The events keep getting better and better! This was held at the Essencha Tea House. This hidden gem is located in Oakley near Red Tree Gallery. I walked in and smelled the aroma of the teas as they were brewing. Before the tasting, I was able to mingle with new faces. We started off with a 101 from the owner Tracy. She gave us some useful tips and info on teas. Some I knew because I have been going to Essencha for years. But for the most part, I learned alot. After the lecture, we were able walk around taste the different kinds/types of teas, enjoy the small bites (Mochi (Japanese Rice Dessert), Brownies, Rollups, etc), and mingled. You were able to try different types of teas: Black, Oolong, Green, White, Roobibos. My favorites were the Tumeric Ginger, Walnut, Apricot, Lapsang Souchong, and Hot Mama (Cinnamon with a kick). After the tasting, we played a game that Cindy set up. We were paired with someone we didn't know which I thought was really cool. Overall, another successful and awesome event. Cindy, you did such a great job! I am always grateful when invited to these small intimate elite events! Thank you. read more

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Sampling delicious teas was a great way to spend a bitter cold winter evening. The last time I went to a tea tasting (in another city), I was given tiny sips from medicine cups and also had to taste some teas with a plastic spoon while sharing germs with 20 strangers! eww gross! This tasting at Essencha was nothing like that previous experience. We were given our own individual glassware to sample the 5+ teas. Before the tasting, the owner Tracy gave us a quick history of how the tea shop came to be and also educated us on the basics of tea. I really appreciated how she presented tea as a very obtainable luxury and wasn't pretentious about it all. She seemed like a cool down to earth business owner with good knowledge about her products. My favorite tea of the evening was the walnut green tea. My favorite munch was the green tea mochibars. I couldn't get enough of the chewiness. I bought some of the walnut green tea and mochibars. The girl who rang me out was super friendly had very helpful with recommending teas in the future. I unfortunately had to skip out after an hour and missed the "Punny" portion of the evening. Thanks Cindy, Tracy, Yelp and Essencha team for a fun evening! read more

Yelp's Very Punny Tea-Time! - Local Flavor Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Had a Truly TEA-riffic Time at this Yelp Event. What a great choice on a night when Temps have Taken a Tremendous Tumble! Piping hot teas were the Tops and really warmed the heart after days of this polar deep freeze. First up was Hot Mama, the tasting pot that was placed on my table. More than coincidence? (What do you think, Beth?) Strong and cinnamony, this special blend was a great start. Next up was some Fire Ginseng which really made my Tongue Tingle. It's a cozy little shop and our crowd had it pretty much at capacity. I found that to be ideal for this type of event; everyone was up close and personal, and tea house etiquette seemed to come naturally. We were even pouring for each other, pinkies properly extended, natch. I tasted probably Ten Teas Total with a couple or more second rounds. The flavor range was amazing, as were the scrumptious light bites, wow! Never in my wildest fantasies could I have known vegan goodies could be so.... GOOD. When I was a little girl I wanted to be a hippie when I grew up, and I recalled this with wistful nostalgia whilst munching mucho Matcha Mochi. Of course, the salmon was thoroughly enjoyable too, and what about those brownies. Something for everyone. The condensed version of "Tea 101" presented by the owner and hostess was fascinating. (I understand she used to be in I TEA.) In 15 minutes I was elevated from the Lipton/Celestial Seasonings class to intermediate tea connoisseur. Never realized there was so much art and science to the enjoyment of tea! This was my first experience with this type of establishment, but will definitely not be my last. I was a little STEAMED when Angela and I were beat out on the Trivia game, but it was great fun. And who knew I would finally learn the secret behind Teaanu's name? Things started winding down by about 8:45 so I took my leave, as I didn't want to get in HOT WATER with my husband by staying out too late. But he was amazed by all the tea knowledge I imparted, and enjoyed my skillful brewing of the green tea I bought (180 degrees, 3 minutes). Thanks again Cindy for a great event that helped me broaden my taste horizons! read more

I'm always a fan of laid back elite events! I'm glad to know about this place! I love tea, albeit I still need a little sugar in mine, but trying so many favors was deliciously awesome! I'm still salivating over those triple chocolate brownies. I would seriously pop in just for those! The vegan and gluten free wraps were great. I think me and my gluten free friend might have a lady date spot to go to more often now! I loved that there were a bunch of different flavors going from one end of the spectrum to the other. I'm offficially in love with the peach. This was a great event and a great idea on a chilly night! read more

Yelp's Very Punny Tea-Time! - Tea-Rex! Lol - Local Flavor Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

So yeah, this event was AMAZING...DUH! I am absolutely in love with this place. We all know that there is good food all over the city but it is rare to find a place where they know where all of their ingredients come from and offer a VERY healthy menu. LOVE IT! If you like tea, this is the place for you. Let me recommend that you skip the prepackaged tea-bags or the name brand place at the mall, and HEAD HERE IMMEDIATELY! The owner, Tracy, knows way too much about tea! I thought I liked/knew about tea...this chick blew my mind. She was ready to make recommendations and advice and information. The space is amazing and inviting and relaxing and just the best. It is the type of place where you could just hang out all day and try one of all of the teas and one of all of the desserts! Oh yeah, GET THE VEGGIE WRAP! So addictive! The only bummer of the night was that I was buying tea when the Pun Game started! So upset that I missed that one :) read more

Yelp's Very Punny Tea-Time! - It's Tea Time, baby! - Local Flavor Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Wow Wow! Great event that was not only fun but super educational. I experienced tea like never before, got to mingle and meet some awesome people, and checked out a business that I hadn't thought to pop into. I will definitely be back to visit during tea time and grab some yum food. Stellar job on the event! It was well organized and planned out. For a smaller space and the number of people, it was great mingling and trying the different tea stations with no major collisions. Game was fun and gave you the chance to meet new people! read more

Yelp's Very Punny Tea-Time! - Local Flavor Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Great event. This event ruined tea for me, but in a good way. Before Essencha, I had not had the pleasure of drinking tea that wasn't mass produced and came in a baggie. Leave it to Tracy's teas to open my eyes and leave a great taste in my mouth. I am glad that I was introduced to Essencha in this setting and that the owner took the time to answer our questions. She made the excellent point that while almost no one has the disposable income to buy the most expensive bottles of wine (in my dreams....), yet one can easily afford some of the most expensive tea to enjoy. How cool is that? Take that Château Margaux and Pétrus! So, in closing, I know that I'll return and enjoy more of Essencha's teas and hopefully some of their food as that was also satisfying. I must have had about 3 (maybe 4?) of those brownies, but who's counting? Thank you Cindy and all the staff of Essencha. read more

I always feel like I'm saying..."This was one of my favorite Elite events yet..." but this time I really really mean it.. it was like fave times 2 or something. It was spec-tea-cular! Hee hee... Had to try my hand at those fun little puns. From the moment I walked it I was impressed. Parking was great, and I walked down a set of stairs right around the corner into the warmth of Essencha. It was such a neat little place and everyone was super friendly that worked there. I have dabbled with some tea flavors in the past, but none that made me want to put my pinky out while drinking them... until tonight. There were light flowery flavors, cinnamony delight flavors and even one that tasted perfect to the men that were there. It seems that Essencha has something for everyone. The tea was awesome. I usually have to put 15 pounds of sugar into just about everything that I eat or drink, but this... this was much different. I didn't even ask about sugar and my palate was delighted by pretty much every flavor I chugged down. YUM! Speaking of YUM, there were some amazing light bites out for us too. Essencha is all about being as healthy as can be, and you never would have known it by how delicious each morsel was. The brownies were so heavenly and decadent that I wanted to grab the tray and run out the door with them all. But, I do like being an Elite member, so I figured that would get me kicked off the squad for sure. Will power is not one of my strongest traits, but I managed. I talked to some of my fellow Yelpers for the first time at this event and everyone was super friendly. So glad to learn about this hidden gem!! Good tea, good food and great company. I'd say it was a Tea Totally Awesome Time. :) My T Rex agrees, and I have a feeling he may make an appearance at another future event soon too. read more

This was an awesome event. I loved being able to try so many of the teas at Essencha. They have a huge tea menu and I would be overwhelmed trying to figure out what to order, but after this tea tasting I found some clear favorites. The Fire Ginseng was amazing and I know I never would have ordered it on a whim before trying it here. It leaves your mouth feeling warm and sensual! The spiced nuts smelled fantastic as well, but it has walnuts in it, so be warned if you have a walnut allergy. Jasmine Pearl was fantastic as well. I was pleasantly surprised by the food - delicious brownies, mochi bars, salmon bites, and veggie wraps. Who knew the food here rocks as much as the tea?! Nom nom. The owner was friendly sharing her story of opening Essencha and you can tell she is passionate about quality (qualiTEA?) tea. Cindy kept us laughing with her puns and games. Way to go Cindy! This was a toTEAly rad event!! I can't wait to come back for lunch and a pot of tea, or 3!! read more

The environment at Essencha is very laid back and relaxing. Tracy's tea 101 talk was very informative and she did an excellent job answering our (many questions). I enjoyed sampling many teas; a few, like the turmeric ginger and walnut tea were absolutely delicious and not a tea I would have ordered otherwise. The company was fantastic. I meet two new yelpers to add to my follow list (finding new reviewers to follow is one of the best parts of an event). I enjoyed the T-Rex figures (although it took half the night for me to make the connection). Our game was also fun- I love how competitive yelpers get. Great job Cindy and Monica! Special thanks to Tracy for having us! read more

All future events should have mochi. Lovely event. Want to be just like Tracy, Lover of the Teas. I can't believe she's been there for eight years!! Can't wait to take my parents, friends, and strangers here. Tip for future events: let us know if and where there is parking :):):) read more

Love Essencha as always. Tracy is a wonderful host and is very knowledgeable. The tea is top notch and the atmosphere is warm and inviting/cozy. Way to go Cindy! read more

This event was pretty great, I had never been to Essencha and had no idea that had such a great food menu and tea selection. The format was great for being up and about and interacting with so many great elites. I always enjoy hearing from proprietors that are passionate and personable. I also super appreciated a 7pm start time, it makes getting there after work not feel so rushed. Thanks to another Yelp event for adding a awesome spot to my radar. read more

So I kind of knew I would love this event before I got there. I'm a huge tea addict. I don't drink coffee, but I love cafes and coffee shops and especially ones where the tea is good. Unfortunately there aren't many. Essencha tea house is one-of-a-kind in Cincinnati. And it's crazy how few people know about it. (Can we keep this a secret?). This was a perfect, chill hump day event. After a busy day at work, I was seriously looking forward to sitting down and mingling with some warm, soothing tea. That's exactly what this event was about. I was also excited to meet the owner, Tracy, who is incredibly knowledgeable and gave us a Tea 101 with Q&A. I could see that she put her heart and soul into this business, which makes me even happier to support it. We sampled 7-10 different teas and tasted some of their food, which included the unique matcha mochi bars and unbelievable triple chocolate brownies. There was also salmon samples and a delicious miso veggie wrap. Knowing that they source directly from the farmers that produce the teas in Japan and China and that they make everything in-house made this experience all the more enjoyable. Essencha's truly a standout local business. I'm so glad to have met like-minded tea drinkers here. Great, off-the-beaten-path event! And we had some giddy fun with puns, which topped off the evening. read more

Fantastic event. I was reminded immediately upon my first sip of tea that it's been pretty stupid of me to drive past Essencha when they're open and not stop in. I hadn't been here in about 3 years, which is a mistake I definitely will not repeat. The snacks were high quality, with vegetarian (and vegan) options, which was awesome. I am pretty sure that between the mochi and the teas, I was bouncing off the walls til at least midnight that night. Totally worth it! Other things I loved about this event was getting to talk to some new yelpers I hadn't met before, listening to the owner of Essencha talk about the business, and playing the very punny tea game. I will definitely be coming back to this venue to purchase some tea very soon, and to enjoy some of their yummy veggie/vegan friendly food offerings. Loved the event, and the dinosaurs were a tea-riffic touch. read more

I have never noticed this little gem in Oakley. I am a tea drinker, and I'm so excited to discover this place. The owner is very knowledgable, and every single tea I tasted was delicious. The snacks were a perfect complement. Thanks Cindy for planning this event! I hope to go back for tea soon. read more

I had been wanting to check this place out for quite some time. Thank you Cindy for the hook up!! I learned a lot and even found an Oolong tea that I had been searching for. Tracy was knowledgeable and very helpful with all of my questions. And super cool and friendly too! I will be returning to Essencha soon to try more of their teas. Thank you Cindy and Tracy for a great experience! read more

A wonderful selection of teas. While parking was a little challenging, the tea was delicious on a cold day. Yelp elites gathered at this quaint, quite tea-vana vibey location and enjoyed a selection of Tracy (the owner)'s picks. I loved the jasmine, the hot mama, and the nutty teast. I was a little caffeined out because they were all so tasty. I loved that she gave us background on the teas. Also, the food is bomb. The mochi bites and salmon bites are awesome with tea. read more

I had an awesome time at Yelp's Very Punny Tea-Time! I had never heard of Essencha before, and am so glad I got to check it out. I ended up buying two different teas from the many I got to sample, and loved the vegan veggie rolls so much that I want to come back here for lunch this weekend to try them again. Thanks Yelp! read more

What an awesome Yelp event! I live close to Essencha but have never been so I was excited to check it out. Essencha fills all your wants in a local tea house. It's small, intimate setting could surprisingly hold our group of 30, and allowed for mingling and trying different teas. The owner Tracy WOWWED me with her knowledge of the history if tea, Japanese culture, and business. I could tell she put in a lot of thought to the teas being sampled, the set up, and the yummy treats she had. I loved how there were different teas at each table, and that each sample was so unique. I would never have tried a nutty tea before last night, but was so glad I did. One even had red hots in it! I loved the small glass tea pots, and was impressed I managed to not break anything. Tracy was so gracious of her space, time and efforts- I cannot wait to return with coworkers and try a few of the items off the menu. I loved the variety of Yelpers that were there and really enjoyed getting to know new people. The game was hilarious and a great way to mix up the night. I found Tea Rex in my purse this morning and had a chuckle. Cheers Cindy and thank you for another successful Yelp event! read more

Another great event! Thanks Cindy and Monica for all your hard work! One of my favorite parts of Yelp is discovering local gems like Essencha in my own back yard. I loved the setup as well; it definitely encouraged mixing and mingling. I will certainly be coming back here to check out the food and more tea. read more

This Yelp event definitely makes my top list of favorites. I love any of the events that introduce and explore different cultures and tastes outside the norm. That bonfire tea was definitely a new experience! The intimate size of the event made for some good mingling. My mind was blown by some of those tea flavors ... jasmine pearls, ginger and spiced nuts were among my favorites. Can't wait to get back to Essencha to try afternoon tea. The snacks were a wonderful complement to the teas. It was awesome to get to try so many new things (to me) at once. read more

Man, I thought Tea was for Fancy grannies and British folk. Turns out it's got delicious snacks, a casual atmosphere, and tons of reasonably priced tea. Had a great time sipping on Tea, sampling their snacks, Great Job Yelp! read more