Looking for the best places to get a steaming hot cup of tea in Toronto? There’s something about tea that just makes you feel good. It warms you up, giving you a burst of energy without the dreaded caffeine jitters or crash. Not only is tea delicious and soothing, but it also offers amazing health benefits to boost everything from your immunity to your mood. And lucky for you, we’ve rounded up the top places in Toronto to get your tea fix…enjoy!
Plentea Tea Bar
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There’s no doubt that Plentea has some of the best tea in the city. Serving purely loose leaf without any tea bags, the leaves are strained through a teaspresso machine with every cup made fresh to order. Their lattes are one of a kind, with the milk infused seamlessly with the tea, and they also have delicious munchies to pair with your hot or cold blend. Every cup can be customized to suit your every tea desire, and make sure to ask about their secret tea menu for even more options!
Simit and Chai
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Simit and Chai serves up some of the best Turkish street food in Toronto, and along with their made-from-scratch Simit bagels comes delicious cups of Turkish tea. Simit and Chai specializes in a notable blend of Ceylon and bergamot tea, so head on over to this King Street West cafe to enjoy their cozy space and a warm cup of tea!
Pluck Tea at Jimmy’s Coffee
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It may be called Jimmy’s Coffee, but their tea is top notch. They’ve recently partnered with Pluck Tea, a tea brand devoted to local premium blends that use responsibly sourced ingredients such as Prince Edward County lavender, Muskoka cranberries and grape skins from Niagara. If you’re looking to trade your caffeine buzz for a calming, yet energizing drink, grab a cup of Pluck tea at Jimmy’s.
Icha Tea
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Specializing in traditional Asian teas, Icha Tea brews all of their teas right before your eyes. This charming Chinatown spot will educate you on the steps of a traditional tea ceremony, and also hosts fun tea tasting events. Choose your tea and watch them pour, steep and serve right in front of your eyes. From hot teas to real milk teas, they use only the finest ingredients to serve up the perfect cup of tea.
Crimson Teas
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A quaint teahouse in Chinatown, Crimson Teas boasts leaves and blends that are meant to boost your health. They serve top quality teas along with healthy meals, so you can enjoy their lovely space while fueling your brain with good food and tea! They’re serious about giving you the best, personalized experience, and there’s no doubt you’ll come back again and again.
David’s Tea
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This list wouldn’t be complete without including David’s Tea! With so many loose leaf tea options to choose from, from fun blends like ‘Red Velvet Cake’ and ‘Let it Snow’ to pure teas like ‘Jasmine’ and ‘Irish Breakfast’, you can base your cup on whatever you’re feeling that day! A cup of David’s Tea is the perfect pairing for a walk around the city on a brisk day.
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Afternoon high tea may be a British tradition, but Toronto has it down to-a-t (see what I did there?). High tea is one of the best ways to escape the busy city life and treat yourself to a luxurious experience. Perfect for you and a group of friends, a special event like a bridal shower, or mother-daughter date, afternoon high tea is an ideal way to enjoy each other’s company. If you’ve been looking for the perfect place to indulge in afternoon high tea, here are 6 places to enjoy it around Toronto.
1. Old Mill Inn
Afternoon tea is an old tradition at the Old Mill Inn. They’ve been serving cyclists, pedestrians, canoeists, and motorists for over 100 years. Your afternoon tea will be accompanied by finger sandwiches including smoked salmon, mini egg salad, and cucumber and baby watercress; house-made tea pastries like Scottish shortbread and lemon meringue tartlets; and current and lemon scones. Choose from their delicious tea selection that ranges from earl grey to masala chai, and stop by Monday through Thursday for complimentary bottomless mimosas.
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Located in Parkdale on Queen Street West, this charming spot is the perfect place to enjoy your afternoon tea with friends. Their Jam and Tea service offers a tasting of seasonal preserves, buttermilk scones, clotted cream and your choice of Sloane fine tea. At $17.50 per person, this pairing is quite the steal.
Image: Instagram/ @kittenandthebear
3. T-Buds
There are a number of tea services to choose from at T-Buds, a second-floor lounge located in North York. Choose from the classic afternoon tea or the chocolate afternoon tea if you have a hearty appetite, or if you’re not as hungry, opt for the savoury cream tea or cream tea services. Each service includes a pot of tea per person and depending on the one you choose, you can enjoy treats such as smoked salmon and dill cream cheese sandwiches, mini quesadillas with savoury chocolate, freshly baked scones and a warm quiche.
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4. Bampot Bohemian House of Tea
Offering a vegetarian-friendly high tea experience, Bampot tea house not only serves world class tea and delicious vegetarian eats, they also have board games to be enjoyed. Pair your tea with options like the baked falafel with pita bread, posh cheese and crackers served with spicy raspberry jam or their best-ever chocolate fudge cake. Sweet or savory, there’s something for you.
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5. Windsor Arms
At the Windsor Arms, you can enjoy a traditional afternoon tea in their plush, comfy seating area. Start off by sipping a glass of sparkling wine or sherry while you indulge in dainty sandwiches and delicacies. The sandwiches range from gougere chicken to guacamole, and the delicacies include goat cheese and caramelized shallot tart. Finish off with a selection of handmade pastries and sweets while you enjoy your loose-leaf tea.
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It doesn’t get much more luxe than high tea at the Shangri-La. Located in the hotel’s Lobby Lounge, you can spend a relaxing afternoon enjoying live music, while indulging in delicious treats and sipping on one of their 75 premium teas (there’s a certified tea sommelier on site). The menu includes sandwiches, tartlets, scones and luxurious creations by head pastry chef Jolan Thiry. You can also enjoy a glass of prosecco or an elderflower fizz mocktail, all for $65 per person.
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Did we miss any of the best places to get afternoon high tea in Toronto? Share with us in the comments section.
Featured image: Instagram/ @kittenandthebear
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