Food & The City: DAVIDsTEA

Simply put, DAVIDsTEA is one of my new favorite NYC foodie hotspots.  This tea palace first opened in Canada in 2008 and since then they have migrated south of the boarder and I am so happy they did.  Their stores are bright, and cheer and every time I walk in I was greeted by the wall of teas.  On my first visit I was apprehensive having to choose from over 100 varieties but the staff were well trained in the art and science of tea and put me at ease.

This tea shop was recommended to my by another NYC foodie only a few weeks ago and I have been back half a dozen times since.  The company sells loose leaf tea and tea accessories both in their stores and online covering more categories than I knew existed in the world of tea- white, green, oolong, black, pu’erh, mate, rooibos, and herbal.  To do this fantastic place justice, though, I recommend three things: (1) Visit and try it for your self, (2) Read their mission statement; “So…why tea? Because it’s healthy, delicious and fun. Because it brings people together, all over the world. Because it’s the second-most popular drink on the planet, second only to water.  And, quite simply, because it makes us happy.” and (3) Take a look at these photos:

I toted along my camera for my most recent visit  I spent a wonderful 20 minutes with a friend at the 6th Avenue location (688 6th Ave) of DAVIDsTEA and it we had a great time deciding what tea we wanted from the vast array of choices.  I would not say it takes more than five minutes to choose but as the inventory covers an international selection of over 150 loose-leaf teas we had fun smelling dozens of options. My friend and I both selected green teas, movie night for her and matcha matsu for me – take a look at the process and read more about the teas we chose:

matcha matsu:  In Japanese, “matsu” literally means “pine tree”. But it’s also a term that indicates excellence. This powdered green tea lives up to its name. Quality this high can only be graded as “matsu”. Strong in taste and aroma, this matcha is pure indulgence – perfect for cleansing the palate during a fabulous meal. ingredients: Stone-ground steamed green tea from Shizuoka, Japan.

movie night:   This popcorn tea is better than the real thing. First of all, it has no calories. Second of all, it’s sweetened with maple and apple. Third of all, it has green tea, which studies (well, ok, experience) say is the ideal brew for keeping you quietly alert throughout a late-night flick.  ingredients: apple, Sencha-style green tea, popped corn.