Tea Time! 11 Places To Buy Great Tea in Connecticut

It is the most popular drink in the world-are you surprised? Beyond coffee, beer, and even sodas, tea reigns supreme with over 159 millions Americans consuming it each day and 2 billion people drink it every morning around the globe. White, green, black, oolong, pu’erh, herbal; the variety of flavors within these types is almost endless and there is so much to be explored. There are teas for different times of day, flavor palates, health benefits and even ailments (rumbly tummy? Ginger!). If you haven’t started exploring the wide world of tea, it might be time. Tea-time, that is. 

P.S.-The prize for the country that consumes the most? Turkey, followed by Ireland. The UK comes in third. Who knew?

Here are 11 spots for great tea in Connecticut. Happy shopping!

Note: Due to Covid, check websites for store hours and how to purchase their teas (in-store, curbside, online).

Arogya Tea, Westport

www.arogya.net

Regarded by many as Connecticut’s finest source for organic and wild-harvested teas, Arogya Tea proudly offers a wide array of organic pure and blended loose leaf teas, tisanes, and exclusive limited edition teas. Tea has a fascinating history that has been interwoven through countless cultures in different ways over many centuries. The medicinal usage of tea goes back before recorded history, while its current consumption remains a fundamental part of many people’s everyday life. As the West continues to learn of its subtle prestige, variety of form, fullness of flavor, and health-promoting qualities, tea will continue to play an ever-increasing role in the realms of wellness, ecology, community, business, art, food, and culture. At Arogya, only the highest-grade tea leaves are chosen from the most reputable sources throughout the world, resulting in an array of premium hand-picked and organic varietals that are delicious, natural, and free of contaminants. In addition, they host 4-week tea cleanses, 6 and 12 month tea clubs, or tea tasting in their vintage tea room. By appointment only.

Simpson and Vail, Brookfield

www.svtea.com

Simpson & Vail Inc., one of the oldest Tea companies in the USA, is a family owned business dedicated to offering quality teas from around the world. They have over 350 teas (black, green, oolong, decaf, flavored, flowering, white and blends) as well as over 100 herbs and herbal blends. All their blends are hand crafted in their facility in Brookfield, CT in small batches to ensure freshness. Incorporated in 1929, Simpson & Vail was purchased by Jim & Joan Harron in the mid-70’s and today two of their children, Jim and Cyndi, are running the day-to-day operations. Over the last 30 years they have seen a steady increase in tea’s popularity! Simpson & Vail is thrilled to be a part of the tea drinking community and they are proud of the teas that are created for your enjoyment. They have a great assortment of tea brewing paraphernalia along with teatime treats. Explore their popular tea lines such as dessert teas, holiday teas, literary teas, and the latest line – the National Park teas – and so much more. Visit their website to request a catalog or order. Curbside pickup and online.

Wildflower Centre for Natural Healing, Norwalk

www.wildflowercnh.com

Wildflower CNH is a modern apothecary and wellness boutique specializing in time-honored apothecary services including custom tea blending. They lovingly craft their Wildflower blends in small batches using organic and ethically wild-crafted herbs, ensuring that the highest quality and flavor will go into each cup of tea. These blends are designed to be supportive and nourishing, such as popular seasonal favorites which include immune boosting Immunitea, calming Stress Buster, and energizing Herbal Coffee. Wildflower partners with experienced medicinal herb farms to offer the finest botanicals gathered at peak harvest times, ensuring optimal freshness and potency. Their selection of bulk herbs also allows you to easily stock both your tea pantry and home medicine cabinet, with all single herbs available by the ounce. In addition to offering single bulk herbs and tea blends, customized blends based on your preferences and/or health needs are offered. Visit them in-shop or online at www.wildflowercnh.com for more information.

Open Door Tea, Stratford

www.opendoortea.com

Visit or shop this women-led, family-run tea room with over 100 varieties of tea. The wide collection is easy to explore on their website simply by searching either by type of tea (green, black, herbal…), benefits, caffeine content, category, ingredient, and/or origin. If you order online, you can also request up to 3 free samples because they want you to be able to try before you buy, in the interest of discovering the perfect teas for your palate or need. Open Door hosts virtual tea tastings, too, which could be a unique holiday gift to give! In-store and online.

Passiflora, Barkhamsted

www.passiflorateas.blogspot.com

Black teas, flavored black teas, oolong, green and flavored green, jasmine, white, rooibos, chai, yerba mate, herbal and special medicinal teas. All with explanations of what health concerns they target, along with descriptive write-ups on their flavors-which helps when ordering in our virtual world. Many of the teas are organic and support sustainable agriculture. Contact via email to order for local delivery at passifloratearoom@gmail.com

Sabita Teas, Westport

www.sabitateas.com

“Flavor blended with Purpose”; that purpose would be helping your body to attain balance, regulate your systems and cut down on stress. Sabita blends of tea are fair-trade and organic and blended within the last 6 months to ensure freshness. Discover teas via their type (caff, low-caff, non-caff) or ailment that you hope to bring into balance such as tension/stress, inability to sleep, heartburn, low energy. Online ordering.

SavvyTea Gourmet, Madison

www.savvyteagourmet.com

Sign up for virtual tea tastings! And just when you thought you had heard of every Covid variation for a gathering. They also offer Professional Tea Education and this might be the perfect time to dive in. Stocking over 300 curated teas from artisan, herbals, rooibos, single garden and flavored, you will enjoy touring the selection online and prepare to be amazed at the variety. They also sell interesting tea ware, local honey, tins and sachets. In-store and online.

Spice and Tea Exchange-Guilford, Mystic

www.spiceandtea.com

A bevy of loose-leaf teas to choose from that will appeal to every tea-tasting palate-herbals such a the beautiful Aurora Blue Herbal Tea (brews up dark blue!), special Limited Time seasonal teas, unique black teas like Chocolate Chai, a variety of Yerbe Mate (Brazilian, high-caffeine), or maybe a Milk Oolong will entice you, which is so named for its creaminess and buttery notes. Plenty of accessories available as well. In-store and online.

Tea with Tracy, Seymour

teawithtracy.squarespace.com

Over 100 loose teas to choose from: think Organic Kyoto Cherry Green tea, Blue Spring Oolong, Butterfly Flower blooming tea and purple teas from Kenya!  This is the tip of the iceberg and you will love working your way through the list. Some flavors are decidedly kid-friendly (ie. Cotton Candy), so this could be your chance to introduce smaller people in your life to the wonders and enjoyment of tea. Online or pickup during Covid.

Twin Star Herbal, New Milford

www.twinstartribe.com

Add a bit of magic to your tea time or daily sipping with their unique blends of teas; delicious spice-filled Chais, teas for lactating moms, teas for those who need help sleeping, or who might want a blast of vitality or their stresses eased. If you are feeling adventurous, pick up one of the many books they stock and learn to brew your own, using any of the many loose herbs that they stock. In-store (at 2 locations) and online.

Whole Harmony, Haddam

www.wholeharmony.com

A little more than two dozen creatively named herbal blends, lovingly packaged and serving all sorts of needs that a cup of tea can help. Good Riddance (for detoxing during seasonal changes), Spicy Chai, Winter Warmer, Goddess, Immune Builder are just a few that may entice you to start sipping. Head to their website to see what herbals each of these unique blends contains. Order online, view website for area locations where their products are sold or visit their new Tonic Store in Chester.