Pop quiz: what’s the second-most consumed beverage in the world? If you guessed horchata, you are terribly wrong. The answer is tea.
The “invention” of tea is attributed to the mythical Shennong in 2737 BC in Chinese legends. Since then, the beverage has become a staple around the world with English black tea in England and boba tea among the youth in Hong Kong.
If you’re into boba, read 17 Tea-rrific Boba Spots You Have Got To Try in Tucson. For something more traditional or fermented, read on.
Fermented Tea Company
3820 S. Palo Verde Rd. Ste. 110
https://www.instagram.com/p/Br4Oe72jWLT/
While FTC is recognizable from their bottles of kombucha on local market shelves, they also have their own cafe here in town.
Choose from their selection of superb kombucha or other hot or iced teas.
Bonus buy: they have kale chips, mesquite cookies, and chorizo pasties worth getting.
For more information, visit fermentedteacompany.com.
The Scented Leaf Tea House + Lounge
943 E. University Blvd. Ste. 165 • 308 E. Congress St.
Guests order by choosing hot or cold, wall (loose leaf) or tap tea, sugar or no sugar, milk or no milk, and finally lemon or no lemon.
Additionally, 15 teas are featured on tap with flavors such as orange vanilla cream, Moroccan mint, chai, yerba mate, and peach black.
For more information, visit thescentedleaf.com.
Seven Cups Fine Chinese Teas
2516 E. Sixth St.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BqdZ-a3lVdl/
Seven Cups is a traditional Chinese tea house featuring a wide variety of high-quality loose-leaf Chinese teas. The peaceful environment also sells snacks with a light lunch menu, along with tea accessories.
For tea enthusiasts eager to learn, consider one of their private tea classes.
For more information, visit sevencups.com.
Honorable Mention: Maya Tea Company
https://www.instagram.com/p/BmlWuuODW3f/
For a local source of tea you can order online, consider Maya Tea. They supply a variety of restaurants and cafes in Tucson but don’t have a retail space at the moment — visitors are welcomed at the warehouse with 24 hours notice at (520) 918-9811.
For more information, visit mayatea.com.
Article written by:
Jackie Tran
More about JackieJackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the now-closed food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, National Geographic, and the New York Times.
An adventurous foodie, he enjoys culinary experiences ranging from seasonal omakase to sloppily devouring green chili patty melts in his car afterhours. His favorite foods include aguachile, garlic noodles, and leftover fried chicken illuminated by the fridge light. His favorite drinks include morning micheladas, fireside imperial stouts, candle-lit negroni, and grassy mezcales.
Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments, karaoke, Tetris, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and petting Addie’s dog Spaghetti.
If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.
