I love myself a good cup of tea. Sawadee has so much to offer with it's gorgeous furniture, unique trinkets, wall art, variety of tea, friendly service and overall atmosphere. Walking in I immediately fell in love. The soothing fountain, wooden elephant chair and massive wall lined with tea were the first things to catch my eye. They have lots of cool things for sale from tea sets, to pillows, to singing bowls, ginger chews and other tea merchandise. We ordered a peach rooibos tea and took a seat upstairs. You get a view of the whole shop from up there which I simply love. The two people working were both very nice and happy to answer our questions. The tea was lovely as well. This is one of my new favourite spots I think. I definitely plan on going back. read more

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Holy tea party heaven! Sawadee is a super charming teashop, with every tea accessory one could imagine. I popped in today on a lovely walk through Granville Street and was taken with all of the lovely goods for purchase. There are hundreds of loose teas, dozens of tea sets in every shape, color and design, as well as candles and incense. They even have Buddhist wares available and a few different areas around the shop to sit and enjoy the calming space. The owner was very kind and the whole experience left me feeling simply wonderful. Sawadee is a great place for gift shopping and acquiring every kind of tea under the sun. read more

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I can't believe I hadn't been in Sawadee Tea House until this week! What an amazing little tea shop! For a long time I thought most of the loose tea in Halifax came from 'The Tea Brewery' which i'm not a big fan of. 'Sawadee' has a great selection of everything the discerning tea drinker could possibly need: glass tea presses, tea pincers, filters, beautifully coloured tea pots, and of course: a huge variety of loose tea! While I was in this shop, I overheard the proprietor giving a ton of friendly advice to a couple heading to south east asia for a year as well. She offered them her email etc so they could contact her while they were there. A very nice community feel in this little shop! I recommend trying the: Cochin Masala Chai. Delicious! I will definitely be back to this shop to try more varieties and possibly for some gifts as well. (great accessories: scarves, necklaces, bags, etc) read more

Sawadee Tea House - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

Mimi, the owner and her son were very welcoming and friendly. I ended up purchasing 4 beautiful tea cups and saucers. Prices are reasonable with very unique merchandise. While at the shop, I also enjoyed a cup of jasmine tea which was very strong and flavourful. I'd come back again for sure when in Halifax... read more

Sawadee Tea House - Jasmine tea steeping away - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

Sawadee has a bit of a mixed impression for me. Let me preface this review with the fact that it was a Sunday, but the most apparent thing was that the shop itself was large, much larger than it appeared and spacious, which is great. The first thing you'll notice is the shop is scented, it smells heavily of incense and natural perfumes, which I rather like but could be problematic for someone with allergies. However, there was only one person working and although the staff there was extremely polite, friendly and upbeat, she was one person so the wait time on both food/service and being able to smell teas was long. Plus, the standard cafes are 3 times smaller with 2-4 people working at a time or a fashion for customers to help themselves. We were there for an hour or so because she had a rush of people come in, if we weren't in a rush this wouldn't have been a problem but being hungry and looking for a quick bite was again underwhelmed. The decor and style were extremely cute and they have an overwhelming variety of stock. Lots of gifty decor items, beautiful set up, nice merchandise, very pleasant atmosphere. Their wall hangings, benches, curtains, furniture, decorative statues etc are all very nice and well displayed. They have a large wall of tea cups, saucers, mugs, serving sets and so on. Again, a lot of these are more decorative and ceremonial than one might like for every day use. But the displays look great, you can see saucers/cups sorted by colour, lovely tea pots in various shapes and cute tea sets that would make great gifts. If you were looking to find matching tea cups/saucers in any colour of the rainbow, head this way because they had a lot of china to choose from, but keep in mind they are geared towards tourists and gifts (rather than purchasing sets for daily use etc) so the cups were pricey as were the kettles/tea pots. One of the items I was impressed with though was the inclusion of a Rooibois cookbook, because this isn't something many cafes would carry and I'm a bit of a food nut. So they do offer some unique gift ideas. But onto the good stuff, the tea. They have giant glass jars in giant cases lining the back of the counter, so their selection seems extremely vast. Sadly though, these large jars are inaccessible to customers so to smell, read or even know what is inside the jars you need to ask the sale's rep to discuss or bring them down for you (which she was more than happy to do!). But given the space limitations of the counters surface, only one customer could be looking at tea at a time and each jar needs to be taken down and replaced by the staff member. A way for customers to see the teas or smaller samples to smell or even a menu listing the tea types would ease in the counters clustering effect and declutter the cash. I'm sure they had all kinds of great options to choose from, but I wound up just grabbing a vanilla chai to avoid holding up other customers. Alternatively, larger labels on the jars would at least increase visibility and sorting all the black teas/green/oolong etc together would aid in being able to look through and select a tea or at least allow clients to see what the options are. I do however give them points for having sandwiches available, although no vegan option exists on the menu, the server was kind enough to make up something I could eat. Most cafes/tea shops are either lacking in savoury/meal items or tea selection, so it was nice to have a non-dessert option to eat while sipping our tea. Due to the staff constrains our food/tea took a lot longer than it should have, but our server was extremely apologetic and we were able to sit up in the loft and get a nice overview of the store. Again, the setting is really cute.. I really want to like it more. Service: 3.5 Atmosphere: 4 Selection: 4 Fair Trade: Wasn't mentioned or displayed, same with organic so I assumed no. Not wheel Chair Accessible Vegan Friendly: Shockingly no soy/non-dairy milk, but bonus point to the servers ingenuity and willingness to go off menu. She macgyvered a panini, which wasn't stellar for the price but the effort was greatly appreciated. Food: 3.5 Tea (Brewed in house): 3 Price: $$$ the sandwich felt over priced and the brewed tea was underwhelming. They are marketed towards tourists, and their prices reflect that. Although I didn't buy any bulk tea to take with me, so I'll go back and examine them as a tea shop vs. tea cafe I'll have to go back and maybe buy some tea to brew myself at home as tea isn't best prepared in a bodum and the water temperature should be altered based on the type of tea. As a Gift Shop, I'd likely rate them a 4 because they had a wide array of decor and tea-gifts. But as far as tea brewing supplies (examining cost and functionality vs the 'ooouu pretty') they are more gift suited than everyday tea needs. As a Cafe based on the weakness of the tea and some difficult set up, I'd go back to the 3 rating read more

Sawadee Tea House - Our tea was brewed in the bodums, we let them steep longer than our timers recommended but they were still pale/weak. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

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After three failed attempts to visit Sawadee (Sunday hour confusion), I finally poked my head in on my way to a meeting yesterday and was so pleasantly surprised! From the small doorway in the Granville courtyard (by NSCAD) and the dark windows that don't allow for more than a glimpse of what's inside, I never would have guessed how big, warm and cozy the place is. The front area features a looooong tea bar and a full back wall covered in any loose leaf imaginable. Shop shelves were covered with tea pots, cups, French Presses, scarves, incense sticks, and flowers handmade from sugarcane (I think I got that right). Folks were catching up over a pot served on gorgeous wooden tables and beautiful wooden chairs carved into the shape of elephants. There was even a second floor set up like a loft for tea drinkers in the back! It really was a sight to be seen. As I took it all in, a nice lady behind the counter asked if I needed any help, reassuring that she'd be happy to answer any questions, and had I had the time to stay for a cup of tea, I'm sure I would have appreciated some direction in what to try first. A small case features some sandwiches and lunch options but I didn't see a whole lot there since it was later in the day. They had a wifi network locked up but I didn't ask if they share the password if you were to come down to get some work done. Can't wait for a real visit to Sawadee! read more

Sawadee Tea House - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

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I'm not from here. I come from a far away place called Tacoma WA. I had a favorite spot called "Mad Hat Tea" that fulfilled all my needs in the drinkage of the tea. When I moved to Halifax, I brought the last of my favorite blend of Mad Hat Tea because I just couldn't leave it behind ("My Throat Hurts"). A few days ago, I used the last of the tea. I was sad. Until I found Sawadee. It was early in the morning so there were no other patrons in this cute little "if you don't know what you're looking for you'd miss it" hole in the wall place. Hundreds of teas to choose from I didn't know where to start until Mie Mie asked me what I was looking for. "Something spicy" 5 minutes later and a few good sniffs of some tasty tasty blends I left with two bags of tea, a fig bar and an extra teabag sample of something she thought I might like. It's small and cozy with a few tables in a loft like area to stay and enjoy lunch along with shelves of all the necessary tea accesories and I think I would have a hard time if there was a large crowd (which I hear it can get pretty busy) but I went at the perfect time, found the perfect tea and don't long for my Mad Hat tea quite as much. read more

This is THE spot in Halifax for tea lovers. Located within the cobblestone courtyard on the end of Granville Street, Sawadee Tea House is still very much under the radar. The shop prides itself on selling tea exclusively (No Coffee), which creates more of a niche clientele. However, they do tea-- and they do it right! The store's co-owner and full timer, Mie Mie, is a trained botanist and will make special blends for customers with specific needs. (Eg- Feeling stressed or anxious, she can combine a blend of herbs to properly aid these symptoms.) Throughout my visits, I've learned that Mie Mie travels to Thailand about once a year to seek out new and delicious teas as well as handpick unique furniture/ home decore to sell in the store. The Tea House truly is a lifestyle, a vision and the only thing like it in the city. The vibe is zen-like with dark woods, soothing color scheme and its lofty structure. Upstairs or downstairs, tea is served on a tray with a timer to allow the proper amount of steeping- its high class all the way. Behind the sales counter stands a floor-to-ceiling wall of various imported loose teas, with about 80(+) to choose from. I've been there many-a-time and there's always something new to try! I would recommend taking advantage of endless tea opportunity, free wi-fi and the tranquil decor. Its underrated, wonderfully delicious and a happy place to be. read more

What a special and unique spot to enjoy a cup of tea! The jasmine and the Scottish caramel were outstanding! The space is quiet and relaxing with the sound of running water and pretty surroundings to add extra ambience to it. We will definitely return! read more

High quality teas from around the world! A relaxing environment, nestled below NSCAD university and in between shops and restaurants. Miemie who runs the teahouse in graville mall area is a wonderful person. She has rememebered my name since the first time I bought tea there and always is a joy to talk to. I love the beautiful thailand made furniture, the incense, wood flowers, and teapots. She also has samosas & snacks for those on the run. I will miss Sawadee, and try to ration some cherry rose green tea or lavender that serve as two of my favourites from there. read more

Tea Heaven! I really believe if you can not find the tea you are looking for here, they just do not make it. There is a huge amount of teas here and you get to enjoy it in a quiet atmosphere, which is where tea should be savoured. This really is a special shop, everything in it is just that. From the decor to the furniture, to the wonderful owner. There is a nice selection of gifts here, tea sets to scarfs, jewellery etc. You can tell the owner puts a lot of pride into her shop, and her customers love her for it! read more

All I should say is YES! But I'll say something else. I heart Mie Mie... she knows everything about tea! She even made a special one for me, but wouldn't name it after me, which I still need to talk to her about... anyway... Just go here and NOT Dave's Tea in the mall. (Gawd the mall) I'm just surprised not more people know about this place! You can order tea from their website now! I also don't think they are expensive at all, well, I mean, if you like to drink King Cole Crap tea and pay five cents for a teabag, then don't go here... you're not hipster enough... no sorry, yes, go here.. read more

Hidden treasure love this place decor is awsome they have complimentary WiFi and awsome baked goods

I returned today after a great experence using a group on I thought I liked this place enough to pay full price. The sign on the door said return at 10am. It was 10:05 am I gave it another 5 mins and decided to leave. Wasted my time. If they say return at 10am then that is what they should be doing. read more

This place is a hidden gem of Halifax. The quality of everything from the staff to the teas to the decor is superb.

Literal walls of tea greet you when you enter Sawadee - a mighty fine reception in my opinion. On my first visit I knew I had found *my* tea shop, and have been back whenever the need for tea strikes ever since. Each time I've been very happy with my purchases, as has anyone who has received a gift from here. I like the option to purchase in bags or tins, the encouragement to bring in my old container and reuse it, and the conversation I enjoy with the shop owner each time I go. She is a star at personal recommendations and great to talk to while you're browsing. Highly recommended. read more

Sawadee Tea House - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

Tons of tea choices. I find it a bit expensive but the staff are lovely and it had a quiet atmosphere and wifi.

Went there to find a specific kind of tea - got a very warm welcome and a wealth of information. The product is expensive, but it seems it is worth every penny. Will be back for other teas and a chat with the wonderful owner. read more

Amazing selection! The store and staff were friendly and helpful and willing to go the extra mile without you asking it of them! my only complaint - and perhaps I am spoiled by the fast service found in Toronto (where everyone is always in a rush) but I felt it took a while. The tea is excellent quality though. I have tea from many stores and bought from many parts of the world/imported from many places. Great tea shop - just plan to spend some time there. read more