Sure, they can paint a perfect fleur-de-lis in cappuccino foam, but can L.A.’s best baristas also brew a great cup of tea? Here are a few coffee shops that know their pekoes from their Ceylons.
Hand-pulled espresso drinks may be the main draw at this two-year-old UCLA café hangout, but don’t overlook the house white tea infused with dried peach, or the green tea spiked with ginger for a lighter afternoon pick-me-up.
1129 Glendon Ave., Westwood, 310.208.3375, no website
Intelligentsia gets loads of praise for its outstanding coffee but few mentions of the wide selection of tea. Everyday blends include organic green pekoe and white peony, as well as such special-occasion sips as the Golden Reserve Oolong, which sells for nearly $60 a pound.
3922 W. Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake, 323.663.6173, intelligentsiacoffee.com
If you’re lucky enough to score a chair, you can sip your way through top-quality loose-leaf Darjeeling and Ceylon, as well as Jones’s own blends, such as Celebration (Assam tea, dried apple, orange peel and cinnamon) at this local coffee roaster. Seating is limited, so be prepared to take a bag of Moroccan mint (gunpowder green tea and dried mint) to go.
537 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, 626.564.9291, thebestcoffee.com
Matcha (powdered Japanese green tea) is surprisingly difficult to find at coffee and tea shops. You can source the powder from local online vendor Matcha Source to brew at home, or try M Street Coffee’s green tea latte. It’s one of the better versions of this often overly sweet twist on classic matcha.
13251 Moorpark St., Sherman Oaks, 818.907.1400, mstreetcoffee.com
This Long Beach coffeehouse has been quietly brewing coffee – and top teas – since 1990. Order a Thai iced tea and sign up for the free knitting class Monday nights at 7:30 p.m.
2300 E. 4th St., Long Beach, 562.434.2486, portfoliocoffeehouse.com
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