Floating Leaves Tea
(22 reviews)2213 NW Market St, Seattle, WA 98107, USA 206-529-4268 Website Suggest Changes
Recent reviews
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Eric Glass
Shiuwen, the owner, is an extremely friendly and funny person who is very eager to teach you all about the Taiwanese teas she specializes in. With new teas every tea season (Spring and Autumn) she is more than willing to help you find your favorite tea. She'll brew you different teas for you to make sure you like the tea and there's almost always more than one tea that you'll fall in love with. It's not a tea house, but it's the most traditional Taiwanese tea shop in Seattle, except it's more tidy than most Taiwanese tea shops ;-) It's not a very big shop, but she certainly knows how to accommodate plenty of people and you are always welcome to hang out, talk, learn and meeting interesting people other than her always happens.
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Michael
The quality of the tea here is outstanding. They don't serve food here as this is a tea shop, not a tea house. But the tea is so good that it doesn't really matter. The variety is excellent, but it's the Taiwanese oolongs that really set this place apart from ALL other tea establishments I've experienced.
Shiuwen is friendly, knowledgeable and honest. She is quite willing to teach you about tea and help you to choose a tea that's right for you; even if it's less expensive.
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Catherine Darrow
This is a tiny storefront tea shop -- be alert when you drive past, as it's easy to miss. It's best to park nearby and seek out the store on foot. 1704 NW Market -- trust me, it's really there.
The owner has fantastic taste. Many tea shops offer a wide variety in quality, but you'll find none of that here: no blended or flavored teas, no overpriced so-so teas. It's just a well-honed selection of what the owner considers genuinely good teas, and at VERY reasonable prices! The oolongs are the best--don't miss the house blend--but you can find other Taiwanese, Chinese, and Japanese teas here as well; looking over the shelves is like looking over the high points of those tea landscapes.
The owner is incredibly passionate about tea, and very friendly. I walked in off the street and was treated to a tasting of several teas, and an hour of fun conversation about tea things. There are apparently regular, scheduled tea tastings as well, but I was asked to call ahead--the space is tiny, and can only handle four or five people.
The shop also has a good selection of teaware. There's no food, though, so don't come expecting that.
Highly recommended if you're in the neighborhood! I know I'll be back.
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Johannes
Excellent tea place in Seattle. I've tried Taiwanese teas from all over and they consistently have some of the best stuff for the best prices. They've moved locations and now do tea tastings for their retail business instead of sit-down tea service, but they seem very amicable to people dropping by for a chat. Check their site for specials and new teas.
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Beth
I LOVE visiting this tea house and do so every chance I get. Their tea selection is wide and varied and their knowledge of teas is outstanding. They pride themselves on getting the best of the best. The owners roast teas on the spot, often do tea tastings therefore bringing the culture of Japan and Taiwan and other Asian countries to this corner of Seattle. They have beautiful earthern teaware for sale. And, if lucky and one visits on the right day, you'll smell the goods of their baker preparing their breads and goodies on site! The atmosphere at Floating Leaves is authentic, warm, comfortable, and lasting. It's place one can easily return to often.
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Bruce
When I visit Seattle this is one tea shop I love to stop in at. It's in the Ballard area and offers a place to relax in a room decorated in a stylish contemporary oriental mix. The owner is from Taiwan and their specialty is Taiwan Oolongs primarily, offering some outstanding quality and value oolong selections. They also offer some black and green teas. You place your order at the counter and then find a table. They bring the tea to you as soon as they can, with a timer. They offer tea by the cup or pot. You can also just come in and buy loose tea to take home. They are friendly and a joy to visit. They have some teaware for sale. I rated their food on this rating form but I don't recall there being food offered. So the rating reflects the tea instead. I highly recommend this shop for tea and especially for oolongs.
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Julie
Floating Leaves is a hidden treasure! Tranquility descends as you cross the threshold. The focus here is on the pleasures of tea, expertly selected and presented, but never pretentious or frou-frou. If you’re a tea connoisseur, you will delight in the enticing selections; if you’re a casual tea drinker, you’ll find excellent familiar choices, or expertise to help you venture beyond the everyday. The owners specialize in extraordinary Taiwanese high-mountain oolongs at reasonable prices. Worth a trip to Ballard from anywhere in the Western Hemisphere! Note: You won’t find much food here; it’s all about great tea in a relaxed atmosphere.
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AAltair
Floating Leaves is focused solely on tea, though they have a few snacks to keep your belly from rumbling.
This is the best place to learn about a different tea culture: Taiwan. Tea can always be ordered 'Chinese style' - at no extra charge. The staff love to show you how to use the cute teapots and gaiwans.
They have the widest array of Oolongs in Seattle, and the calmest, most interesting atmosphere of all local teahouses.
The owners visit Taiwan twice a year to sample and choose the season's best teas. Because of this, they get the current season's teas before anyone else in Seattle, and before most people on the entire West Coast.
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Erynn
This fabulous little Taiwanese teahouse holds tea tastings and house concerts and hosts an ever-shifting art show on its walls, with great attention to detail and a wonderful, calm, friendly atmosphere. Rob and Shiuwen are very knowledgeable about tea and Taiwanese tea culture and they import their own tea direct from the growers. They're very enthusiastic tea lovers and enjoy educating their customers.
Their selections range from earthy, rare Pu Ehr teas to delicate Whites, and from traditional Japanese greens through prize-winning Oolongs to farmer's choice Bao Zhongs.
Food is only a snack here, with a limited selection of cookies, mochi, and other small sweets and savories. The focus is very much on the quality teas, imported with love and great dedication. With Chinese conversational groups, local musicians, and knitters circles, Floating Leaves is very community-oriented in a traditionally Asian fashion, and a wonderful place to spend a relaxing afternoon with tea served American or gung fu style. Highly recommended -- I drive down from Everett several times a month for tea here.
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cashewbeast
A godsend on the quintessential seattle rainy afternoon. What a perfect refuge from the elements. Recommended enthusiastically, well worth the trip over to Ballard.
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Traevynn
If its possible to fall in love with a teahouse, then I have done so.
No matter that it takes a bit of finesse to get there by bus, this place is worth the time and trouble.
The 10 year aged Pu-erh cake is some of the best I've ever had. The quality is excellent and the flavor is wonderfully earthy and smooth to the tongue.
Floating Leaves also offers classes on tea tastings and culture. My name will be first on the sign up list!
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Adriene
The place is awesome. If you want to experience Asian culture of tea this is the place . Like the first review said the hostess is wonderful and a sweety. The Ali Shan is the best go for the 'regular' instead of the roasted . The whole place is really wonderful to be in a I highly recommend people go
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Daivd
Floating Leaves is an excellent, relaxing spot to sit and read or to spend some time with friends with a pleasant atmosphere that is very inviting. The decorations are Chinese/Taiwanese as well is all the tea, so the selection is limited but of very high quality. Their specialty are Taiwanese oolongs as that is where the owners have learned tea and tea culture. I recommend the Baozhong highly along with their Lishan high mountain oolong.