As a tea lover, I absolutely love this place! The selection of teas is almost overwhelming as there are so many choices. I tried the lychee green tea, one that I never heard of, and I loved the aroma and taste. Presentation of your tea is nice, and interior is cozy and hipster. Prices are also very fair for downtown Birmingham. As for the bubble tea, I am a fan. However, if you're used to very sweet and artificially flavored boba, you may not like it. Their boba is naturally sweetened with just a little bit of sweetness. For me, that is perfect. But for others, you may be disappointed. They have unique boba flavors - I tried the Honey Green Matcha as well as the Matcha Mango and both were refreshing and flavorful. The tapioca pearls are of the perfect chewiness. Can't wait to come here again and try more teas! read more

Eli Tea, doesn't sell tea, it sells a feeling. Specifically one of conscious superiority at having evaded the Starbucks across the street in favor of an 'edgier' experience. Their simple (and I do mean simple) beverages/snacks aren't what puts this establishment at a lofty four star rating. It's their aesthetic. For the same price as a generic St@rb#cks latte, you can get a decidedly less generic variety of tea or coffee (take that! Minion-esque capitalism!) Then, you can choose to enjoy it in a venue which, while still contrived, does have a pleasing design and the added benefit of local art displays. In short, Eli Tea isn't perfect, but it makes me feel good (edgy) and how obnoxious would it be to expect more?? read more

Very nice ambiance in the store, helpful employees and barista, and vegan sweets. Their teas are creative, original, and not overly-sweet. I would recommend the lavender hazelnut soy for your first go. If you come here expecting frothy, sugary bubble tea, turn around. The great thing about this place js that it takes traditional black-milk-bubble-tea and gives it a flavorful twist like lavender, honey, or matcha. It is not too sweet, but it's a tad bland, so go for the bubble teas with some sort of nut addition (i.e. Hazelnut) EDIT: They added a bubble tea menu! We tried the Green Tea Mango, Peach White, and Pumpkin Chai and they're all amazing! Note that the GTM tastes more like mango juice, PW is more milky but was the favorite out of all of them. read more

Sooo I haven't been to Eli tea in years. I came once when they first opened and honestly wasn't that impressed. The space is a little small and cramped. I went in recently when I learned they have bubble tea and macarons. The macarons were sooo good! Perfect texture and great flavor. They even had a flaming hot cheeto flavor and it was SO good! The bubble tea was great. Their sweet matcha mint with tapioca pearls was perfect. Will definitely be back. read more

Cute little tea shop with a nice selection of different teas. I had a chai latte and it was just okay. I don't recommend coming here to study. It wasn't even busy when I was there and it was still quite loud inside. I wish they had more of a selection of desserts. I also think it's a little pricy for tea (my chai was 3.50). Although it is a tea shop, I do suggest they have options for non tea drinkers read more

Eli Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

Cute little shop but their boba (bubble tea) has a weird texture. I ordered the white peach tea and it's so bland. I didn't even finish it. If you want authentic boba tea I suggest going elsewhere. We also checked in and redeemed our offer, but he forgot to grab us out free cookies. Parking up front, but you have to feed the meter. read more

I love coming into Eli and doing homework. The staff knows what they're talking about and they will recommend teas for you if you don't know what you want. They're super fast to make your drink too. read more

Great bubble tea here and is made with natural ingredients and pure cane sugar syrup! This place is kinda hidden but once you find it it is a hidden gem that you can't help but get a bubble tea, latte, fresh brewed coffee, or even one of their many flavors of tea. Seems like a great place to get some work done! I highly recommend the matcha green tea or Thai Chai bubble tea! read more

Eli Tea - Thai Chai on the right and matcha green tea on the left - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

I went to try Eli tea today and I loved it. Cute and quiet place to have tea, study, catch up with a friend. I ordered the green honey matcha bubble tea delicious, I wanted to get the scones but they were out I had the cardamom cookies with lemon curd instead both great I have great things to say about this place and the staff is friendly and helpful. Bonus they also sell tea selections and novelty tea items, cups, diffusers, teapots etc. read more

Eli Tea - Cardamom cookie with lemon curd and the matcha bubble tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

A unique addition to the metro Detroit area. The small, but cozy store front is a great place to read or work. Great selection of loose leaf tea, tea accessories, and small bites. I'm head-over-heels IN LOVE with their cardamom tea biscuits. They pair perfectly with a cup of masala chai. read more

This place is such a gem! Everyone who works here is so friendly and chill. Eli is amazing, warm and knows his stuff when it comes to tea. I love their Thai Chai tea and their CHEESE tea is one of the most delicious things I've ever tasted! The place is quaint, welcoming and has this super chill vibe. Reminds me of a tea shop you'd find nestled is a big city. They also sell handmade tea cups that are so unique and adorable! I've purchased many of these tea mugs for myself and as gifts for my tea lover friends. Highly recommend this lovely tea shop! read more

Unique place of crazy selection of tea... if you are a tea person willing to wait few minutes for a tea, just stop by.. worth it... the blond orange is good read more

Eli Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

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Good Vibes, Good Energy and more importantly GOOD TEA !! Obsessed with this place, after going my first day last week I came the following 3 days and bringing along different clients and friends. it is a fantastic place to meet up with a client as it isn't typically crowded or loud ( or at least while I was there ) there is also outdoor seating which is lovely if you are just 2 people. Eli Tea knows TEA - they really do ! more than any other teavana or tea shop I've been to in the metro area. the staff is well versed and it sounds like the legend Eli does too! I go for the Matcha Iced Tea - which is super caffeinated !! There aren't too many places around who properly make the iced matcha - the staff here didn't try to convince me to go with a latte, which I appreciate ! Lemon Poppyseed bars are delightful! It took me until the third time to notice the retail wall in the back with cute tea things for sale, as well as some eats ! a variety of wraps and salads from a local vegan shop. read more

Love, Love Eli Tea! Such a great (healthy) alternative to Starbucks. I have several favorites, the Mint Matcha Latte with Almond Milk and a touch of honey, the lemon ginger tea if I have a sore throat, etc...you can tell them what you like and they will help you make a good selection. I also love the addition of Detroit Kombucha Brewing Company. read more

Just love this place! The tea is always so fresh and delicious! I never know what I'm gonna get and the lady always helps me out and doesn't make me feel dumb. Plus her recommendation are always on point! Favorite tea place! I'll be back over and over! read more

I love tea!!! And this is the perfect place for it. They have many different selections so it was pretty hard to decide. We ended up trying the London fog latte and peach white. London fog latte was pretty good but a little sweet for me. I believe there's earl grey and lavender in it. I wished that the tea flavor was a little stronger. Peach white was good too but also a little lighter on the tea taste. Pretty cozy spot to get some productive work done. Located near the fun area of Birmingham so lots of shops nearby. This place is somehow a little invisible from the outside though. I can't find it initially. Definitely give Eli a try! read more

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Lovely decor, interesting selection of teas that are available hot, iced, or with bubbles (tapioca pearls). I had the Rose White Tea iced with Bubbles plus Rice Milk and it was amazing! Also made use of the wifi and outdoor seating. read more

Eli Tea - Rose White Tea over ice with Rice Milk and Tapioca Pearls! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

I was in Downtown Birmingham at the time and wanted something different from the usual Starbucks run. I had a taste for a Chai tea latte and walked by this place, so I decided to check it out and I'm glad I did! The place is quite small, but the ambiance is much quieter than other places which I loved. I checked out the menu and I was surprised how many choices of tea lattes they had, and asked for recommendations. I was told the London Fog tea latte is very popular, so I tried it out. BEST TEA LATTE EVER!!! I fell in love! Plus, since it was my first visit, I received a punch card and she upgraded my small to a large for free, sweet! Will definitely return! read more

Very cool ambiance and good music! I tried the honey green bubble tea and it was great. They were able to make it less sweet per my request. Great customer service! Make sure you check in through yelp so you get 3 free biscuits! read more

Beautiful little cafe/bar with amazing tea and a nice relaxing atmosphere! Great designs on their product! And they host different artist every month that you can purchase local art from which is awesome! The London Fog Latte is life changing and a must try! read more

Eli Tea - Delicious snacks to go along with your tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

This place is a really cute little coffee shop, ambiance is great! They have good seating and even have board games you can play while sitting. I got their milk tea and it wasn't great - it was very bitter and the boba was hard :( read more

Fun and polite staff. Will make your drinks how you like and help you pick out options. My daughter loves this place. Comparable prices to Starbucks. read more

The whole vibe of this place is very indie and really celebrates the local culture, right down to their menu. I've had several of their teas, hot and cold, and I've found them to be very flavorful and rich. Albeit a bit pricey, their snacks and specialty beverages are great too. I can't say the same about their bubble tea, which has hard pearls and flavorless tea (it's also pretty expensive for the amount you get), but their Rose is pretty good. For some reason it's a hit with locals but as a bubble tea fanatic it doesn't really meet standards. It's good to come to this place without having something specific in mind. It'll take a lifetime to try the whole menu. The staff here are funny, sweet, and know a ton about their tea: where it's from, what it tastes like, the undertones of each...it's really impressive. If you ask, they'll be happy to help you find the perfect tea. And if you like the place, don't forget to pick up a loyalty card. read more

Came to this cute cafe in downtown Birmingham in the summer hang out with some friends. I really liked the environment where we could order drinks and just chat for hours without feeling rushed. Unfortunately, the drinks were not that great. I ordered the rose bubble tea and while it was refreshing it tasted completely different from my friend who ordered the same thing. Hers was a lot sweeter and flavorful while mine seemed more watered down. Overall, I would come again for the atmosphere but not the tea. read more

Awful experience,very rude and awkward staff , disgusting owner , I was harassed at eli tea and kicked out for leaving my starbucks outside , I will make sure to warn everyone about this horrible place ( and please work on your spelling) read more

I have decided to delete my other review and update on my experience. After leaving the not-so-nice review, the owner replied to it and privately messaged me apologizing greatly for my experience. He even said I could order 2 free drinks as long as I showed his message to the baristas. If that doesn't show professionalism and dedication I'm not sure what does. I went in again shortly after writing the review to give Eli's another chance and I'm glad I did because the green tea latte I ordered was the best I've ever had (a lot better than the Starbuck's green tea latte which is right across the street). My daughter ordered a white tea (I think it was peach) and loved it. I most definitely will be returning to Eli's for their great tea and atmosphere. read more

This place is a refreshing addition to the Birmingham scene. It's not corporate or pretentious. Excellent selection of green, black, white and herbal teas, all available in hot or iced. Also, their tea cookies and cucumber chicken sandwich were good and just a few bucks. I think 3 cookies for $2 and the sandwich was $3. All in all I enjoy supporting this place over Starbucks across the street. I hope they are here for the long term. Side note: my wife wants me to say that this place was breastfeeding friendly. Lol read more

Bubble tea here is decent nothing special... over price for bubble tea where you can get for so much cheaper at a place that actually knows how to make bubble tea.. wasn't so satisfied to taste and see the price of the bubble tea. I might come back here but it won't be for bubble tea. Not a bad place though was very nice if you needed a place to cool off and study read more

Iced Lavender latte is super refreshing and delicious! I ordered the honey Lavender Matcha latter and I didn't really like it so Eli was nice enough to change it to a different drink. I truly appreciate businesses like this. They were accommodating and kind! I'll definitely be back for the amazing iced Lavender latte! Best I've ever had! The space is super cool and clean as well! read more

This place is ok. The tea is pre made with sugar and sits on the shelf all day. It's better than Starbucks but mediocre for a tea bar. Especially since all their tea is not freshly brewed. That's extremely disappointing, especially since their prices are so high. Also, all the tea tastes vaguely the same. The good reviews come from high school kids who go there everyday and don't know the difference between quality tea and mediocre tea. Overall it's an ok place to get tea if you don't care about paying for quality and not receiving any of the quality. Also, my friend ordered a drink that forced them to make tea from scratch because she didn't want sugar and they started to make rude remarks. I thought the customer was always right? And why is it inconvenient for a tea bar to brew fresh tea? Personally, there are much better places to spend your money. read more

My husband and I love milk tea so we were excited to see that Eli had some. The flavor was a little different from what we are used to but it was good. The bubbles were a bit tough but overall decent. read more

Really great tea and coffee... and stellar staff!!! We spilt a tea and they remade it for us! Very pleased. Try the cheese tea - you will not be disappointed! read more

The tea was pretty good! I think next time I should try a different flavour but it wasn't bad. The staff was very friendly and the inside was very well decorated and clean! I can't wait to try more flavours of the teas! The bubble tea was much better than any other bubble yea I'd had before read more

Finally a legit boba place!!!! Yay! Please don't change. I love that they allow you to make the drink less sweetened. And the tapioca balls are the perfect consistency!! read more

Found this place on Yelp with high reviews but low number of reviews and wondered to myself if this was a hidden treasure. And, indeed, it was! Got to chat it up with the baristas while I decided on my drink order about the place. It's fairly new, opened at the beginning of last December. It's pretty nondescript on the outside but when you walk in, you are greeted by friendly staff and a pretty substantial tea menu. They can do tea by the pot but also iced and bubble tea drinks. There's a variety of milks you can choose from as well so it's perfect for someone who is lactose intolerant. The desserts and cookies are fantastic. I ordered the Turkish double (iced) - my friends got the Chai Tea latte (hot) and the Honey Matcha Bubble Tea. I really appreciated that the tea was respected - the drinks were not overly sweet like you would find in most American establishments. The Turkish double was similar to a Chai but different in spice taste. My friends really enjoyed their drinks and even got a wrap which he loved. Upon checking in on Yelp, you get an offer for 3 tea biscuits! I chose the cardamom biscuits and they were delicious! I have always wanted to try this flavor of cookie and this was a great first time. Yum. You have to come check this place out! read more

Eli Tea - Macaroons - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

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Cute little tea place in Birmingham. Finally a place to study in Birmingham that's quiet. The Starbucks across the street is too crowded, dirty and loud and there really was no other place in Birmingham before this tea house. I had both the lychee jasmine and the rose sencha green teas. Both were mild but very flavorful. I prefer my green tea without anything additional however s little honey works perfectly with the row sencha tea. The tea biscuits were also quite good... Especially the cardamom one. The employees are quite knowledgeable about the teas. You can also buy loose leaf teas to take home, so I got two ounces of the sencha rose. Pretty reasonably priced. Now only if they served some more food aside from biscuits and small desserts, I could see myself spending hours upon hours there! read more

Really enjoyed going there. A lot of teas to choose from, I tried the mix of green litchi and mint, which was delicious. Didn't try any desserts, but that's just a personal preference. The prices are very reasonable and I also liked the design of the place. The only negative was that they were out of milk oolong, which is my favorite, but it should be back in stock from new harvest. Definitely coming back and trying all the teas one by one. read more

I've been coming to Eli Tea for the past 4 years of high school. Coming here has helped me unwind and study for school. I've brought dozens of friends fo Eli Tea and they all love it. The staff is polite and helpful. There is a huge selection of teas and a little display case of sweet treats. Overall, this little shop is one of my most favorite places to go to. read more

Great selection of tea - black, green, oolong, herbal varieties. Also free upgrade to a 16oz cup!

What a fun little cafe! Really delicious teas; we tried the vegan chai bubble, peach oolong, and iced apple ginger. Eli tea has about 30 other teas on the menu too. They have some tasty snacks from local bakeries. The staff is very knowledgable and helped us choose the teas we were craving. The decor is nice; I could sit and work here with their free wifi for a while read more