Coffee may have met its match, or matcha as the case may be, as tea rooms are bubbling up all over Wine Country. Raise a cup at these local hot spots.
It's all about tea at this new Healdsburg cafe, store, and spa, where you can sip, shop, and literally indulge in the stuff (tea facial or footbath, anyone?). With zen design, this little retreat from owners Nez and Donna Tokugawa offers the exotic (Pharaoh’s chamomile from Egypt), fun (non-alcoholic MarTeaNis), and tasty—among the snacks is a dish of shiso-seasoned grilled rice ball with cucumber and shaved daikon salad, pickled plum, and a pour of Kyoto Bancha tea. // Healdsburg, thetasteoftea.com
Just opened inside an 1895 bungalow near downtown Sebastopol, this cheerful shop tempts with a charming Victorian parlor and Scottish/English tea service. To drink, the lime chiffon tea is a billowy tangy-sweet dream. For eats, it’s all vegan, with no dairy or eggs, and gluten-free options. Try a Tofurky sausage wrapped in puff pastry with Daiya cheddar, and carrot cake Whoopie pies. // Sebastopol, muirstearoom.com
Here, women in pretty dresses, colorful hats, and even gloves sip daintily, thanks to owner Angela Grant, a Liverpool native who likes to keep things authentic. The Tudor Rose, in Santa Rosa, has a feeling of old-fashioned glamour, with mismatched antique pots, an eclectic mix of heirloom china and silver, and classic pairings like freshly baked tartlets, finger sandwiches, and crumpets with clotted cream, jam, and housemade organic lemon curd. // Santa Rosa, tudorrosetearoom.com
Sonoma Chocolatiers and Tea Shop
Founders David Gambill and Susan McCarn start with more than 100 kinds of hand-blended black, green, and herbal teas. Then, they added homemade artisanal chocolates to the mix—the Citrus Earl truffles are a fragrant marriage of lavender, citrus, tea, and sour bergamot. The organic baked goods are housemade too, and many are infused with tea. // Sebastopol, sonomachocolatiers.com
This local purveyor of tea doesn't have its own brick-and-mortar, but its fine loose leaf is sold at area markets, including the St. Helena Farmers Market on Fridays, Calistoga's Farmers Market on Saturdays, and the Napa Farmers Market on Tuesdays. Buy it by the bag to-go, or relax over a freshly brewed cup of hot or iced tea at the markets. // Multiple locations, napavalleyteacompany.com
Plus, don't miss our 50 Things to Do in Napa/Sonoma Before You Die!
