Infinitea and Beyond
Tea Spot
127 Macdougal Street
New York, NY 10012
(212) TEA SPOT
Other than the basic flavors, like vanilla, cinnamon, and coconut, it???s not often that the name of a flavored tea actually corresponds to the flavor of the tea. That is, until Tea Spot came along with flavors like Tiramisu, Almond Cookie, and Pumpkin Cr??me that (gasp!) actually tastes like what their names imply.
The large, industrial-type tins that contain the various flavor blends of rooibos, mate, white, green, and black teas in this Greenwich Village caf??/tea/study cove sport a deceivingly subdued look.
Whether you want iced or hot tea, it???s brewed fresh for you as you wait at the counter. Tea Spot uses a brewing system that I have never seen before, the Infinitea machine. The Infinitea resembles an espresso machine and produces a single serving of fresh, flavor-packed, perfectly brewed tea within seconds.
The high quality tea flavors and unique brewing method are not where the perks of Tea Spot end however. Aside from having a staff that is consistently friendly and helpful (they???re more than happy to pull every single tin of tea off the shelf so patrons can have a smell before they commit to a flavor choice), there is free Wi-Fi, an assortment of tasty pastries and sandwiches, and an ambience that everyone can enjoy. Tea Spot also has space in abundance, an asset that many tea and coffee shops can???t always provide. The upstairs houses several sunny tables, while the downstairs offers a darker, lower-key assortment of tables and booths. Or, if you???d rather take your tea to-go and enjoy it outdoors, Washington Square Park is only a block away.
There???s also one other HUGE benefit to going to Tea Spot ??? they have bubble tea. Any of their loose teas can be ordered as bubble tea, with tapioca pearls added. You can also have a skim milk-based flavored powder added (taro, green tea, mango and Thai tea are just some of the flavors) to create a thicker, more tea-frappe fusion type bubble tea. Both ways, either adding pearls to a plain tea or making any tea into a bubble tea frappe, are flavorful (but not overly sweet) options.
Whether you are in search of a cozy nook on a cool Fall day, an icy reprieve from the mid-Summer heat, or just a laid back place to study or read, Tea Spot has what you???re looking for. The next time you???re wandering through Greenwich Village, stop by and have some tea (I recommend the Almond Cookie or the Royal Blend).
