i'd been really looking forward to checking out jaga silk, and finally got the chance on a friday between noon and 4:00 pm, their only open hours each week. tucked away in nootka court at 633 courtney street, just steps from the victoria bug zoo, this café has a reputation for its maccha milled right here in victoria. they also supply their teas to other cafés, host tastings and workshops, so there's clearly a strong focus on the craft and quality. i got there around 12:05 pm, and there was already a couple seated at the bar with two more people ahead of me. not surprisingly, a steady stream followed soon after, the kind of quiet rush you'd expect from a place that opens just four hours a week. the space feels warm and rustic, shelves lined with teacups, maccha bowls and brewing gear. it has that quiet charm that makes you observe and appreciate their maccha making technique and process. one side of the café displays neatly arranged maccha tins, ceramic bowls, and starter kits, each item speaking to the care that goes into their craft. three baristas were behind the counter, focused, but clearly stretched thin. the café was busy, someone was in training, and a bit of confusion at the register made things feel a little chaotic. i ordered the oku shimo maccha latte ($12) with oat milk and a black sesame daifuku ($5), my second maccha latte of the day, because apparently moderation doesn't apply when it comes to tea. the latte took a while and came out lukewarm, having sat while they sorted an overcharge. the foam art had already blurred by the time it reached me. my daifuku was forgotten until i asked about it about nine minutes later, when it finally arrived, with an apology, it was filled with red bean instead of black sesame. it tasted fine, just not what i was expecting. for $17, the quality and service didn't feel worth it. i left wishing it had matched the story i'd built up in my head, of a serene, intentional tea experience, steeped in care and ritual. everything about the space suggests harmony and mindfulness, but the execution didn't quite land. it's the kind of place you want to fall in love with, the kind that promises quiet beauty and reflection, but sometimes, even the most beautiful rituals can lose their rhythm. read more

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Extremely friendly and helpful. I came in with a bit of a sour stomach ache, and the barrister made a suggestion for something I would not have tried on my own-really wish I could tell you what it was, but it was fermented and a little bubble in it. Served in a chemistry beaker and a rocks glass-which I thought was clever. I didn't really 'love' the taste-but it did do the trick! Made my stomach feel much better. My daughter ordered a green frothy thing that she at first did not like ...and then it grew on her and she loved it. (served in a mason jar with a metal straw to be environmental-which I absolutely LOVE and will try and find one to buy for myself here in the states) Comfy little funky seating area with an old couch and chair read more

JagaSilk Tea Bar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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I was downtown killing some time and came across a small chalk board on Douglas St. advertising a tea bar nearby. Following the signs, I quickly found the shop nestled inside of Nootka court, just behind the bug zoo. I was quickly welcomed by the very friendly woman at the counter, who gave me a quick overview of the style of tea they serve. The house specialty is green tea maccha, but they have a variety of other teas which they seem to prepare in the maccha style of grinding the teas (in house I might add) rather than simply steeping the leaves. I ordered a cup of Masala Chai to drink. Before making the drink, she gave me a tin with some of the tea inside so I could smell the spice blend, which had a wonderful aroma. The drink itself was delicious. I had been somewhat expecting some of the harsh spiciness that you can get with a chai latte, but the drink tasted wonderfully smooth and just slightly sweet. The temperature of the drink was also just to my liking as I could drink it immediately without worrying about scalding my mouth (though if you like -hot-drinks, you may find it a bit cool, so probably request the drink extra hot). She served it with a fern drawn in coffee-art style on the top of the drink and a garnish on the saucer of a few pieces of organic [dried?] apricot, which looked nice and also provided a rather tasty nibble. The shop itself seems a little odd when you first walk in. The place looks a little like someone crossbred a heritage house and coffee shop. The result, however, is a very comfortable and cozy space.The warm smells of tea and old wood make the place feel quite welcoming. The shop's cozy feel is added to by its small size. For seating, there are a handful of seats along the bar, a single table with a couple seats and a comfy couch in the corner, where I sat to enjoy my drink. There are also several shelves and displays filled with goods from local artisans (including tins of tea and jars of tea-infused jams from JagaSilk themselves), which I perused while waiting for my drink. Finally, the sound of string quartet music filling the shop just sealed the deal for me. I will definitely be back to try the place some more. There are so many things on their menu which sound lovely that I really want to try. The green maccha looks really nice, as do several of their other tea drinks. The ice creams they have also look amazing. They offer ice cream in honey, maccha and London fog flavours (*drool*), the last of which I really want to try (though the first two sound good as well). This is one of downtown's hidden treasures, which I feel rather lucky to have found. read more

JagaSilk Tea Bar - View of JagaSilk's tea bar from the corner couch - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

Writing a review, because I miss this place so much -- the experience! Not sure when I'll be back in the area next! The best day is: Lunch at Uchida (next door) and afternoon tea and dessert at JagaSilk Tea Bar. As-close-to-authentic Japanese tea place with humble decor. Everything is made and presented with care: the teas (and sometimes coffee) and the desserts (e.g. the mochi which is made in-house by Jared's wife, of Japanese descent, or is sourced from local bakeries with top-quality ingredients and flavors in mind). Jared and his wife seem to make quarterly trips back to Japan to source their teas. You could either purchase yourself a $4 dollar cup of tea or a $15 cup of tea: a true tea bar. Note: If Jagasilk is closed, you can buy a cup of Jagasilk branded tea at local coffee shops, but beware: In my few experiences at other local coffee shops, I've never found the tea to be prepared the way Jared intends it to be consumed. He'd insist brewing tea is an art & science. My drink of choice? Masala chai latte (even friends of Indian descent claim this drink is good!) or Masala maccha chai latte (with maccha tea and milk) read more

A hidden gem in Victoria, quite literally. Tucked in behind the Bug Zoo, you wouldn't expect a place that serves the best matcha and desserts in all of Victoria! read more

Love this cozy place! Great matcha and chai, you can taste and see the high quality! They have a nice selection of hand crafted mugs and matcha bowls. Friendly and informative staff. Thank you for the experience! read more

Very passionate staff. Top notch matcha! Dairy free options were amazing (hemp or almond). Hemp and almond was ground before my very eyes. Staff explained the process they used, adding dates to the freshly ground almond milk as well. The blend was smooth and perfect. Staff spoke passionately about the various kinds of matcha, process, and where each kind of leaf came from. It is very fascinating! They are very open to teaching you how to make proper matcha at home and you are able to purchase the supplies there directly as well. Cozy couch area that feels very private - like your own living room. I sat and read for a while with my chilled latté. SO GREAT! read more

They only provide the best they could find. Very knowledgeable owners and helpful as they explained thoroughly what they are serving and the best way of serving it. If you like tea and enjoy high quality tea or learning about tea, this should be your go to. This place is amazing and will definitely come back whenever we are in town again. read more

This is the tea bar to go to in town, always ask about the specials and the seasonal teas. read more

JagaSilk Tea Bar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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We came to check this place out when we were visiting Victoria. Their flight of tea was not the cheapest: 25$ for 3 cups but the boss gave us an extra one or two other types to try. You can also choose different grades of matcha for $4, $7 or 13$. I am not an expert on Matcha so I am unable to tell if they were good tea or not. The boss did spend quite an amount of time introducing and explaining to us about Matcha. They also offer classes every week if anyone is interested in learning more about Matcha. I really like the building; it looks really unique. There can be a long wait because it does take time to prepare the drinks for customers if a bunch of them all come in at the same time. There is limited seating, some at the bar. They also offer different snacks on a daily basis, and ice-cream and latte etc. If you spend 50$ on tea, products etc then your 25$ on the flight of tea will be waived. Paid parking available around the area. read more

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As somebody who lived for a few years in Japan, I find this place super nostalgic - the atmosphere is very much similar to a Japanese family business. Love the authentic feel. And Jared and Miyuki are a Canadian-Japanese couple who get their Japanese Maccha from Japan! Maccha is a little bitter, I tend to go for a Masala Macchai - a blend of chai and maccha which is healthy and delicious. A crack of pepper, a taste of cinnamon a bit of organic sugar and macchai - blended with steamed milk and served in a lovely handmade ceramic mug. Yum! The spot is hidden away in Nootka Court, and the hours are a bit limited, but if you do happen to become as addicted to it as me, they do offer free shipping! I recommend it to those adventurous tea drinkers, those willing to try something new, or re-acquaint themselves with maccha. Its an experience - be prepared to sit and have a sip. read more

5/5!!! Amazing passion for teas and coffee at Jagasilk! Ordered a traditional green tea matcha and the owner told me there were many versions and walked me through a few options detailing the differences in texture, smoothness, and farming techniques. Very cool! The green matcha came with a mineral water palate cleanser which was a definite bonus! Such a welcoming new atmosphere with comfortable seating and unique decor, including a guitar for customers to play around with. Also tried a coffee that had wonderful notes to it and an amazing aftertaste! This coffee was so smooth - I never take my coffee black, but would gladly start doing so if every cup of coffee was made like Jagasilk's! I also saw chai powder being made, and the lady was kind enough to instruct me on the process while she was working. The chai smelt wonderful, and it was refreshing to real chai being made! Unbelievable experience with people who have a true love for what they do! I will definitely be back again and am already looking forward to it! read more

JagaSilk Tea Bar - Traditional green matcha with a nice mineral water palate cleanser! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

Stumbled upon JagaSilk while here on vacation from the SF Bay Area. The tea here is beyond top notch: they purvey their own teas, hand mill everything in house, and prepare each cup in the traditional way. The owner cares about each cup of tea he prepares and is happy to educate if you are up for it. Until now, I couldn't imagine how pure Maccha whisked with a special bamboo whisk could be so frothy and delicious. Their London Fog is also dreamy. read more

Absolutely amazing matcha tea available. Tasty introductory teas but also high end options for the more advanced matcha connoisseur. Authentic presentation and very knowledgable staff. Cozy location too! read more

Love this place: Went here after having lunch at Uchida's. They serve their tea and we loved it so much we asked the owner where to buy. The store was literally right behind Uchida. It is a small store run by a couple. They run an ultra specialty tea shop. I figured if the tea we had at Uchida's is that good then the other stuff must be amazing. Yup, it sure was! Highly highly recommend. They also ship across the US so we can buy more when we run out! read more

This is one of the best places for matcha in town. They are knowledgable and take their time in preparing the best matcha. We go occassionaly as a treat and it is always excellent! This shop is an example of what passion and quality over quantity looks like! read more