I would like to give a shoutout to the employee named Stephanie. From the moment I walked into PARU (this was my first time here) she did an amazing job educating me about all things matcha. She is so knowledgeable about tea and had an answer for every question I threw at her. She even gave me a tour of the gallery of tea farmers and demonstrated how to properly whisk up a bowl of matcha. I left with a new bag of matcha to try and newfound knowledge of the world of tea. Thank you Stephanie and team! read more

PARU - Tea Rooms Near Me - San Diego, California

Food 10k Matcha - Solid matcha. 4.5/5 Lemon Lychee tea - 4.9/5. This is the best tea I've ever had. The aroma is incredible. Hojicha milk chocolate - An elevated, balanced chocolate that is essentially a crunch bar for people who make at least six figs. The Hojicha notes cut through but did not overpower it. 4.7/5 Raspberry Almond Matcha Chocolate - This is the best chocolate I've had. Smooth, balanced and dopamine boosting. 4.9/5 Service The two workers were chatty and relaxed. 5/5 Ambiance 5/5 read more

PARU - This cost $40 pretax and worth it. Best tea and chocolate I've had. - Tea Rooms Near Me - San Diego, California

I recently visited Paru Tea in La Jolla while searching for an exceptional matcha I could purchase freely, without the constraints of a subscription. For some time, I had been ordering a very high-end matcha from a beautifully branded company online. While the quality was excellent, the subscription model -- small quantities arriving on a fixed schedule -- became more cumbersome than enjoyable. I was hoping to find something just as refined that I could simply purchase as needed, and ideally from a local San Diego business I could feel good about supporting. At Paru Tea, the experience felt thoughtful and genuinely personalized from the start. After I shared what I was looking for and how I typically prepare my matcha at home, they prepared a sample for me right in front of me using exactly the same quantity I normally use. That level of precision and integrity really stood out -- there was no attempt to adjust proportions to influence the flavor, just an honest preparation so I could truly evaluate it as I would in my own kitchen. Watching the matcha being carefully whisked and presented was part of the experience. The result was delicious -- smooth, vibrant, and beautifully balanced. Being able to taste it prepared in the same way I make it at home made it easy to find the one I loved and purchase it with confidence. I ended up leaving with my chosen matcha, along with a beautiful bamboo whisk, scoop, and bowl -- everything I needed to fully enjoy the ritual at home. It felt great to invest in quality tools and support a local San Diego business at the same time. Paru Tea offers not only exceptional matcha, but a refined, welcoming, and highly knowledgeable experience. I'm so happy to have found a place where I can purchase outstanding matcha on my own terms while supporting a thoughtful local company. Truly a gem in La Jolla. read more

PARU - you can buy the 10K ceremonial matcha in 100 g bags. - Tea Rooms Near Me - San Diego, California

PARU is THE BEST tea shop in San Diego. They have teas that will make anyone a fanatic. Their staff is filled with experts. Especially Amy who is a Certified TAC Tea Sommelier® and founded PARU. I highly recommend the Okinawa Sugar and the Blue Camomile. They have tea subscriptions and even do trips to Japan for tea adventures if interested. I would be interested to try one of their Private Tea Experiences with a group of friends. read more

PARU - My favorite teas! - Tea Rooms Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came here for the first time NYE after being curious about tea shops nearby. I was not disappointed. The staff and owner Amy were beyond welcoming answered all the questions I had. You can tell there's a deep appreciation for what they do and it's amazing to see what they've done to bring locally sourced tea to the community. I left with their Misty Shou Pu'er which had a really deep cherry color that was solid for the price. I don't live in SD but I'll be adding them to my list of tea shops to purchase from in the future. read more

PARU - Brewed Pu'er - Tea Rooms Near Me - San Diego, California

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first time to paru over the weekend! my girlfriend wanted to come here and try the matcha which we later found out need reservations the ambiance was everything all tea not just matcha the service was ok, no one was there to ask us anything read more

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My girlfriend and I stopped by this store for some matcha. The staff were both very friendly, knowledgeable and welcoming. The location was beautiful with a very peaceful aesthetic. Prices were higher end, but so were their products. I enjoyed the matcha, but I am not a connoisseur by any means so I encourage people to come down and taste the products. They gave us a sample of something they were brewing while we looked around which was a very nice touch we were grateful for. Shopping here was a wonderful experience. read more

I came here hoping to get a matcha latte but found out that they don't serve drinks anymore, so I was a little bummed by that. They are a store front that sells ceramics and teas, but they offer a "matcha experience" where we can go to a private area to learn about the matcha, how to prepare it, and to drink it. It was $10 per person. The matcha experience was okay, I thought $10 was a little expensive for what it was since you only get one bowl of matcha. But the staff who was conducting the experience seems knowledgable in the matcha process and explained everything she was doing when preparing our bowls of matcha. My friend ended up buying some teas from here, and the owner of the shop was really friendly. The store is nicely designed and they had a variety of teas and tools to offer. Definitely check it out if you are in the area! read more

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We planned a little tea adventure and ended up having such a lovely time! For $10/person, we did a tea tasting in the back of the store, a cozy little spot and it's like stepping into a serene little tea sanctuary. They've got everything from earthy matcha to delicate floral teas that smell like spring in a cup. Plus, their collection of teaware is dangerously tempting, cute cups, elegant sets, you name it. Honestly, it's just so nice to have a spot like this around where you can sip, sample, and soak in the zen vibes. Tea lovers, this one's a win! read more

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Sad that they don't sell drinks anymore, however, they still have teas and earthenware available. I liked that they showed and explained the process of making the beverages. I loved their matcha, it was so good, made with oat milk and sweetened with agave. We also had the blue chamomile latte, it was a pretty, floral drink. read more

PARU - Matcha latte (left) and blue chamomile (right) - Tea Rooms Near Me - San Diego, California

Great place for matcha and teas. The staff is extremely helpful and knowledgeable about their products. Can't wait to come back and try other tea flavors! read more

Such a cute teashop with clean, minimalistic yet cozy vibes. We did the matcha tasting and learned a lot about the teashop during our experience. The care and passion in tea and the shop really shined through in the products and various tastings that they offer. Can't wait to come back and try more of their teas. read more

Was really hoping to get some great matcha drinks here, but I didn't realize that they're a tea shop only now. They still do tea tastings and matcha tastings (by appointment), but you can't buy any drinks as a walk in. However, the two ladies in the store were super nice and let us try several teas that they already had samples of. We really like the champagne oolong, and we got the jasmine and lotus flower teas from Vietnam as well. The champagne oolong is great, but it doesn't stand up to as many steeps as my other oolongs. The jasmine tea is okay - not the strongest jasmine or tea flavor. I really wished that we tried the lotus flower tea since it's such a unique tea, but they don't really do tastings of this expensive tea. We got instructions on how to brew it, and after two tries we decided that it's just not for us. There's really no great flower or tea flavor, and in fact it tastes a little sour/weird. Would definitely recommend trying the teas before buying them, and know that you can probably get stronger or cheaper teas from a Chinatown tea shop! read more

Paru is a beautiful and unique store run by people who are obviously passionate about high quality tea. This is not a boba shop or cafe. Paru is for people who want to experience tea in an elevated and nuanced way. The space is absolutely stunning and it's such a pleasure to read and smell their rotating selection of teas before purchasing. I learn more about tea with each visit. There's something for everyone here and the staff is very helpful in guiding each customer through the selection. I love walking away with a bag of their matcha, which is milled on-site or my favorite loose leaf tea blend that tastes just like a pandan waffle. You won't find that unique blend anywhere else! Every so often they host pop up events so check out their Instagram page, too. Paru is absolutely worth a visit, even if you wouldn't consider yourself a "tea person" as it's truly a special space. Who knows, maybe you'll find something you love! read more

Even though they don't service drinks here anymore, they still sell matcha, teas, and other various things. The matcha was very high quality, smooth, and vibrant. The workers were very nice and friendly as well. Street parking may be difficult to find especially if there's the farmers market held that day. read more

PARU - Tea Rooms Near Me - San Diego, California

Had a really great experience last weekend with the private tea tasting at PARU. Our tasting was led by Amy the owner who is so knowledgeable and explained all the important details about each tea while getting to know us and making it a very personable experience. She has a very calming demeanor and is so passionate about the tea leaves and serving the tea in a traditional manner. The tasting is for up to 4 people and includes 4 different teas, each prepared in a different vessel. Every tea tasted wonderful, my favorite was the blue chamomile. Our tasting started at 10am, but they don't open the shop until 11 so it was nice to have the place to ourselves for the hour. As other reviewers mentioned, they no longer serve single drinks, but you can buy tea leaves and pots/other tea accessories here. Parking actually wasn't too bad. The store has a very clean and organized front, with really fun pictures in the tea room in the back of the staff traveling to various Asian countries in search for the right tea leaves. Everyone has a great time and we all left feeling very relaxed. Highly recommend read more

PARU - Store front - Tea Rooms Near Me - San Diego, California

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Kind and knowledgeable employee. No longer serves drinks, but they sell their teas. You can smell them, and they're very aromatic and high quality. read more

PARU - Tea Rooms Near Me - San Diego, California

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As of August 2, 2024, PARU will no longer be serving takeout drinks. As a college student who frequents PARU, I find this news saddening for the San Diego community. However, I'm genuinely excited to see the new direction PARU will take, and they will continue to have my support! I've been a regular visitor for the past two years, drawn by their exceptional matcha and the warm hospitality of the staff (special shoutout to Danielle!). PARU is truly a unique gem, offering a wide assortment of teas, samples, and more. Their house-milled matcha is unparalleled, and I highly recommend the pandan waffle tea. Overall, this is definitely a place worth visiting in San Diego. I am confident that the new directions PARU is heading towards will uphold its reputation for being passionate, innovative, and dedicated to quality. read more

PARU - Tea Rooms Near Me - San Diego, California

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In case anyone is still unaware, they no longer serve drinks here. If that is what you are looking for, I'm sorry to disappoint. However, if you are here to retail east Asian teas, this store is perfect. They have a lot of arguably strange fusions, and to the uninitiated the prices might seem a little steep, but I assure you their quality is well worth the price. I purchased the Jasmine Wild (I know, very basic) as a test to the quality of their more simple tea's and it was phenomenal. The staff are very welcoming, and willing to help if you have any questions. Each tea also has a small jar in front of it, which you can pick up and smell. I took my time examining all of the different options, and was delighted by their Shibuya Mint. As an aside, they also have some tea ware, but I didn't spend much time looking at it. TL;DR: If you are looking for expensive & very high quality east Asian tea, this is the store for you. If you are on more of a budget, or don't care about the quality of your loose leaf tea, then maybe find somewhere else. This store supplies a niche market, and I absolutely love it for doing so. read more

Kind of sad they don't matcha drinks anymore first time I tried this place it was amazing employee were very helpful.

Sometimes you come across a small business that is so infused with passion and intentionality, it feels like you've stepped into an extension of the creators. And paru is so lovely because you can feel the effort and love put into this place. The teas are carefully handpicked and of great quality. Same can be said for everything else they stock, including their teaware. Since the first time I stumbled into Paru at their old Point Loma location, I've felt so grateful each time I've came to visit. While their to go drinks are missed, there's so many other gems to be found within Paru. read more

If you want solid matcha, look no further :) You can really taste the quality of their matcha, I loved it so much that I bought their packaged matcha powder. Their shop is also really cute too, it's perfect to go to w/ friends to take a gander. They have a huge array of different teas + tea utensils/cups on display that you can also purchase, which I think would make a nice gift for ppl you know who love tea. The vibes of this place are very aesthetic and modern, and the workers here were all so very nice and helpful. They were eager to answer any questions I had and took their time to explain the drinks. They also offer free samples, so you can try their matcha out before ordering! I will say that it is street parking, so parking might be a little harder to find. You may have to park a little further away and then walk here. read more

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They don't make takeout teas now :(! I will miss getting the drinks here but the tea bags are available though. read more

PARU - Tea Rooms Near Me - San Diego, California

The variety of teas in this place is incredible, we came across so many blends and types! Also the matcha sold in this establishment can only be purchased here since it comes from a farm that works only with them. The workers gave us such a beautiful service, taking the time to explain all of the different blends and experiences they offer plus we got free tea tastings and the $10 matcha tea experience. The place gives such a calm and beautiful ambiance the matched very nicely with the merchandise! read more

PARU - Variety of teas for retail - Tea Rooms Near Me - San Diego, California

Love this little tea shop! Advice to the owners: please bring back the Matcha drinks ! I'm so sad they stopped selling matcha drinks as this was by far the best place for it in SD. Reading the other reviews it sounds like other people have expressed similar sentiments. read more

For months, I was searching for the perfect matcha for myself. Tried different brands off Amazon and from website ads. My friend recommended PARU and told me how amazing their matcha quality was. I finally gave them a try and instantly fell in love! I've been their customer for 1.5 years now and they have been amazing! I'm subscribed to their monthly matcha service and it has been great. I always have my matcha stocked and my deliveries have never been delayed! Matcha lovers should really look into their matcha subscriptions, they have amazing deals! Their matcha is top notch! Very high quality, fresh, and smooth. PARU will always be my matcha supplier until the day I die. I love them so much and the quality has never dropped since my first purchase. Definitely give them a try! read more

Paru is magical! The owners are so kind and do such a good job of curating beautiful loose leaf tea in the shop. I have to actively stop myself from buying everything in the store haha. Some favorites include their ceramic tea pets (I have the pig of contentment and contemplative toad), their matcha supplies, and of course their herbal coconut chai. If you're a true tea lover or even just curious about the world of tea, Paru is the place to start in San Diego :) read more

PARU - Tea delivery :) - Tea Rooms Near Me - San Diego, California

wanted to share a few cafes i love that already utilize paru teas on their menu! 1. flour atelier (kearny mesa) & provecho coffee (logan heights) are the only ones off the top of my head that serve drinks made with their matcha & loose leaf teas. 2. an's dry cleaning utilizes their blue chamomile (my personal favorite tea of theirs!) in their ice cream flavor "Sandals" whenever it's on the menu. paru has been one of my absolute favorite places to go since 2022. the workers are passionate, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic to help. you can tell the interior is well-thought out and it's always so comforting to come in and browse. i even bought paru tea's for all of my friends last christmas! every transition comes with hardships, but over everything i'm happy to hear that the paru team is doing what's best for them and their mission. i hope others in the community can share the same sentiment and enjoy this lovely lovely place! read more

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This is the only place I buy tea in all of San Diego! They have the best selection of high quality teas. Whether you're a tea aficionado or a new tea drinker, I cannot recommend Paru enough! The staff is kind and will answer any questions you might have about taste, how to brew, and origin of the teas. A few of my favorite Paru teas include their Blue Chamomile, Coconut Chai, and their annual Sakura tea. I highly recommend Paru tea to everyone!! read more

Amy and Lani and the Paru team are nothing short of amazing. Paru tea serves the highest quality tea anywhere ( in my opinion ) and their love and passion shines through from how they source their tea, to curating creative and delicious blends and in how they create community and share their knowledge about tea and the beauty of its tradition. Everything they do is with intention. My wife Amy and I have loved integrating all we have learned from Amy and Lani and it has meant so much to us to have them in San Diego ! We love them so much and we are Paru groupies for life read more

PARU - Tea Rooms Near Me - San Diego, California

Paru might not serve in house drinks anymore... so I guess that means we all just have to buy their amazing matcha and try to make Paru level matcha at home (: Paru's decision to focus on the deep connections that tea can create is beautiful. They still have incredible tea and a wonderful staff! Don't give up on them. Change is difficult but let's keep showing up and making those tea connections read more

I was so excited to try this after seeing videos of this being SD's best matcha. My bf and I were traveling from Bay Area and were in the La Jolla area. Was surprised at first that they opened at 11am for being pretty late. At 10:55am there was already a small line trickling behind us. Come to find out, one of the employees comes out with a sign letting us know they officially discontinued their matcha teas today 8/2 until further notice????? Everyone was confused bc we thought it was a cafe store, but I guess they have always been just a retail store according to the unapologetic employee. Anyways, everyone left and people continued to go in and out as they were only looking to try the matcha's. Probably would have been more helpful if there was a future sign to notify when they would no longer be selling teas as I think that was most likely what brought customers in. Disappointing forsure! read more

Paru offers a truly unique tea selection! Visited on a whim while visiting SD, and was very impressed with all their blends. I love that they take the time to write a detailed description of each blend's flavor notes and aroma so you know what you're getting into. I recently purchased the Milky Oolong tea and found it incredibly special and delicious - light, floral and super silky. I can't wait to return and stock up on more tea soon! read more

It should mark on its Yelp page that it doesn't provide any drink menu anymore. It's not like we drove all the way to there and the lady told us that in order to reconnect with their customers they don't sell any drinks. I feel very disconnected and cheated at that moment. read more

Dropped by today in hopes to try the matcha drinks here. Unfortunately the employee said that the takeout drinks have been discontinued. This was really disappointing but I still decided to browse around the store to see. Although they do sell retail goods, from a consumer point of view it is hard to purchase a full pack of matcha powder if I have never tried it. I found this place through Yelp and in my opinion the takeout drinks is what gets customers into the store to browse through their retail goods. read more

Super disappointing. Came here on Sunday 7/28 and had great cup of matcha and had a great experience with a small group. Excited to go back again, we checked the website for next opening, which showed Wednesday through the weekend. We planned for Thursday, but happen to check the website the night before and saw they were closed for "maintenance and repairs", so we waited till Friday. 8/2, they open at 11am, so we headed out 35 minutes through traffic only to find out they completely discontinued serving matcha. Which they only posted to instagram after they opened and people began showing up. Still not posted to their website. Clearly they knew it was happening and could have told/posted to their site. Really disappointing to see this kind of service for a place that strives to exceed quality and presentation. read more

Great selection of teas, blends and tea sets. Staff is very knowledgeable about teas, preparation techniques and they have a high level of expertise. I do miss the made to order drinks. read more

PSA: as of today 08/02/24 they no longer serve drinks - teas for "take out" until further notice , they are now just focusing on selling everything that you need for making your own teas at home which is kind of a bummer since I really wanted to try their matcha ,but overall it's still a great store. read more

Great matcha and hojicha! Although they don't serve drinks in-house anymore, definitely recommend getting a tea bag/powder.

This is my favorite spot to get presents for clients and friends. I love going in to smell the different teas, talk to the staff, and try samples when they have them out. The seasonal and specialty blends are great, but my favorites are the staples of oolong, everyday sencha, and their house-milled matcha. My favorite business hack is to order the recurring tea subscription for clients when they sign with me. Then they get a treat every month for 3-12 months (depending on the contract we have) that reminds them of my services. read more