I've been going here for over a decade and can't believe I haven't reviewed it yet. I come here for their selections of high-quality teas and the fact that Haymen (the owner) is literally the best host when doing tea tastings and tea ceremonies. It's clear that he has a huge passion for tea. You'll walk in and see just floor-to-ceiling walls of teas. In the center, you'll see the tea table and he'll always have a tea for you to taste. My favorites are the Blue People, the Dong Ding, and the pu'er teas. I will say though that the reason to come here is for their teas and not their prepared drinks. Though, I did get the Strawberry Matcha Latte and it was also amazing. But their drink menu is very small as it's not their focus. If you have time, I'd suggest asking to taste a few teas and pulling up a stool at the tea table and let Haymen talk to you about that tea. It's informative and delicious! read more

This review is for their drinks only. I ordered a strawberry matcha and a hong kong milk tea. Both were pretty watery and milky. I'd compare the taste to a watered down boba drink after all the ice has melted. For $7-8 dollars a drink, it was not worth it. I'd probably enjoy it more if they just served straight tea and not lattes since lattes are not something they specialize in. The staff seemed really nice and there seems to be a great tea selection. If I come back it'd definitely would be for looseleaf tea that I can brew at home. read more

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I've visited Aroma Tea Shop before and have always had a wonderful experience, which is why I came back. Unfortunately this visit fell short of what I've come to expect. I was looking for a Darjeeling and was told they didn't carry any. When I asked for something similar, I was pointed toward an oolong, which while a lovely tea, doesn't really share the same characteristics as a Darjeeling. The sampling experience was also a bit unclear and at one point I was being offered samples intended for the customer next to me, which added to the confusion. I understand that running a tea shop solo is genuinely difficult. It's a hands-on, conversation-driven experience and I don't want this to reflect poorly on the shop overall. But I hope the owner takes note, because the bar here has been high and I'd love to see it stay that way. I'll be back to give it another try. read more

Aroma Tea Shop - Front entrance - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Heman is extremely knowledgeable, welcoming, hilarious, and has so many great options! I brought some friends in today and got a tea tasting experience. Highly recommend! Love the ambiance and atmosphere. read more

Aroma Tea Shop - Latte and weight cleanse tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

This place is amazing! Just the most delicious, unique teas and a truly delightful curated experience in which you can try literally any tea on the shelf. I come here regularly for the bold earl grey and the jasmine dragon blossoms and have discovered other tea blends I knew little about. Wonderful service! Everyone here really cares and you can try teas that other folks are sampling as well. read more

I wish I had read the reviews before I ordered a milk tea here. The HK milk tea was pitiful; I'm so mad I paid $8 total for this trash. I asked for less sugar and less milk and I feel like I'm drinking milk with a hint of tea. And this is unexpected because I also tried a sample of oolong which was delicious. And $80 for 4oz.... The service was fine, except that they're not good at making tea drinks. They seem to be better suited to just sell tea. In that case, please don't offer to make them in-store. It's easy for customers to mistakenly think a place that can sell good quality tea leaves and steep literally plain tea leaves might be good at making HK milk tea. My HK relatives are crying right now somewhere in their flat... read more

This is milk tea from an actual tea shop! They have a standard menu, but you can actually choose from any of their vast tea selections. I saw that they had the rare black matcha which had a nice malty and honey flavor. Complimentary tea tastings are also available which helps in deciding what to get. Service was nice and knowledgeable. They don't have seating so drinks are to go. There's also a small sections to buy little individual teas. read more

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BEST TEA SHOP! It made my birthday. We went in on my birthday and tasted a few things. I knew I wanted something. I settled on the French Pink Rose Buds. WOW. Quality! Quality! Quality!!! That's all I have to say!!! read more

Aroma Tea Shop - Pink French Rose Bud Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Absolutely fantastic tea shop. The owner is a tea wizard and will kindly share his expertise. I spent around half an hour here trying different teas and learning about them. They have some incredibly unique blends and are very generous with the tastings. I would recommend this to anyone that likes tea! read more

Would HIGHLY recommend. 10/10 free tea experience with a knowledgeable and funny guide. They offer a complementary tea tasting that is very informative and no pressure to purchase tea afterwards. Learned about the origins. differences, and the oxidative and roasting process that makes tea differ from each other. They have a large selection of black, green, oolong, and pu'er tea. Tea tasting I had d/t oolong preference: 1) High Mountain Taiwan Oolong: I later purchased for $25 for 2oz (a good deal!) 2) Honey Taiwan Oolong 3) Milk Taiwan Oolong 4) Duck Shit Oolong 5) Ceremonial Grade (Level 1 out of 5): the highest grade of matcha Logistics: -Accepts card -Limited street meter parking -walk-ins available with five seats for tea tasting read more

I learned a lot of factoids about tea through my partner. I have excellent memories from just one visit. Of course we hope to come again. For example: butterfly tea can improve your dreams, lavender can calm your nervous system, and you can even use black tea as an antimicrobial. It was really neat to see how many teas there were. This is all coming from my partner and we had a wonderful time viewing everything. We were never rushed and enjoyed our visit. read more

We had the best time in this shop, highly recommend stopping by even if your just a casual tea drinker. He has an amazing selection and we were so entertained and educated learning and tasting with the owner read more

I have a long standing relationship with the very excellent Aroma Tea Shop, dating back to 2004/5ish when I lived in Pacifica on the other side of "the pond" now that I'm in The East Bay I keep myself stocked with all the outstanding teas they have to offer. I've also taken all my family and friends there for a visit, the tea tasting and sampling is a great event especially for some that haven't done it before. The staff is always friendly and very knowledable about the origins and health benits of each tea you taste. They also sell some great teaware, I've bought a few ceramic tea pots with built-in filters. Even their Japanese Macha is right on par with what I would order directly from Japan, and much more affordable! I highly recommend both visiting and online ordering, they ship to just about anywhere and I'm able to send tea as gifts to my family in NY! read more

Aroma Tea Shop - some of my faves! Pu erh and Korean Ginseng also! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came in looking for roasted oolongs and ended up with a full tea tasting experience. Very personable owner and overall great experience. read more

Aroma Tea Shop - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Charm. The Garden of Earthly Delights right in San Francisco! with a wide array of organic and the finest sourced teas. Haram - the owner is there to greet you and amaze. If you can't go to China or Hong Kong, start here. read more

The worst experience I got from this tea shop owner, Haymen . The Taiwan tea powder of the price are crazy expensive, Comparing the same thing which I got the from Taiwan read more

What a gem! Such a great experience today. The man working let us sample different teas and suggested options. Got some great green tea, jasmine green tea, and mint. Will definitely be back for me! read more

Aroma Tea Shop - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Well, it's been a long time coming for me to review this place. We stumbled across this due to being in the area and visiting 6th Ave Aquarium and Burma Superstar. The first time we came, it was great. Haymon was there and was a fantastic person to talk to. He informed us that we could get a sample of tea and detailed how he was to prepare it for the best taste. Their wide selection left us smelling many and walking out with some quite nice teas even if it was on the pricier side. We signed up for their rewards program as we thought we'd be coming here for a long time to support the local business. The next time we came in about a month, a lady was there rather than Haymon. As we have came here before and got the free tea sample last time that is also listed on a sign above one of their doors and on the yelp page, we assumed we could do it again to see what we enjoyed. We were told they don't do that anymore. While we still ended up getting some loose hojicha, Jasmine, and lapsang souchong, this experience left a bad taste in our mouths. Later on, because we were part of the rewards program and promotional emails, there was an email that stated that if you came in, you could get a free tea infused chocolate candy bar while supplies last. Nowhere on the promo did it say you needed to purchase something to get this promo. We assumed that it's because we signed up for the news letter, it was a special treat for those in the know. We go in and the lady is there once again. We see that there are in fact still chocolate bars in stock. We inquire about the promo and show it to her. She tells me "it says with purchase". I spend 5 minutes scouring the promo and don't see it. I inquire again and ask where she sees "with purchase" within the promo are told that it's with purchase only in a pretty sour tone. The annoyed tone really threw us off and made us uncomfortable to purchase or even smell anything so we just left. We didn't even try asking this time for the tea tasting because she told us last time they don't do it anymore. These past two instances turned us off completely from this shop for the attitude and customer service skills from the lady. We really wanted to support this tea shop but instead, we'll be taking our business elsewhere. Note to the shop: if you don't do tea tastings anymore, remove the sign, take it off your yelp, take it off your website. If you still do tea tastings, then be consistent. Offering it to select guests or based on how you feel leaves a terrible feeling. read more

The tea shop carries a variety of delicious teas. If you enjoy drinking good tea, this is the place to go for some great and full-flavored teas. The owner is very welcoming and has a lot of suggestions for you, depending on your palette. I also loved that he has the blossoming teas. He also has a tea-tasting table, which is awesome and greaserve people who visit the store. read more

Aroma Tea Shop - a bag of green tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Self care is important, and over the past few years, a major part of my self care has been the Really Good Earl Grey tea from Aroma. They have so many other good teas also, but I keep coming back to the Really Good Early Grey. Additionally, the friendly and knowledgeable staff have helped me find gifts for family. read more

Love this place, it's so nice to have a local tea shop. I'm not super knowledgeable but really like pu-erh and they have quite a few options at different price ranges and will happily walk you through the differences, let you smell them etc. I've never done a tasting but I know that's something they offer. Good selection of herbal teas as well, they sometimes have this "wellness" blend that I quite like. The prices reflect the quality so don't expect it to be grocery store prices. But you can also buy in quite small amounts. read more

I've been a customer for well over ten years. I collect Chinese vintage tea and their teas are the absolute best! Their customer service is outstanding and I wish I could add another star!! read more

Aroma is a great tea shop. The owner is an expert and you'll walk away from your visit more knowledgeable about tea.

Gem of a tea shop. Surprisingly wide selection of quality loose leaf teas, ranging from green teas to oolongs and pu er teas. Canisters of teas are labeled clearly. Some teas also include the year it is from, as the aging of certain teas enhances the flavor. Like some good wines and scotches. Knowledgeable and helpful staff to help you with making choices. Don't be dissuaded by the prices on the containers because nobody buys teas by the pound. One ounce goes a long way for tea, making everyone affordable. Have fun here. read more

Aroma Tea Shop - Flavorful tea cakes available as well as loose teas. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I'm confused by this. I received a box of tea, and I opened it up to find no labeling and the bags aren't sealed. (The writing you see in silver is me guessing by scent) Is this how it's usually done? Because in photographs I see online the teabags each in their own sealed bag. read more

Aroma Tea Shop - Box of tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

My favorite tea shop in the US and top 5 in the world. Pre-Covid, my wife and I would drive from SoCal to San Francisco to spend an afternoon tasting teas. The quaint shop in SF Chinatown (now closed) had chairs and tables for tea tasting. They have hundreds of loose teas. They ask what type of teas you like - oolong, jasmine, green, white. They bring out some teas to steep, taste and compare. For me, I'm an oolong tea lover. I chose Monkey picked Oolong and Lychee Oolong. They also have a large assortment of tumblers and teapots and teacups. DJ's rating: 5.00/5.00 Would I come back? Definitely Yes. read more

Great service, awesome tea, and the owner is very personable, and knowledgeable about his teas. I now go to him all the time and I get something new each time. read more

We visited Aroma Tea Shop to pick up some tea for a friend who really loves tea. While we were there we decided to pick up one of the premium teas that they offer. We asked about which ones were most popular, and the lady who was helping us suggested the Oolong. In particular, the "Supreme High Mountain Jim Xuan Milk Oolong" (see photo). When we got home, we made a pot. It was amazing. The taste was extremely pleasant, a very fine, smooth oolong tea flavor. We were amazed by the aroma, which supplemented the tea flavor and really transported the drinkers to another plain of existence. Was it that good? Simply put: yes. The store sells loose tea by the ounce. When you purchase tea, it gets weighed and put into a sealed plastic bag. The bag can be opened to measure out the needed tea, then resealed to keep the tea fresh. A label is placed on the back of the bag to provide the full name of the tea along with preparation details (see photo). There are a wide selection of teas, including a "Early Grey" for anyone who wants to play it safe and order a familiar sounding tea. Of course, this tea is especially familiar to fans of Star Trek the Next Generation, as Captain Jean-Luc Picard is always ordering is "Tea - hot- early grey" from the replicator. I did not try this tea, but may sometime in the future. There were also a wide range of green teas, including the basic "Gunpowder", along with some higher grades. read more

Aroma Tea Shop - A label on the back helps provide details about your purchase. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Cute little store in Richmond with a huge collection of loose leaf tea! They have some really unique flavors (lychee black tea, rose tea among others) and the person who runs the store is very helpful - he helped us pick teas based on what we like and gave us a complementary jasmine tea chocolate bar. We also got some dried lavender from there that we now use for making lavender latter at home!! read more

I love tea so I was absolutely excited when I saw this on a post on Facebook about the best tea shops in the country. So I drove up I must say I was not disappointed. The young lady at the front was so knowledgeable and patient and throughly explained the tea to me with the aroma , the flavor and steeping time. The pics are below are a few of the teas I purchased. They also have an array of clay tea pots and cups and they have the pur ah tea which is absolutely amazing (and a little pricey but soooo worth it). It was organized and clean I am happy I will be able to order online when I move back to Georgia. I am very happy and so glad I found this hidden gem. Oo and I got a T-shirt. A must try read more

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Visiting from out of town, I heard that a visit to Aroma Tea Shop was a must. I'm so happy my friend and I stopped! We were treated to tastings of several teas and learned about proper brewing and sipping to get the full aroma and tasting experience. Don't miss this gem of a tea shop, it's a must for tea lovers and novices alike. read more

I had to come out to the city for some family things yesterday. While on the road, we came here because I wanted to check out some tea places in the city. I prefer tea to coffee, so I was really excited when I found Aroma on Google. I already had enough black tea, so I was looking for some oolong or green and I was not disappointed when I walked out with a bag of their peaches and green tea. It has a really nice fragrance to it and I was surprised by how well peaches and green tea can go together. As I'm writing this review, I've just put the boiled water into my teapot and am just waiting for the tea to steep. The fragrance is really strong and sweet. The tea leaves add a really nice light green color to the water and has a really nice smell to it the longer you let the leaves steep. After taking my first few sips, it's definitely an acquired taste. The peach flavors are really subtle in the tea, and it leaves a unique aftertaste. I think I'm used to drinking green tea as-is, so adding a fruity flavor is a new experience, but it's still really nice. After drinking through the first cup, it's a pleasant surprise by how you can still taste the green tea in there, but the flavors don't clash. It's a really complimentary mixture and I think the more pots I brew, the more accustomed to the taste I'll get. Right now it's still really promising, so I would definitely come back for this if I had the chance. read more

So glad AROMA TEA SHOP exists! Not only do they sell tea by the pound, they can brew you a cup to go too if you want. Not exactly cheap. But then, she lady wasn't stingy when she was doling out tea leaves for ONE cup of tea, either. STRAWBERRY had a strong strawberry scent at the beginning, but it became unrecognizable after a while. Unlike the MANGO tea and PEPPERMINT tea: both kept their scent and flavor way after the strawberry one disappeared. AROMA TEA SHOP also has a sizeable selection of blooming teas. I've been to other tea shops where they only have one flavor! It looks like it is possible for them to perform a whole tea ceremony too! read more

We've passed by this shop a couple times when walking along Clement but due to our recent hunt for loose tea leaves, finally stopped in. They have shelves of tea blends to choose from. We were looking for some chai so we got their masala chai blend (17.99/4 oz) and also their thai tea mix (7.99/4oz). The thai tea mix was super fragrant and when mixed with some barista style oat milk and honey was as good as, if not better than, some of the thai tea that you order at restaurants! The masala chai was also good but the portion of ginger seems to be quite high because it was the most prominent flavor after steeping. It's not my favorite chai that we've tried so I would not get this again. But definitely will be back for more thai tea mix and to try the numerous amount of other teas available. read more

Aroma Tea Shop - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

I thought this would be one of those intimidating places where the proprietor would try to explain the finer nuances of various tea leaves to which I would respond with a glazed stare. But no, the most intimidating part of the shop is the over 150 varieties of tea on display in various canisters with photos on their descriptive labels, most literal translations and others comically tongue-in-cheek. Jamie W. and I came here after stopping to smell the roses and whatever flora they have at the San Francisco Botanical Garden. The high praise on Yelp lured us in on a slow Saturday afternoon when we had the full attention of the very young staff (photo: http://bit.ly/2eDdrH8). There was no sighting of owner Haymen Da Luz, whom I heard was quite the colorful connoisseur, but his staff did him proud with their thorough descriptions and obliging behavior during our generous tea tasting. The selection covered the full range of loose leaf teas - jasmine, white, green oolong, black, pu-erh. We went for the sweeter ones like Chocolate Mint and Peach Momo White Tea (photo: http://bit.ly/2uKhQ12) before settling on a purchase of the Coconut Green Tea which was deliciously Mounds-like in flavor (photo: http://bit.ly/2ukLiZh). There were all kinds of tea accessories available including little clay pots and gaiwan sets (photo: http://bit.ly/2tPiOF9). It's definitely worth a return visit to get a further education on the joys of tea. TEA - 4 stars...really subtle flavors that linger in the palate AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...cute little space packed with quality...love how they explain they don't sell boba because their teas don't suck balls SERVICE - 4 stars...informative and attentive TOTAL - 4 stars...really a treat on a quiet afternoon if you don't overstay your welcome read more

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Whenever I'm doing something around Clement street I try to stop in here. It's a fun place to look around and try some tea. I love their rosebud tea. It's just rosebuds so it's not mixed with anything else which is great if you want a pure herbal rose tea. I really like rose tea but I've had a hard time finding an herbal rose tea that's not mixed with black tea. Aroma has about 7 different types of rose tea! The Lychee and Oolong blends are good if you like something very sweet. The owners are extremely knowledgeable of their products and the whole tea process. They can help you pick something out if you have something specific in mind or just educate you on teas. read more

I have been drinking tea since the 1970s. My style of preparation and selection has been almost exclusively from the stores of black tea using preferred teapot infusion methods of Great Britain and Ireland. Over the years I have added occasional varieties such as Indian chai, Tibetan tea, and full-bodied Russian caravan with its sweet, malty, and smoky taste. I had been reading about the properties of oolong and have been curious about trying some. Since I don't see myself as a convert to green tea, I thought that oolong might be a happy medium. Chinatown can be a bit overwhelming when it comes to purchasing loose tea. Not all shop keepers are passionate about the product and offering samples to smell or to taste in the era of Covid is challenging. So I opted to find a smaller shop in the Richmond District. When I arrived on Saturday in the early afternoon at the Aroma Tea Shop, there were two young women ahead of me who were chatting up the owner for information about tea flavor, preparation, quality, etc. I half listened in while I was browsing the ample tea assortments that are stored in closed cans on the shelves. The clerk was the owner of the shop and was clearly knowledgeable about the product he sells and consumes. He has direct contact with the persons who run the business end of the agricultural estates where the tea plants are grown, harvested, processed, and shipped. Since my interest was an initial curiosity, I did not want to invest a large amount into the venture, but I also did not want to purchase something of inferior quality that would dissuade me from continuing the enjoyment of the process and product that goes into creating the perfect cup of oolong. I purchased a white porcelain gaiwan (brewing cup with lid and saucer) and two small glass cups that had a tiny round handle on the side of the glass. I considered this to be a superior choice as it would allow me to enjoy the traditional small amount of tea per serving, I would be able to see the color of the brew, and I could have the option of holding the cup with a small handle. While the shop itself is somewhat small in square footage, there was ample space to display the teas and teaware. The layout was very well-planned and at no time did I feel cramped for space. The owner was able to discuss the tea ceremony, had his own teapot and heating source to demonstrate how the process may be done, and also shared videos of his sharing tea with others in the industry. I was recommended an affordable oolong that was pre-packaged. Oolong is available in a variety of processed forms. If I choose to continue with my interest of the Chinese tea ceremony, I would certainly look towards this shop as the source of my tea and accessories. If you find yourself in the inner Richmond district and would like to be waited on individually by an English-speaking proprietor, I would STRONGLY RECOMMEND a visit to the Aroma Tea Shop at 302 6th Avenue at Clement. read more

Aroma Tea Shop - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Awesome hidden gem in the neighborhood. They let you sample teas and they have lots. I was in a rush but couldn't decide so I picked up a few blooming teas that they had prepackaged. Many teas with fruit flavors and higher qualities for those that are advance tea enthusiasts. They definitely have a customer base, while I was in the shop, a return customer came in and just read off her order and waited for it to be fulfilled. read more

Great place for tea! Staff is knowledgeable and passionate about their teas. You get to enjoy samples of tea while you browse. He also gave us some background on how the teas are created. The place itself is easy to find and clean. Come and support local store owners! read more

While you can get teas much cheaper at the grocery store a couple blocks away, the staff here is very knowledgeable about the teas they offer and you can have a sample taste before you commit. Totally worth it. Looks like they will show you how to serve tea the right way, but who has time for that? read more