Tea?

Where does one go now for it since Zen closed. I know of Hillbilly Tea. Anywhere else maybe more trendy?

[Robin Garr]

I believe Zen Teahouse's tea program will carry over to Roots, which is about as trendy as it gets and a real delight.

I happened to have the pleasure of dining at Roots this afternoon and they do indeed have quite an extensive tea/beverage list.

Verbena has a nice tea selection and for a formal tea there is Sisters Tea Parlor in Buckner. http://www.sistersteaparlor.com/

Trendy?

How about cool or popular?

Derby City Espresso offers more than 60 long leaf tea varietals.
Green, White, Black, Oolongs and botanicals.
Here is our menu.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150249899842503&set=a.121541882502.104650.6526702502&type=1&theater

Jamie's 14K cupcakes has a small selection of fine teas We have 5 teas from Elmwood Inn Fine Teas(local comany in Perryville, Ky)
Ky Blend,Earl Grey Lavender,Christmas in a cup,english breakfast and Chamomile,we also have Yerba mate hot tea.

Heine Brothers has a nice tea selection.

There's a new store in Oxmoor called Teavana. It's fab.

Everyone should think of Hillbilly Tea when they think of good tea service in Louisville. My favorite tea selection, service, presentation, all of it - top shelf. The tea menu is very descriptive and the service is patient but attentive. I have a major affinity for this place. And it's nice that everyone around you is having tea as well, so you get to smell the pots all around you.

On this subject, is there anywhere in or around Louisville that sells (in retail-bulk, not by the cup) ripened or aged pu'erh?

teavana carries pu'erh but not sure its the kind you are looking for.

I went to Roots today to see if Chris had carried over the loose leaf tea program there. The waiter told me that Chris had moved back to Frankfort . He handed me the tea list but it was the per cup tea and price. I asked him if they were going to sell the loose leaf tea like Chris did at Zen Tea House. He seemed confused. I asked if I could buy some GenMaicha or Dragon Well (2 or 4 oz loose leaf size). He was obviously unaware or didnt know. I am disappointed because Chris kept a large varied supply at Zen. I ended up going to the new Teavana in Oxmoor. The prices are the same, the selection is good too but not nearly what was at Zen. Its sad that a good local place for high quality loose leaf tea did not carry over to Roots. I will have to say that the people at Teavana are very nice and accomodating.

Have you tried Nuts N Stuff? Paul has quite a good selection of loose tea.

I asked if I could buy some GenMaicha or Dragon Well (2 or 4 oz loose leaf size).

Apropos: The Butterfly Garden's tea shop has (or had when I last visited it) some nicely discounted Harney & Sons genmaicha; good Dragon Well is indeed hard to find around here. Also WRT genmaicha, if you have a decent mid-quality flat-leaf green tea (i.e. no pearls or gunpowder) you can apparently make your own by toasting brown rice in a dry skillet and blending with tea, which I'll try as soon as I exhaust this shiny new H&S tin.