When it comes to brewed drinks, Portland is a pro — and we don’t just mean coffee + beer. Tea has a history here, too, reaching back to 1972 when Stash Tea Company was born in an old Victorian house on South Water Avenue. One of Stash’s founders even went on to create two more Portland-based tea companies: Tazo Tea in 1994, then Steven Smith Teamaker in 2009.
So yeah … you could say modern tea history was steeped right here in Portland. And winter is the perfect time to explore the city’s teahouses, where you can sip on quali-tea blends at tasting rooms or get the royal treatment at a high tea luncheon.
☕ Tea Chai Té | Multiple locations
You may recognize the Tea Chai Té shop in the Sellwood neighborhood from multiple episodes of “Portlandia.” Enter through an old train caboose + choose a handcrafted tea blend to sip in the lounge areas, main tea hall, sky box, or outdoor courtyard.
☕ The Tao of Tea | Multiple locations
Learn about Chinese tea culture + enjoy organic teas at The Tao of Tea’s Tower of Cosmic Reflections teahouse within Portland’s Lan Su Chinese Garden.
☕ Steven Smith Teamaker | Multiple locations
Sample tea flights or ceremonial matcha at the Central Eastside tasting room or try vegetarian dishes infused with tea at the cafe in Northwest Portland.
☕ Lovejoy’s Tea Room of Portland | 3286 NE Killingsworth St.
The afternoon tea services at Lovejoy’s will have you feeling like British royal-tea. Choose from several menu options like the “Queen’s Tea,” which comes with tea sandwiches arranged delicately on a tiered serving tray, salads, a warm scone with clotted cream, fruit + desserts. The actual tea list features dozens of varieties from around the world, ranging from classic to eccentric.
