Finding tea
Teahouses, tastings, and your first cake.
Good tea is easier to find than it looks. TEAKI keeps a directory of the teahouses worth a visit in cities on four continents, a calendar of tastings and festivals, and a catalogue of single-origin teas with the vendors who sell them. Start with a room where someone will brew for you; the leaf makes more sense after that.
By the TEAKI editors · Updated 21 October 2026 · 7 guides
At a glance
| Teahouses | A directory by city, each one visited and described |
|---|---|
| Events | Tastings, ceremonies and festivals, by month |
| The catalogue | Single-origin teas with the vendors who sell them |
| A first order | A sampler or a small cake costs less than a week of coffees |
| A first set | The Southern Road: five teas, one box |
The guides
7 pieces, in the order most people need them.
Near you
Teahouses by cityEvery house in the directory, grouped by city.Teahouses near youThe closest rooms to where you are standing.Tastings and festivalsWhat is on this month, from the events calendar.Buying
The catalogueSingle-origin teas with origin, cultivar, brewing notes and vendors.The Southern RoadFive teas from five regions, one box, a place to start.Puer for Non-CollectorsHow to buy a first cake without spending $200. · 18 min readThe Gongfu Starter KitWhat you actually need. At three price points. No filler. · 12 min readQuestions people ask
How do I find a tea house near me?
Open the teahouse directory and pick your city, or use Nearby to sort by distance. Each entry says what the room does best, whether that is guided gongfu, matcha or a quiet shop with a counter.
Where should I buy my first loose-leaf tea?
From a shop that will brew it for you first, or from the vendors linked on each tea in the catalogue. Buy small: 25 g of three teas teaches more than 100 g of one.
What happens at a tea tasting?
Someone brews several teas gongfu style, usually four to six, in small cups across many steeps, and talks you through what changes. Expect an hour or two, and to leave with a favourite.
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