read more

I love this place. If you're a green or oolong drinker...shop here. The proprietor is awesome, friendly, knowledgeable. Her tea is delicious every time. My favorite (and only) place I buy tea in town. read more

After a recent bad experience at another tea shop south of Pike Place market, I set out to find the best tea shop in Seattle. I looked at reviews on the internet. The problem I had at the place near PPM was that I couldn't help from wondering where they got their tea, how they new they were getting what they had ordered (China can be a tough place to get what you pay for - I lived there for many years) and were their prices aligned with the quality. I decided that I wanted to find tea that was sourced by the owner - and I found it from Shiuwen, the owner of Floating Leaves Tea. The quality is amazing and she's very honest about what she's providing. She KNOWS what she's providing because she travels to Taiwan to source it from farmers she knows. Simply - I haven't had an experience like this since I lived in Shanghai - there was a small tea shop behind the building I lived in and I would go there all the time to talk with the woman who owned it and drink great tea. read more

I feel so good about being a regular customer of Floating Leaves. Their knowledge and love of tea is extraordinary, and they are as warm and friendly to relate to as a loaded yixing pot. I've been buying from them every couple of months for the past couple of years, and I delight in their splendid selections every morning. Much gratitude for Floating Leaves! read more

Floating Leaves is a brilliant tea shop whose owner, Shiuwen, is extraordinarily knowledgeable and enthusiastic about tea. Lately I have been ordering via their nicely functional website, but if you are in Ballard it is worth your time to visit, and talk and taste tea with Shiuwen. What stands out about this shop her very well curated selection. But if shopping via her website, she is also very responsive to questions via email. She makes frequent trips to tea-growing areas and has a personal relationship with her growers. If you think you do not like tea, this place may change your mind. read more

There is no better teahouse in Seattle. Specializing in introducing you to high-quality Taiwanese teas, Floating Leaves is a wonderful place to come and learn, OR just drink a quiet, comforting cup of tea. Don't miss this wonderful place, the staff are wonderfully friendly, and are always willing to help you find the perfect tea to suit your tastes and mood. read more

A superb tea shop. The owner sets a high bar with her tea tasting offerings and her service to customers. Her passion for the high quality teas that she carries is evident, and she makes every effort to recommend just the right tea for each individual customer. She brings not only expertise and the latest knowledge of teas to the experience; she is delightful and fun as well. I will definitely become a regular customer. read more

I've been buying tea from the woman who owns this shop for 10+ years. She used to work at a tea shop in Seattle's International District, then she started her own business. I believe she sells the best quality loose leaf teas at the best prices to be found anywhere in Seattle. For anyone who might be interested, I would encourage you to break away from grocery store teabags and Teavana-like loose leaf teas, and try this shop. The products sold are not cheap, but in this instance, you really do get what you pay for! read more

just wanted to say Shiuwen is always AWESOME! and knowledgeable as always. if you want amazing tea that you know comes from a quality source and at a great price:) this is the place to be. i would not buy my tea anywhere else. just a side now. Shiuwen, pointed out that the quality of the tea you buy also determines it's health benefits. (eg,think grass fed beef versus CAFO fed animals). yes, so it does matter where you get your tea. if you want to get tea, where they truly care about about investigating into the quality and source of the tea they sell, this is your place:) read more

I went to the shop with a person that regularly buys and drinks specialty teas, so I had a leg up on trying to understand the complexity of this beverage. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the drink and getting the connoisseur perspective from the shop owner. She was patient, knowledgeable and obviously passionate about her business. I was very impressed with the service at Floating Tea Leaves in Ballard! read more

Excellent tea/service, soothing atmosphere, good music. I am somewhat new to higher end teas, but the price is reasonable, the service impeccable, and the flavor wonderful. Don't keep walking by if it looks interesting to you. As far as being wheelchair accessible, you won't have many options for seating, but you could definitely get in easily and sit at a smaller table in the upper area. read more

I've been a customer for several years. Shiuwen's offerings are all of the highest quality and she does some of the tea roasting at the shop. She travels to Taiwan to meet tea farmers and select their best teas to bring back to Seattle. For superb tea sold by someone with a passion for all things tea, you can't go wrong at Floating Leaves. read more

I've been a customer here for the last 3 years, and the tea selection is always top-notch, seasonal and exciting. If you happen to be in Seattle and love tea, you're in luck! The owner, Shiuwen, is very knowledgable about tea and passionate about educating the tea-interested public. read more