This time of year is filled with shopping and planning for the holidays. With that being said, a boost of caffeine or a drink to calm the nerves is essential. Since tea is so versatile, it's the perfect beverage for a source of energy or for relaxation.
If you're someone who prefers a nice cup of tea instead of coffee, it can be hard to find a cafe that serves the perfect tea beverages. However, in New Orleans, there are plenty cafes that make sure tea gets as much spotlight as coffee on its menus. In case you haven't found such a cafe with the perfect tea menu, here are 10 places in New Orleans to order tea.
10 Places to Drink Tea in Nola
1. Z'otz Cafe
8210 Oak St. #2042, (504) 861-2224, zotzcafe.com
All of Z'otz Cafe's teas are made fresh and in-store. The cafe's tea menu includes traditional sweet tea, black pear tea, Earl Gray, honey ginger peach tea, green pear tea, green pomegranate tea, green jasmine tea, blackberry hibiscus and regular hibiscus tea, Blue Eyes and spearmint tea.
The Blue Eyes tea is a tisane, or fruit tea, blend of hibiscus, rose hips, apple, orange, corn flowers, as well as rhubarb and cream flavoring. Under the menu's specialty teas section are the Bad Wolf, Ruby Slipper, and London Fog.
2. Moon Garden
3138 Magazine St. Suite C, (504) 547-1968, moongardennola.com
Moon Garden has a plethora of teas on its menu to choose among, including milk tea, specialty boba, fruit tea, and premium hot tea. Milk tea is a type of beverage originating from Hong Kong that is made with black tea, water, milk and sugar.
Milk tea and boba tea are pretty similar, but boba tea has added texture from tapioca pearls and other additions. Boba tea can also be made from different teas such as black, green, or oolong tea. Each of Moon Garden's teas comes in a variety of different flavors.
3. Le Salon
300 Gravier St., (504) 596-4773, thewindsorcourt.com/dining/le-salon
Le Salon, located in The Windsor Court, is inspired by traditional English tea rooms. Seatings for tea-time are reservation only and take place on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Each tea time begins with a light cocktail or sparkling beverage, followed by a brewed pot of loose-leaf tea. Then, a tower of tea sandwiches, scones, and desserts will be served while performers play the piano and harp.
4. Bottom of The Cup Tea Room
327 Chartres St., (800) 729-7148, bottomofthecup.com
At Bottom of the Cup, you can have your tarot cards read while you enjoy your tea. Since 1929, the tea room's Adaire Room has been widely known for its fortune telling practices.
Bottom of the Cup is only open Wednesday through Monday and offers three choices of private experiences available for reservation. There are many loose-leaf teas to choose from at this tea room.
5. Tea Amo
5331 Canal Blvd. Suite C, (504) 250-3086, facebook.com
Not your average tea, Tea Amo is a nutritional tea shop that serves specialty teas with various benefits. Tea Amo's teas are made with water, tea concentrate, raw guarana tea mix, lift off, sugar free flavoring, and aloe concentrate.
The "lift off" used in these teas contains 75mg of caffeine and is supposed to support brain function. While these beverages may not be tea in the traditional sense, they are sure to give you a boost to your day much like a cup of caffeinated green tea.
6. The Chicory House
2727 Prytania St., instagram.com/the.chicoryhouse
The Chicory House is a cafe and casual bistro located within The Rink shopping center. The Chicory House's tea selection includes a tea of the day, which is either herbal, black or green tea.
Also on the menu for tea is a chai tea latte. The Chicory House is open Wednesday through Monday from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. weekends.
7. Lovage New Orleans
610 Carondelet St., (504) 930-3064, acehotel.com
Lovage New Orleans, located in the Ace Hotel, is a classy cafe that serves coffee and tea. On the menu are the options of chai tea, matcha, regular hot or iced tea, or kombucha. Lovage's kombucha is a type of fermented kombucha tea made with sugar, bacteria, and yeast.
The matcha is a type of green tea that has been ground into powder, whisked with water to create a frothy drink. The chai tea is a blend of black tea and spices such as cinnamon, cardamon, ginger, and clove.
8. Uxi Duxi
4901 Canal St., (504) 290-0110, instagram.com/uxiduxillc
Uxi Duxi is a spiritual cafe that serves kava and kratom beverages, juices, and an array of herbal teas. The tea menu consists of specialty teas, including teas such as Honeyroo, Mint, Spring, Throat Chakra, Morning Elixer, Gauyusa and Fairy Magick.
Uxi Duxi's atmosphere is bohemian and eclectic, which makes it the perfect place to sip on a cup of specialty tea. At night, this tea room turns into an alternative speakeasy that serves special elixirs.
9. Euphorbia Kava Bar
8726 Oak St., (504) 655-5406, euphorbiakavabar.com
Euphorbia Kava Bar serves beverages made with the kava plant, which is the root of a shrub called the pepper plant. The root is ground into a fine powder and then mixed with water, without being fermented.
This beverage is said to aid with symptoms of different conditions, such as stress and anxiety. On the menu is the Piper Brew and the Chai Piper.
10. The Rook Cafe
4516 Freret St., (504) 354-8114, therookcafe.com
The Rook Cafe is a chess-themed cafe with an expansive selection of teas. The cafe's specialty teas include the Mr. Spock and Captain Picard.
The Mr. Spock is brewed jasmine tea with lavender and whole milk, and the Captain Picard is hot Earl Gray Tea. The loose-leaf tea list includes a variety of green teas, herbal teas, and black teas.
Tea in New Orleans
Tea, as a beverage, has many different forms and flavors across nearly every culture. Just as expansive are the cultural traditions surrounding tea, whether that tradition is the way it's prepared or enjoyed. From milk tea to Earl Gray, there's a tea for everyone.
New Orleans is a melting pot of different cultures, which also makes the city a melting pot for different kinds of teas. Taste the different teas and cultures of New Orleans by trying one of these tea spots.
