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    Forest Tea Bar

    4.3 (120 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Forest Tea Bar Photos

    FOREST TEA BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Forest Tea Bar

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    Reviews With Photos - Forest Tea Bar

    Genmaicha Latte (Oat Milk), Hojicha Tea
    Kyra K.

    I'm slowly making my way through all of the new matcha cafes in Berkeley. But I fear I might pause because Forest Tea Bar has my heart! First off, the vibes are so zen, even if it's extremely busy! I came with my friend, both of us Japanese. It was a nice change of pace being in a cafe like this. It's common in Japan for cafes to be more western, so she was shocked that this cafe was more minimalistic, Asian-inspired, haha. There's bar seating plus indoor and outdoor tables. Most customers are Cal students studying or working, and seats can be limited. Communal seating is communal, and there's seating outside too. The service was great! We sat at the bar so we could watch what was happening. We loved how sweet one of the workers who helped us was. Kind service, and they put time and care into making each drink. Wait times can vary, but it's so worth it! I love any Japanese tea--matcha, hojicha, I'm all there! But I especially loved how they have genmaicha. I got the Genmaicha Latte with Oat Milk. It was perfect, subtle sweetness and roast, and a nice earthy matcha blend. I'd get it again. My friend enjoyed her Hojicha Latte, and they were kind enough to accommodate her request and give us Hojicha Tea as well! Everything was great quality and delicious. Forest Tea Bar is a wonderful cafe in Berkeley to get a matcha or other tea drink. Find them off Shattuck Ave. with street and metered parking around. Looking forward to coming back again and again!

    decor
    Jade L.

    Omg this is undoubtedly the best matcha café I have tried yet in the Bay Area, and I don't say this lightly! This place is the definition of a matcha bar with its friendly staff, emphasis on product quality, and inviting third space environment to relax in and linger at the small tables along the wraparound window seat to enjoy the drinks. I first tried the black sesame matcha, one of my fave drinks of all time, as it combines two of my most favorite flavors. It was executed perfectly, and I liked it so well that I went back for round two and got the black sesame hojicha, which was just as good. I'm so impressed by this place, and it's really elevated my matcha standards.

    Irene L.

    I love their matcha and syrups. Genmaicha is my favorite, can't find it anywhere. I've been coming since they opened but the portions keep getting smaller. It's a $7/8 cup and they don't even fill it to near the top. It's a 12oz but realistically 8oz. At least put more milk in it to make the illusion... It's gotten lower since the beginning. I love it here but it's not worth the price to me.

    Jack R.

    Finally, I can see the forest through the trees! This place makes your drink one at a time with care and precision. My friend got the Black sesame with match and it was the perfect balance of sesame to matcha. Not too sweet, with a fresh matcha undertone. My drinks, the Suzuki sparkler which is basically Yuzu with sparkling water was refreshing in this Berkeley heat, and my second drink, the Cashew nut macha made with homemade cashew milk was very satisfying. The Japanese look and feel of this intimate store made it feel like we were transported into a small Japanese café. Really enjoyed our drinks and the ambiance. A great addition so close to UC Berkeley.

    Arlo T.

    I am not a matcha person so much, but my friend is. So we're going off her opinions. The service was good, the people greeted us. We had to order off a kiosk. We got 2 drinks and a treat. She didnt like it, but I did. Honestly, it tasted like matcha. LOL I'm not bougie about it. The place is pretty small, but hella charming. Limited parking as well.

    Black sesame on the left and uji matcha latte on the right
    Lisa E.

    One of the best Matcha I've had outside of Japan. I ordered the uji Matcha latte. The sweetness was perfect and it tasted very clean. I also tried my friends rose Matcha latte and black sesame Matcha latte, which were both delicious. Black sesame Matcha latte was probably the sweetest out of all. The rose latte was also really good. The rose aroma was strong, but it did not have that sticky after taste that a lot of the rose syrup have. It's a small café, but there are 3 to 4 tables with seats available as well as barstools at the bar. Parking is street parking, but it was not too difficult to find. If you're looking for a high-quality Matcha, this place is a must try.

    Joseph M.

    We wanted to get a refreshing drink and this place was nearby. We ordered the hojicha black sesame, Uji matcha latte, and the hojicha latte. The drinks were all pretty good and they came out quick. Ordering is simple as you just use the qiosk to order. Try it out if you like. :)

    Danielle P.

    This place is not located in a forest, but if it was I'm going INNNNNN. I was really excited to try this place after seeing a few new matcha places open in Berkeley. They have their own mini parking lot, but other than that you do have to bank on street parking. As for the inside, you definitely get both that cozy and relaxing vibe from the interior. But, it was also modern or upscale due to how updated everything was from the lighting and chairs. Forest was giving minimalistic baddie! I felt like I was about to drink some boujee matcha right when I walked in. You order at a kiosk and the drink options are pretty standard at moderate price points ($7). Card only! Besides matcha lattes, they also had Hojicha and Usucha (just the matcha). It was cool to see they had a black sesame matcha and rice tea matcha (both options you can get sweetened). I opted for the sweetened brown rice tea matcha and loved the taste profile! The matcha was strong and more on the earthy side. It balanced really well with the rice tea flavor in my opinion that it was more so refreshing than milky. #needthatmatchapowder #immabuyatin Would love to come back and try another drink! Drinks also came relatively quick ~5 minutes. Smooth service overall.

    Jing W.

    This place feels like a little reset button for life Minimal, calm, and aesthetic without trying too hard. Every flower arrangement and tiny detail feels super intentional The owner is also incredibly sweet -- always smiling and genuinely welcoming, which makes the whole space feel warm instead of intimidating You can tell she's serious about tea and matcha culture Everything is thoughtfully done, from the ingredients to the tools they use. The matcha was smooth and fragrant, the black sesame drink was insanely rich and the barley tea smelled like comfort in a cup Honestly the kind of spot where you go in for tea and accidentally heal your entire mood Perfect place to slow down for an afternoon

    Uji matcha latte
    Loralyn N.

    Decided to treat myself and try this place my friend recommended. I decided to just try a regular Uji matcha latte with oat milk. It was quite creamy and not powdery which was good. I will say the sweetness was a little lacking, so if you like your matcha a little more "pure" you'd probably enjoy this more. I'd be willing to try it again and maybe just ask for more sweetness, but that's just me. Nice little chill spot though.

    Forgot what I ordered... _
    Mary N.

    Small, high-quality matcha tea bar with a super simple aesthetic. This place was absolutely phenomenal! They whisk everything by hand--none of that premade matcha sitting in a pitcher. You can taste the effort (and maybe the arm workout too). I think there are only about three staff members making drinks at a time, so if you come during peak hours... yeah, you will be waiting. Patience is part of the menu. If you're not about that waiting life, I highly recommend coming on a weekday before the rush. Trust me, your future self will thank you. Also--no bathrooms and no parking, so plan accordingly. Street parking is your only option, so may the odds be ever in your favor. Overall, I would definitely come back... even if it means circling the block a few times first.

    Black sesame matcha
    Qian L.

    What is up with some of the low ratings lol. They're open 11-6 Friday-Sunday. Soft launch...so there's gonna be a wait, because it's...good? If this place was awful there would be zero wait time. If you want a group setting go to Starbucks? Lord bless some of these people. Yes, it's pricey. Im sure you've spent money on dumber things without antioxidants. I love the convenience, it's right next to the gym. Quality control is immaculate, I've ordered from here over 25 times and it's been consistently fantastic. The space is clean and quiet. The staff is excellent, 10 stars for them. The decor is bright and clean, and the drinks are tasty, with black sesame matcha being my favorite.

    Uji Matcha Latte (Iced)
    PJ D.

    One of my favorite spots in the bay for a simple iced matcha latte (although they do have tasty and unique combo lattes like the ginger matcha, rose matcha and black sesame matcha)! Once you walk in, you order at the tablet and I like all the customization options they have for the drinks. There is a small amount of seating indoors/outdoors but it can be packed. I've been here multiple times and never leave disappointed, super consistent and high quality!

    Matcha latte

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    3 months ago

    Unbelievable service and ceremonial matcha. Such welcoming people and really relaxing and cheerful environment!!

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    Page 2 of 3

    Ask the Community - Forest Tea Bar

    Have they started selling their hojicha tea and powders yet?

    All I know is that they only sell Hojicha drinks, not tea leaves and powders in bags.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Staff were friendly, very knowledgeable, and helpful. I ordered a mocha and later a red tea and…read morethey were both excellent. Definitely coming back! Baristas explained that they are up for trying different and sometimes unusual combinations for their customers. I wasn't adventurous this time, but it made me want to explore in the future. I came here to work, hoping for a relatively warm and cozy spot that wasn't too sleepy. I was not disappointed. The wifi was good, music was fun and unobtrusive. Decorations and layout gave a friendly, welcoming environment. Not only were the benches and padded chairs comfy, the ambiance was kept even in the bathroom. Spacious, warm lighting, cute bathroom with a great mirror and cool sink. I don't ever ding places for hospital-looking bathrooms (you know, fluorescent lights, questionable floors, sand paper toilet paper...) but this was one of the few where I was impressed. Good to know: Jaffa cakes are only available on the weekend Parking: Some of the streets nearby are resident-only parking so make sure to double check!

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    Forest Tea Bar - tea - Updated July 2026

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