I've been hearing so many great things about Miro Tea from my friends that I decided this past weekend to check the place out with my girlfriend.
Now mind you, I do love me some tea (some friends call me a "tea snob"), and I have previously visited some of the other tea places here in town (notably Remedy Teas in Capitol Hill, which was VERY underwhelming and more "hype" IMHO, and Teahouse Kuan Yin in Wallingford, which felt antequated and dull, even though some of the teas they carried were decent quality) only to be disappointed. I can be a tough critic, and even before stepping foot into (and now reviewing Miro Tea myself), I was a bit skeptical given some of the lower reviews of the place (which are in fact a very small minority, as most of the reviews are very positive). After visiting the place on my own, I am of the firm belief that the negative reviewers either didn't quite "get" the place, or came into Miro Tea with their own personal issues that prevented them from enjoying the unique and wonderful experience that the place has to offer.
My girlfriend and I were thoroughly impressed with Miro Tea. The store is well-designed and evokes a bold, modern, eco-consciousness that fits well with an urban tea experience. I did not find the place to be a "Western" interpretation of the "East" as one ignorant Yelper wrote. When we came in on Saturday, the place was jam-packed and bustlng with activity. We sampled several high-quality teas at the twisted wood tea bar, and got really good suggestions on green teas that we should try. The quality and selection of teas here are unparalleled. They carry more than 200 teas (!) from around the world and we were impressed with what we saw, smelled, and tasted. We sat outside and ordered some crepes (mine had brie, toasted almonds, and honey--divine!; hers had "Miroberries" and ice cream, which was not only beautiful in its presentation, but was also delicious). We shared a pot of Serene Green (which they offered free re-steepings for as long as we liked) and also sampled an iced "Ernie" rooibos drink that was unlike any kind of ice tea I've had. The price for all of this stuff was very fair, considering the quality of it all (and for those Yelper(s) that complain that the tea here is "too expensive", I think you're either an uber cheap-skate or don't fundamentally understand that purchasing high-quality, organic teas actually costs a bit more than the free tea you get at a cheap Chinese restaurant).
I tell you, Seattle has few special places like Miro Tea. The service was efficient and friendly (with hard-working folks behind the counter to manage the litany of orders), and the experience in our minds was unique and memorable. I think the owner(s) of this beautiful store really had a vision of bringing a unique urban envionment to tea in a way that places like New York or San Francisco often do so for more common experiences. Readers, I would encourage you to visit the place--you may find me and my girlfriend sitting outside, as we will surely be back again and again.
Did I also mention that they have games and free wi-fi? :) read more