Red Blossom Tea

I came across this tea somewhere else, so I ordered it and drank it. As expected, the packaging was neat and the taste quality of the tea was really good.

Located in SF's Chinatown, Red Blossom Tea specializes in artisanal teas from China and Taiwan. I found it thanks to a travel blog and Yelp, and since I'm a tea drinker, I wanted to see what the buzz was all about. Plus, my matcha stash back home needed restocking. I was able to taste one of the two matcha options they offered; and the tea rep explained the differences between the Chinese matcha they sell and Japanese matcha. I'm happy with my purchase - it's sweet, floral, and tastes rich. They also ship!

Red Blossom Tea in San Francisco's Chinatown is a must-visit for any tea lover. This charming little shop isn't just a place to buy loose leaf tea and teaware; it's a gateway to a world of flavors and aromas. Red Tea Blossom ships their teas to restaurants as well as corporate offices, and after speaking with the owner, I can also confidently say that this place is all about sharing their passion for this ancient beverage.We walked in on a Saturday afternoon and were surprised by the tranquility. Unlike the usual Chinatown bustle, the shop offered a calm, inviting atmosphere. The display shelves were lined with an impressive selection of teas, each with a label highlighting its origin, flavor profile, and price. A color-coded system made navigating easy: the red labels indicated their premium collection, while white labels marked the more budget-friendly options.Our exploration began even before we reached the shelves. We were welcomed with a complimentary cup of refreshing cold-brewed osmanthus tea, a delightful introduction to what awaited us. The in-store tea tasting is a fantastic feature, and while reservations aren't accepted, there was no wait on our visit. We learned that tastings are done standing-room only and conclude by 4:30 pm, accommodating up to four guests at a time. Though advertised as 5-10 minutes, our session turned into a delightful hour and twenty minutes, thanks to our incredible host.Their tasting fee is very reasonable, with Red Label teas priced at $18 and others at $12 per sample. Our tasting began with three our three selections: a Dragonwell green tea, an Ao Fu Hou phoenix oolong, and a wild leaf Menghai Sheng Pu-erh from 2003.The Dragonwell, crafted in Pan'an County, China, was a revelation. As described, it was smooth, buttery, and lingered pleasantly on the palate with a subtle corn aftertaste, likely due to the pan-frying process. The Ao Fu Hou, on the other hand, was a symphony of apricot, honey, and warm spices. This oolong was a true showcase of quality, with a long, layered finish. The wild leaf Menghai Sheng Pu-erh, hailing from Menghai County, Yunnan, offered a distinct contrast. Its earthy and camphor notes developed richness with longer steeping, culminating in a smooth, almost stone-fruity character.But the journey didn't end there. After trying 3, we decided to try one more - Fu Shou Shan oolong from Taiwan. This delightful tea unfolded with each steep, revealing an initial sweetness of sugarcane and cream, followed by complex floral and tropical notes. The finish was rich and lingered pleasantly.Throughout the tasting, the aroma of the teas was as captivating as their flavors. Each steep, from hot to lukewarm to even cold, offered a unique flavor experience. It was a testament to the quality of the teas and the expertise of our host in guiding us through the process.Our host's passion and knowledge truly elevated the experience. She wasn't just pouring water; she was sharing a story about each tea's origin, how it's grown, and how geography influences the harvest. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and her willingness to share a personal favorite tea with us (free of charge) was a heartwarming touch.While we admittedly drank quite a bit of tea that afternoon, the Ao Fu Hou oolong emerged as the clear crowd favorite. The wild leaf Menghai Sheng Pu-erh was undeniably strong, best suited for seasoned tea drinkers.I highly recommend this place and especially their in person tea tasting.

If you find yourself in Chinatown, tea tasting here can make for a quick, fun, and sophisticated date activity! Enjoyable for both the tea enthusiast and the tea uninitiated who is excited about trying new things. Red Blossom Tea Company offers to walk you through the tasting of a tea of your choice, and offers samples for up to 4 people at once. We had some novices (including me) in our party, and the staff was able to expertly offer suggestions based on our party's flavor preferences. We ended up choosing the Wild Leaf Menghai Sheng Pu-erh, 2003, a strongly earthy tea. We didn't have to wait too long for our turn to taste (20 or so minutes) and it was fun looking through the rest of the tea jars and enjoying the smells and complimentary sips. The actual tasting was about 15 minutes long. It was intriguing to learn about our chosen tea's sourcing and origin, the various ways it's fermentation process can be altered (trading off with flavor or quality), and how the leaves lended an even stronger flavor the second boil around (and got to taste this magic!). Our host was very knowledgeable and passionate about the subject, and the tea connoisseurs in our party geeked out with them a bit. Glad we stumbled into this fun adventure!

Pleasant experience. Wide selection of teas ranging from green to white. Knowledgeable host - aromas, brewing techniques. Thorough tea sampling & good value. Warm ambiance. Only critique is tea sampling is done in standing position. With the long sampling experience, this can get tiring. Recommend business owner to set up chairs and tables to make it a 5/5 rating. Overall this place is geared for more tea shopping instead of tea sampling.

Red Blossom Tea is a nice a little tea shop in Chinatown. It has a decent selection of imported tea from Taiwan and China. The most expensive is the finest dragonwell which comes at a ridiculous $160 for 2 oz. Tea sampling is also available in store for $12 a cup, again outrageous. I bought 2 oz of Qing Xin Red and 2 oz of Dragon Pearl Jasmine Supreme and it's pretty pricy for 2 months worth of tea.

Offers a most aromatic and richly flavored Lapsang Souchong, along with dozens of other varieties, in an attractive and welcoming storefront in the heart of SF's Chinatown, where teas are poured as well as sold. Online orders are filled and shipped in airtight container that I wish were recyclable.

I honestly think I overspent for what I paid for but whatever. Their customer service was excellent and there was a complementary tote bag with my 5 tea tasting and purchase of some teas.

had originally wanted to go to vital tea leaf, but both locations were busy with tour groups. this shop is on the same street just a block down, so it was a natural stopping place to go to insteadthis tea shop doesn't have as much of an area to sit and drink the tea, but you can still pay for a taste before you purchase and i appreciated the low key, low pressure, very knowledgeable sales person walking us through what to expect from the tea and how to brew itinteresting selection of inventory includes pu-erh, silver needle, wenshan baozhong as an example.interesting gaiwan selection

This review is for their glass pitcher product. Buyers beware! Look elsewhere. I bought the pitcher less than a month ago and it has already cracked on its own. When I say on its own I meant it spontaneously crack by itself without handling or adding hot/cold water continuously. I left it on my table and it was fine all morning without being used. Then I heard two loud cracking sounds wondering what it was. I look over and saw there were two large cracks at the bottom. Asked the business for a refund and the response was no because it's the users fault. Very disappointing as I'm a long time customer and do enjoy their tea leaves. Mind you this product is not cheap either! Clearly it is defective.