Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Vital Tea Leaf

    4.5 (486 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Vital Tea Leaf Photos

    Business Info

    VITAL TEA LEAF ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Good for working
    Dogs allowed

    You might also consider

    More like Vital Tea Leaf

    Recommended Reviews - Vital Tea Leaf

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    tea tasting
    Helen L.

    walked in on sunday afternoon for their tea tasting and the experience did not disappoint! our host was super chill and knowledgeable too, we got to try a bunch of oolong, green, jasmine, and white tea types. faves were lychee black, black pearl oolong, and hojicha. located in chinatownc ambiance is very chill with a row of seats.

    We love it here!
    Tricia O.

    We love coming here for tea tastings, knowledge and a great weekend activity to take visitors! It's ideally situated on Grant street and has every type of tea you could want! I used to live in Shanghai and this experience is very similar to the tastings I did when I lived there. The variety of tea options is tough to find, so we love coming here. 10/10 recommend for a fun weekend activity!

    Deepthi T.

    Tucked into Grant Ave, Vital Tea Leaf is a great tea tasting spot in Chinatown. The space is lined with tins with loose tea leaves, tea sets, the walls with bright colors. We sat down for a free tea tasting! They provide a clear background of each tea sample, you can ask questions. They were really nice! These are unique loose leaf teas so they are expensive. I wanted to bring my parents so this was almost a test visit. I appreciate how they didn't push hard to buy the tea, and they were genuinely excited to share their tea knowledge during the tasting. We had about 5 samples. I had such a great time! I'm not a big tea person, but it was exciting trying very different teas I haven't tried before. I will love to bring tea fans here for a tasting and they would probably pick up some for home too!

    there's so much to choose
    Jana R.

    Bye i tried practicing my mandarin to the store owner and she said "i only know canto" OTL i came in super awkwardly, browsed for the teas i wanted to try, and then asked the nice lady if i could sample! the whole process is really enjoyable. the smell and warmth of tea is unbeatable (esp. in sf when it's always cold). i got a lot of souvenirs for my friends and im really happy with my purchase. I love the silver needle tea the most! there's a bunch of teapots at the end of the store! in case you wanted to walk away with the Whole Experience haha. I love it here i'm bringing my family when i'm back in sf thank you for a great afternoon :)

    Samantha B.

    A very fun experience!! My fiancé and I popped in here on a rainy day after seeing it mentioned a couple times on tik tok, every tea is delicious!! They let you try quite a few various teas and tell you their properties and more information about the teas, including what it's good for as well! Uncle is also a very funny man!! It was a very welcoming environment!! It was such a great experience that we brought my cousin and his girlfriend the next day when they came up to visit!

    Interior and all the teas
    Mia G.

    UNCLE GEE IS A G. MY GOAT. MY KING. 95 with baby smooth skin and "sexy like hell." I want to gatekeep this place but I also want uncle gee to have extreme success so that's why I'm reviewing this place. I was entertained and educated on tea. Great tea, great time. Stop by and tell him I sent you.

    Oolong tasting with our work team
    Mary W.

    3 stop on the SF food walking tour! VERY great customer service she greeted our group immediately when we got here. All sat down and she started making tea for us to taste. Tea lines the walls on all sides, gives it a great vibe for a tea shop! I picked up tea for my husbands "fatty liver"

    They have some spices, not just tea! Tibetan saffron
    Rebecca W.

    - free, extensive tea tasting - exceptionally friendly and chatty services - high quality teas Ask and you shall receive! Anything you want to sample, they'll make for you--seemingly no matter the cost. We were served at least ten samples while we were there, if not more. Their selection is huge, the staff is lovely and knowledgeable. Recommend!

    Soooo many types of tea, herb, and flower leaves!
    Stephanie B.

    Kenny @ Vital Tea Shop was the Highlight of the tour of Chinatown what a Character! I learned new information about the best ways to seep/serve tea, herbs, flowers while being treated to a tasting of 6 varieties. He was very knowledgeable and extremely helpful with choosing selections of tea based on our preferences.

    Tea samples
    Kiran S.

    This fast-casual tea shop was such a pleasant find of the day. They have ALL types of loose leaf tea for any type of need. They offer complimentary tea tasting, and it's extremely educational and interactive with the customers. The staff was super friendly, I believe it's family owned. They have two locations in Chinatown. We walked away with some blue tea after the tasting. Will definitely be back!

    Lori H.

    Amazing place to try all kinds of tea, and was able to sample unique flavors I've never tried before. The owner is like the "soup nazi" of tea and makes snarky comments, may or may not be for you. The place is clean and prices start around $20 for a 1/4 lb (the minimum size).

    See all

    3 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    20 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bianca B.
    363
    18
    7

    30 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mary W.
    399
    240
    1355

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    20 days ago

    Vital Tea Leaf is my cup of tea! May the quiet strength of the place. Always happy to have her serve us up

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Anna D.
    3
    31
    10

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Meg T.
    798
    3311
    1969

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Janice K.
    199
    150
    156

    4 months ago

    This place is a must try when in the area. Free tea tasting. Their tea is great. The the people working there know tea and benefits

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Amazing experience! Delicious teas! Ming was very helpful, enthusiastic, and a great salesman.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Monique M.
    143
    17
    26

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Johanna S.
    29
    166
    47

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Absolutely amazing experience and phenomenal teas. The staff were extremely knowledgeable, friendly and entertaining. Great spot to stop in.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    The owner Kenny had us sample a lot of teas and gave us a lot of information and humor, it was the highlight of our Chinatown trip

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Fred G.
    0
    158
    124

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 13

    Ask the Community - Vital Tea Leaf

    Do I need to make a reservation for the Tea Tasting or i can just show up?

    I’d call ahead to make sure Hunter was working then head on in if the answer is ‘yes’

    View All 2 Questions

    Review Highlights - Vital Tea Leaf

    Uncle Gee provides an amazing educational, entertaining and refreshing view on the relationship of tea on health.

    Mentioned in 45 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Maruwu Seicha - mango matcha latte (10/2024)

    Maruwu Seicha

    4.3(700 reviews)
    1.5 miJapantown, Lower Pacific Heights
    $$
    Women-owned & operated
    Certified professionals

    - Menu: tons of options, drinks/baked goods/soft serve -…read moreDrink adjustability: can adjust any drink - Seating: open food hall style seating in Japan Center Mall - Crowd: pretty empty at 10a on a Monday - Parking: parking garage, metered - Water is scarce in the Mall, but restrooms are widely available (albeit old) My Bay Area friend swore Maruwu Seicha is THE place to go for quality matcha. Turns out she was right. I had a matcha latte half sweet, and it was delicious- high quality matcha, not too strong or sweet. We did wait about 10min for our order, service is kind but busy. This is a stand nestled in the middle of the Japan Center Mall, so recommend grabbing a sip here and wandering around. Just heads up that many stores don't allow outside drink.

    Wow this place is good. I stopped by during the first weekend of the Cherry Blossom festival and…read morethe line was long as usual. Surprisingly, I only waited about 10mins to order and another 5-10mins to get my drink. I ordered a Hojicha Latte + Snow Top for myself and Hokkaido Milk Soft Serve for my hubby and baby to share. The Hojicha Latte was delicious, I finished it all in one sitting (which is rare for me). The soft serve was creamy and delicious. Worth the hype IMO,, I'll be stopping by every time we go to Japantown from now on.

    Photos
    Maruwu Seicha - Hōjicha Latte Cheese Foam, 1/2 sweet ($6.30)

    Hōjicha Latte Cheese Foam, 1/2 sweet ($6.30)

    Maruwu Seicha - Matcha + Hokkaido Milk Swirl Soft Serve and Matcha Tea with Snow Top

    Matcha + Hokkaido Milk Swirl Soft Serve and Matcha Tea with Snow Top

    Maruwu Seicha - Hokkaido Latte with Snow Foam

    See all

    Hokkaido Latte with Snow Foam

    Kiss Of Matcha - Matcha Coconut

    Kiss Of Matcha

    4.3(243 reviews)
    0.1 miNorth Beach/Telegraph Hill, Russian Hill
    $
    Locally owned & operated
    Women-owned & operated

    Stopped by Kiss of Matcha on Broadway the other day. Honestly wasn't expecting much but it…read moresurprised me. Ordered the double matcha latte. It actually tastes like matcha, not just sweet milk. Strong but smooth, not bitter. You can tell they're using good quality powder. Service was fast and pretty easygoing. No wait when I went. If you're picky about matcha, this place does it right. I'll come back next time I'm in the area.

    This is a really good matcha spot, I love matcha and this place doesn't have the grainy matcha feel…read morethat a lot of other places have when pre batched. The color, magnificent honestly, the dango is good to try for the first time, but I wouldn't get again. As for the lattes, the mango one is pretty good, super mangoey and sweet, so just remember to stir it pretty well before sipping. Strawberry was pretty good, also pretty sweet. The earl grey was my fave, easy to control the sugar level and very fragrant. The earl grey and matcha does not over power each other which I really liked. The soft serve, is suuuper good. It's like a thick matcha icecream, and it's sweet but not too sweet. I would visit this place again if I'm in SF! Service is a bit slow but that's understandable because they're always busy.

    Photos
    Kiss Of Matcha - Matcha Marshmallow Latte

    Matcha Marshmallow Latte

    Kiss Of Matcha - Matcha Sakura Latte

    Matcha Sakura Latte

    Kiss Of Matcha - Matcha with whipped cream, matcha with strawberry puree

    See all

    Matcha with whipped cream, matcha with strawberry puree

    The Center SF - Inside The Center SF: The Bamboo Studio, Tea Lounge, and Parlor

    The Center SF

    4.7(279 reviews)
    2.0 miLower Haight, Hayes Valley
    $$

    I came here at the recommendation of a friend along with a few other people and we got a pot of…read moreturmeric chai to share so we could sit inside and chit chat. They have quite the selection of teas which are pretty fragrant and the menu is helpfully organized based on the level of caffeine in the teas. I thought the tea was decent. I learned that The Center is a space where events and classes are often held, and that there's actually people who live here (presumably upstairs). When I went on a Sunday afternoon, there were quite a few people there to talk or work on their laptops. I admit this place is a bit too "woowoo" for me, but I'm sure for some other people this would be a good fit for their desired atmosphere.

    A lovely third space! The inside is a lot bigger than I was expecting, since the entrance is a…read morelittle hidden down an alleyway. This space feels super homey compared to other cafes as everyone mainly sits on the floor and you also take your shoes off inside. There's a huge selection of teas, and you can get free refills on the pots for as long as you want ($12)! I came on a Sunday afternoon and it got SUPER packed while I was there and pretty loud. I'd recommend coming earlier if you want to snag a table. I saw a lot of people catching up or doing work as well!

    Photos
    The Center SF - The Healing Sanctuary Lobby

    The Healing Sanctuary Lobby

    The Center SF - The Center SF is located inside the rectory for the former Sacred Heart Church on Fillmore.

    The Center SF is located inside the rectory for the former Sacred Heart Church on Fillmore.

    The Center SF - Bamboo yoga studio

    See all

    Bamboo yoga studio

    Urban Ritual - Hojichas N Cream (Soy Milk)

    Urban Ritual

    4.4(1.1k reviews)
    1.8 miHayes Valley
    $
    Free WiFi
    Grab-and-go

    One of my favorite boba spots! I've been loyal to Urban Tea Ritual since 2019 and back when they…read morehad their first location in SF. I fell in love with their creative, artisanal drinks right away. The store itself was clean and welcoming. My favorites are the Crème Brûlée Milk Tea and Matcha Toffee. They're both signature drinks and the matcha and toffee balance each other so well. The toffee does get stuck in your teeth, but it adds a nice crunch to your drink. I recommend getting their drinks in either oat or macadamia milk! Their honey boba was fresh with the perfect texture. I don't recommend driving here unless you're okay with parking a few blocks away. I prefer this location over San Jose because their drinks are more consistent. Nowadays, you can order through the self-serve kiosk. Their seasonal drinks are definitely worth trying! There was a Pandan Strawberry Corn milk drink that was pretty refreshing :)

    Came in this place and tried their Boba dessert which was 10 out of 10 #amazing creamy custard…read moremixed with Boba at the bottom topped with a crème brûlée top. Also tried one of their drinks that was corn inspired, which I really loved Also had a crème brûlée Boba drink which was horrible It had zero flavor tasted like water. Hopefully they add some more drinks to their menu because I would love to try more from this place. I know I will be back for that Boba dessert though.

    Photos
    Urban Ritual
    Urban Ritual - Feed Me Ube!

    Feed Me Ube!

    Urban Ritual - Strawberry Milk Bar, Bae-Sil

    See all

    Strawberry Milk Bar, Bae-Sil

    KitTea - Noodle (around with unlimited teas)

    KitTea

    4.6(1.1k reviews)
    3.1 miMission
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    10 years in business

    Came here for the Neko Oji-san collaboration, as that's how I learned about the cafe (I love the…read morecomedy short form manga online, check it out!). Parking nearby is horrendous, super busy even on the weekdays before the rush hour so I can't imagine weekends when people are out or other high traffic times. Get ready to make some rounds and pay for parking and be careful since there's very specific signage and times. The cafe itself is cute and cozy. Front area is a gift shop with lots of cat themed gifts and goodies like keychains, stickers, and such, and also some items from local and small artists too, which is neat. The cafe also has community events like movie showings ("The Cat Returns" was one of them which is a great choice) and cat yoga. If you're local, you can also get a time stamp if you are a frequent visitor. Definitely follow their socials for more information. There's reservations online and you can also do walk ins if it's not super busy. You can book for a 55 minute visit or a 30 minute visit. PRO-TIP: There's a discount for students, so if you want to be surrounded by some feline friends while you study or relax, great place to do so. You can hang your coat on the rack and there's a mini shelf area for your shoes. So you gotta walk in with socks! With each visit you can either get a hot cup of tea or a cold can or box drink from their fridge (sparking water, juices, etc.). Very refreshing and you can enjoy it in the cat area too. Sanitize your hands before and after visiting. There's lots of cats hiding around, sleeping, walking around, and some are super friendly and will go into your lap. There's toys you can play with the cats with and there's a wall of adoptable cats. Lots of seats or you can opt to sit on the floor with the cats too. There's relaxing lo-fi music throughout too. Pretty cool that they rescued 2 cats from Qatar and neat that we got to see them. As with all cats, some can be a bit spicy but it's usually just a warning teeth rub. I own cats so there's nothing new. I'm horribly allergic to the cat that specifically lives in my house, but I didn't get an allergy here, meaning that the cats are clean and well taken for. My favorite was a large sleepy orange boy, Ron (permanent non-adoptable resident) that was hanging out next to me the entire time.

    The cats here are so cute!! Theres so many of them and they do not feel stressed at all. We stopped…read moreby a Friday afternoon and opted for the 30min session which I don't remember seeing available as an available option if reserving online. We didn't have any trouble walking in though and we were the only ones inside for most of the time. You get to choose a beverage of your choice from the fridge. They're mostly sparkling waters. We took off our socks and found a table to sit at. Some of the cats came up to greet us when we were sitting. There are also toys available for you to use to play with them. Many of the cats were napping or lounging around but don't mind if you come up to sit next to them and give them pets. There were all types of cats and some of them are actually available for adoption if you happen to fall in love with one!

    Photos
    KitTea - I trained them to do my nails on Saturdays. - Ron

    I trained them to do my nails on Saturdays. - Ron

    KitTea
    KitTea

    See all

    Vital Tea Leaf - coffee - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...