The Urban Tea Merchant

We all know by now that Vancouver has won some international acclaim for our natural beauty, culinary scene and livability. To that end, it’s always nice when you experience a taste of excellence, that reminds us of our world-class status. You’ll find some of that distinction at The Urban Tea Merchant that brings the finest  teas, tea services and treats for locals and tourists alike.

One arm of their business continues to hold the top spot as one of the best afternoon tea and  tea services in the city. The tea service is an experience that begins in the garden patio or tea salon. Naturally, you might be overwhelmed by the daunting list of teas that span over a hundred choices.

To ensure that you’re making the selection of your preference, Tea Sommelier Reza Nasooti will bring giant tins of tea to your table side, so you have the chance to smell the aromas before you make your final decision. Another key distinction is that the tea already comes perfectly steeped and crafted. Each type of tea requires a different methodology with variables including steeping time, temperature and the amount of leaves.

The Summer West Coast tea service

Edible flowers, sweets tea-infused macaron, chevron strawberry, chocolate truffle, and fresh seasonal fruit.

Paired with tasty treats from the kitchen, you’ll find an array of nibbles that are infused, poached or cooked using the same teas that accompany your snacks. The Summer West Coast Tea Service ($32 per person) is a great three course service with sorbet to start, savouries and sweets.

 

Nuwara Eliya tea-infused cured swordfish loin and humus crostini miso-maple glazed sable fish wrapped in butter lettuce green

 Asparagus wrapped in prosciutto and basil stamped filo pastry

 Potato basket with baby artichokes and confit tomatoes

All of the teas at Urban Tea Merchant are from TWG Tea, which is one of the finest tea brands in the world. With their roots based in South East Asia, TWG Tea blenders have direct access to the most exclusive tea estates. The tea leaves they select are 100% natural without chemical processing or pesticides and even the newest tea enthusiast will be able to smell and taste the difference in each sip. The Urban Tea Merchant brings the fine TWG Tea to Vancouver and also distributes throughout North America.

World-class teas in packaging this cute are perfect gift ideas