Introducing Scout’s guide to the best tea to be found in Vancouver. Not ‘high tea’. Not bubble tea. Just tea: Green, Black, or Herbal; where to get it around town; and what to try.

Treasure Green Tea

Located on Georgia Street in Vancouver’s Chinatown, Treasure Green Tea Company is a boutique tea shop and tasting room known for its wide selection of premium and exotic Chinese teas. Operated by second-generation Tea Master Olivia Cheung, the shop has been a fixture in the neighbourhood for over 40 years. With an impressive offering of over 200 fine teas as well as teaware products, the shop prides itself on providing top-quality, fresh selections. Visitors can enjoy tea tastings (featured flavour profiles change with seasons) as well as traditional ceremonies. The staff here are so knowledgeable. DETAILS

O5 Rare Tea Bar

O5 Rare Tea Bar is an elegant and minimalistic boutique, complete with a tasting bar showcasing a diverse selection of top-quality teas covering the entire range: green, white, black, oolong, tisanes, and pu-erh. Its design features a spacious counter that runs the length of the room, promoting open conversations between staff and customers. This setup invites visitors to sit and explore tea via a unique experience, and with the guidance of knowledgable staff. DETAILS

Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Gardens

Visit the tranquil Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden for an exceptional tea-drinking experience that combines a peaceful garden walk with a Private Tea Ceremony*. Led by an accomplished tea expert, these ceremonies deepen your understanding of Chinese tea and culture through the exploration of various tea flavours, intertwined with historical and cultural insights. The garden offers tea ceremony packages for two, priced between $170 and $250. (Additional guests can be added for $85 per person; minimum two guests, max five.) Each package includes admission to the garden, complimentary snacks, a souvenir teacup with a pouch, and a gift shop discount. Choose from a 1.5-hour-long ceremony featuring three specialty Chinese teas, or the exclusive two-hour-long Ting experience, offering access to the usually out-of-bounds Ting pavilion, complete with its stunning garden views. DETAILS *Although we recommend opting for the Private Tea Ceremony if you and your fellow tea-loving companion can swing it, for a more affordable (and less in-depth) experience that can accommodate solo tea drinkers, there is also a 45-minute-long Public Tea Ceremony option on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays (various start times) for $32.

Denman Island Tea Company

Although not technically located in Vancouver, I first discovered the Denman Island Tea Company (then called The Tea Guy) at Pallet Coffee Roasters, and from thereon out it quickly became my preferred tea brand. This company excels in crafting unique tea blends using organic teas, fruits, herbs and spices from around the world. Their range of offerings is diverse, including Black, Green, Herbal, Matcha, Rooibos, Oolong, Pu-erh, Yerba Mate, and White Tea. It’s also worth mentioning that these guys are not only consistent and lovely to deal with, but they are also so efficient! I always wait too long to order (currently, there is just one pot of leaves left in my at-home collection) but their deliveries always make it on time. These guys have never let me down! Find out which local businesses are currently serving up Denman Island Tea Company’s selections here. DETAILS

Tea Sparrow

Tea Sparrow is a local subscription service specializing in a wide variety of curated loose leaf teas. Their teas are also available for retail purchase, and you can find their selection – including Black, Green, Rooibos, Ginger Spice Chai Powder, Organic Cardamom Cream, Chamomile, Strawberry Mint, Baked Apple Rooibos, Dark Chocolate Mint, and more – at places like Donald’s Market. (Their extensive list of teas can also be explored on their Instagram page: @tea.sparrow.) What sets Tea Sparrow apart from the average tea brand is their commitment to sustainability, as they are one of the few companies using fully compostable teabags made from non-GMO sugarcane, providing a unique and environmentally friendly tea experience. DETAILS

Paragon Tea Room

Paragon Tea Room offers a contemporary take on classic teas, providing familiar flavours like Matcha, Hojicha, Genmaicha, and Jasmine Green Tea. All are served either hot or cold, available with oat milk and the option for a touch of sweetness. Paragon utilizes a special Teaspresso system (similar to making espresso, but designed specifically for tea), ensuring each cup is both finely crafted and efficiently made. The space is designed with simplicity and impact in mind, featuring a few small tables and a selection of loose-leaf teas for sale. The minimalist decor is enhanced by bamboo details, dark green tiles, and polygonal patterns, creating an overall welcoming and earthy ambiance. YOU SHOULD KNOW that Paragon is only operating from their current 3361 Cambie Street address until February 28th, 2025 (the building is slated for redevelopment). But don’t worry, they are looking for a new Vancouver home to occupy ASAP! DETAILS

Cultivate Tea

At Cultivate Tea, the focus is on rare and high-quality teas, ethically sourced directly from small farms and foragers in China, Taiwan and Japan. Its owners personally visit remote villages and pristine areas to find exceptional tea trees – some over 500 years old! – focusing on factors like terroir, growing conditions and craftsmanship. Expect to find a variety of teas and brewing methods, from Gong Fu Cha to small-batch organic kombucha. With its custom design and natural materials, Cultivate’s minimalist and meditative space reflects the simplicity and authenticity of tea culture. Cultivate also hosts events like tea tastings, workshops, and classes, making it a haven for true tea-lovers. DETAILS

Tea Lani

Founded by Mayumi Sugano, Tea Lani brings a rich tea culture from Tokyo to Vancouver. Sugano possesses a deep-rooted passion for tea that began in her childhood, and strongly believes in the physical and emotional benefits of tea and herbs. Her Gobo & Rose blend (a warming mix of Japanese burdock root, rooibos, and rose) is perfect for the colder months. You can find her teas on the shelf at Tama Organic, or order one at Yama Cafe, known for its creative tea lattes. DETAILS

Quidditas Health

If you’re on the hunt for herbal or medicinal teas, this is the place to go. Quidditas’ shelves are lined with jars of loose herbs for making tisane. Ask one of the knowledgeable staff at their Commercial Drive location for their guidance in blending and brewing. DETAILS

Gaia Garden Herbal Dispensary

Gaia Garden Herbal Dispensary is your go-to for herbal or medicinal teas in the Kitsilano neighbourhood. Utilize the Gaia Garden staff’s wealth of knowledge when making your decision from their plethora of bulk options. DETAILS

Westholme Tea Company

Wait – tea plants grow on Vancouver Island? Yes, it’s true. Not only does Westholme Tea Company import, blend, steep, serve and educate about some of the finest teas from around the world, they also grow their own. The very best way to experience Westholme tea is to visit their Tea Garden – which is actually a carefully and beautifully restored dairy that includes seating, a retail area with a full wall of tea tins, and a gallery – all with windows overlooking a serene patch of forest and meadow in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island. Gunpowder, Green Pearl, Matcha or Darjeeling — you can get just about any kind of tea you want here. Slip in to order a pot (served in housemade ceramics) with a freshly baked scone, and check out the current exhibit on view in the gallery; order online; or find their teas at various locations across BC (find the full list of stockists here). DETAILS

Granville Island Tea Company

At the Granville Island Tea Company there’s often a queue, but this little Granville Island outlet’s efficient team ensures it moves fast. They boast an impressive selection of over 200 types of tea, and you can either buy your tea leaves to go, or have a custom cup made to your preference. Bonus: they frequently offer free samples! Their hot lemon ginger cayenne tea is a Scout favourite in the winter; and Masala Chai is also a must-try. DETAILS

Woash Wellness Teas

Woash Wellness Teas are crafted with a clear purpose: to provide support and solace at any stage of your health journey. These locally made blends range from sleep aids to adaptogenic infusions for help with managing stress, to combinations that will soothe digestion and enhance focus. While these teas are available for order online, we pick up ours from The Garden Strathcona. Also worth noting: The Garden steeps a nice cup of tea in-house. DETAILS

Teakan 茶間

Teakan 茶間 is an online-only specialty tea company with a focus on single-origin loose leaf teas, intentionally selected by founder Claudia Tse, whose immense passion and knowledge is evident in the variety and explicit descriptions (flavour notes, date and place of harvest, history, and precise brewing instructions down to the gram and second!) for each available type. In addition to traditional Chinese and Japanese teas, Tse also has a passion for tea education. Stay tuned to Teakan’s Instagram feed for details about upcoming intensive tea workshops and courses – and then pounce on it, because these things seem to fill up quickly! DETAILS

Got a favourite cup of tea that we didn’t include?
Let us know in the comments section below
…or by reaching out to michelle [at] scoutmagazine [dot] ca .

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