Hi there,

Can anyone out there share their favorite place to buy tea in the city? I often go to the Asian grocery stores in El Cerrito, but I'd like to visit the good places in San Francisco, too. I especially like green tea.

Thanks very much!

Try Ten Ren tea. The best green tea IMHO.

http://www.tenren.com/

There is a new small shop selling British products only, on California @ Polk or Hyde. They carry teas, biscuits, other foods.

Since you are a tea afficionado, I suggest you stop in at the Samovar Tearoom on one of your trips into San Francisco. It's at Sanchez and 18th Street in the Castro. Very nice place to have something light to eat and sample some really unusual teas. I don't think the prices are high - if you are into tea, you'll recognize that some of the goods on offer are pretty rare and well worth the price. Outdoor seating on nice days, and a choice of tables or floor cushions inside. I'm not sure if any of their teas are available for sale by weight.

I haven't bought anything from this store, but I find that there's some really good foodie stores in the Ferry Building Market place.

That being said, there's the Imperial Tea Court in the Ferry Buildingmarket place. You can sit and sip or purchase bulk tea.

Thanks for your suggestions, everyone! I'm going to spend a day tea shop-hopping (and probably be up all night from the caffeine...).

Rainbow grocery sells tea in bulk, self-serve. You can open the jars, get a sense of their aroma before you buy.

We like the San Francisco Herb Company, 250 14th Street. Have fun.

I second Samovar tea room. There is also a very impressive shop on Grant, but the name escapes me. YOu will get the best service at Samovar.

Wandergrrl, Peets Coffee also sell tea. If htere's not one in El Cerrito, there's a shop on 4th in Berkeley. It's all sold "loose-leaf" not in tea bags. You can also order a pot of tea to have there. Their Assam and Darjeeling are great. Don't know about their green teas, as don't drink them.