Tea in Massachusetts, Part 1

Today's blog post is the latest installment of my tea travel posts. But first - a heads up. The current issue of Yankee Magazine is about to hit newsstands. I just received my issue in the mail. In it, you will find yours truly, your dear Tea Pages friend, sharing her Top 5 New England tea spots. I'll forward a link if it goes online. Otherwise, it should hit newsstands March 2. Life's a trip! (And welcome to any new readers who are finding your way here through Yankee.)

This post focuses on tea spots in Massachusetts. I've been finding this post more difficult to put together than I expected, mostly because there are so many options. The thing that was most striking to me is how many of the Massachusetts tea shops I've reviewed in the past have now closed. In the last two years we've said goodbye to Licorice & Sloe in Newburyport (BOO HOO!), Whittard Teas, Cafe Aiello in Lowell, New Civilitea in Salem, and The Teapot Cafe in Boxboro.

But let's focus on the ones that are still here to enjoy. You'll notice slightly longer descriptions and photos for some of the Cape Cod locations. These are places I'd been planning to report on after my tea tour, but hadn't had the chance. So, I'm providing some of the most important info here. This post will cover vendors I frequent that sell loose-leaf (but do not have a storefront) and casual cafes/tea shops. Part 2 will highlight some afternoon tea spots I've visited and mention a few of the spots on my "must visit" list.

Vendors that sell loose-leaf (but do not have a cafe):
* Acton: Mark T. Wendell recently relocated to Acton from their long-time West Concord home. They have also recently acquired Grace Tea Company. In the West Concord warehouse, they didn't have a storefront, but would happily sell tea if you stopped in. (They are primarily designed for catalog and online sales.) I'm not sure if they still accommodate drop-ins in the Acton location. I would call first.
* Hopkinton: Upton Tea is a company with a phenomenal reputation and one of the weightiest tea catalogs I've ever encountered. The sheer volume of tea will make your head spin. The quality is outstanding. Again, there is no retail presence at this location; catalog and online sales only.
* Newton: Virtuous Teas is a bright, cheery shop with an excellent tea selection and helpful staff.
* Northhampton: Cooks Shop Here is a pilgrimage site for many tea lovers. I am humbled to confess that I have not yet been here. This gourmet food and tea shop was opened 35 years ago by Mary Lou Heiss and Robert Heiss (authors of the 2008 James Beard nominated "The Story of Tea".
* Somerville: Tea Zone is a bare bones store that sells fabulous tea. They also have an excellent online presence with copious amounts of information provided about each tea
* West Concord: Tea forté is headquartered in West Concord. They do not have a retail presence at this facility, but their products are available in many gift and gourmet shops in the region (and worldwide.)

Cafes and casual tea shops:

* Amherst:
Fresh Side calls itself a "little eatery & tea shop." I was completely smitten with the cozy atmosphere, the lovely Asian feel, and the fact that I could get really yummy mochi. I will definitely go for a longer stop one of these days.

* Cambridge: My first tea love, Tealuxe, is located here. Their specialty is really flavored and scented teas, but they have some really excellent ones. The contemporary atmosphere is a favorite of mine. (They also have a Boston location.)
* Falmouth: Molly's Tea Room was a great surprise. In Falmouth's busy shopping district, Molly's appears relatively unassuming from the outside with its large windows and cranberry awning. What a shock when you enter! Large black cube shelves line the wall of the entrance room, filled with teapots and cups and tea (Harney & Sons dominates.) There is a bakery display case and prep bar painted with cranberry wainscotting and a black ceiling that gives a funky vibe. The main tea space carries through with the cranberry walls highlighted by taupe wainscotting, embroidered black and white vine pattern chair cushions on black metal chairs, and oriental rugs in beige, black, cranberry, and olive. The menu has two pages of tea on the menu (Harney tea bags) with a great luncheon menu of soup, salads, and sandwiches.
* Gloucester: Pleasant Street Tea Company has become another favorite of mine. Great atmosphere, excellent tea, and really yummy food. Good stuff.
* Harvard: Alcott Restaurant and Tea Room(Fruitlands) - Contrary to its name, this is not a tea room. It is a restaurant that has some nice food, but the tea is definitely not a priority. I didn't see any evidence that they served afternoon tea or any formal tea fare. The view, however, is spectacular.
* Mashpee: The Tea Shoppe at Mashpee Commons was a wonderful surprise. Located in an upscale shopping spot amongst Pottery Barn, KM Hudson, and Vineyard Vines stores, this sunny tea spot was doing a brisk business. There was a breakfast and lunch menu with a selection of teas from Mark T. Wendell. The cheery yellow walls were decorated with vintage aprons and shelves of tea cups. I had a "bacon buttie" (a bacon sandwich on white bread) and a pot of the "Tea Shoppe blend" (a breakfast blend.) I was very pleased with the quality of my experience. The front area has retail (tea gifts, like the fabulous "Got tea?" shirt I bought, teaware, and books) and a bakery. This isn't my favorite tea shop, but I would definitely be a frequent visitor if it was nearby.
* Salem: I really liked the aforementioned/now closed New Civilitea, but there is still a tea option for residents to check out. Jaho Coffee & Tea on Derby Street has a wide selection of loose leaf and a great atmosphere.
* Sandwich: I only had a quick minute to pop into Beth's Special Teas in Sandwich. What a great spot. It had the perfect beach-y, Cape Cod feel with its painted white walls and ocean-y blue tablecloths. It was a rainy, rainy day when I went in but I could easily imagine this shop on a sunny summer day. Quaint would be a great word for this place.
Stay tuned for Part 2 where I'll talk about afternoon tea spots and some of the spots on my "to visit" list. I'll update this post with some photos soon. Blogger seems to be having a problem uploading photos and I don't want to delay any longer. I'll let you know when they're added.