TeaSource

Staff was incredibly helpful and patient despite it being a bit busy, a must for someone like me who doesn’t know much about tea and doesn’t care for snobbery. They also have a bunch of brochures on different tea topics (e.g. brewing iced tea, selecting tea, tea recipes). Finally, the green tea which I bought and brewed at home was delicious. I sampled an iced tea there which was also very good. The atmosphere seems nice if you’re looking to linger. Will definitely come back.

I have a particular problem: I tend to hoard loose leaf tea. I buy it, I make it, I buy more before the last batch has been used up, I have a cupboard full of loose leaf tea that hangs out for years. Ooops.
This place is feeding my tea-​hoarding tendencies. The staff is pretty knowledgeable, gracefully correcting my always-​incorrect pronunciation of «rooibos.» (Roy boss, self. Roy. Boss. You’ll get it one day.)
The chairs and tables are set up a little close together, but there are some comfy-​looking couches one could enjoy with a cup of tea. You can order in or to go, and there’s something delightful about sipping on a cup of tea while shopping for more tea to take home.
I’ll be back to add more tea to my stash, that’s for sure!

The tea is good. Customer service is extremely lacking. Lots of turnover in younger/​part time employees, and managers who make the whole process awkward and uncomfortable. Normally that wouldn’t be enough for me to take off two stars, but about the time I’m buying half as much tea as I otherwise would because the managers behind the counter make me actively uncomfortable… well. Some free advice: be less passive aggressive to both customers AND your employees, guys.

It’s impressive that a selection as large as this isn’t watered down with flavored teas; instead, they have a huge selection of a lot of less well-​known teas to the layman. For the tea connoisseur, it’s almost good enough to not even need to order tea online. Almost. This is an awesome place to become better educated on the vast diversity of tea in the world.

Friendliest, most helpful staff!
The staff at TeaSource are not only very well informed, but they take the time to listen to the customer so they can offer suggestions. This was great for a newbie like me!

TeaSource is made of magic. It’s true. I’ve done research, conducted a series of tests, and can conclude through a complicated and rigorous analysis that I am, indeed, right.
Krista, the girl with the red hair, is the most helpful and knowledgable employee that has ever existed in the tea-​rista world. She knows everything. I can’t stump this girl. And she’s always in a good mood, always smiling! And she knows all the customers’ names! Agh, now that is some customer service!
I love the iced green tea with mango. Love the chamomile. they have some great herbal blends, some nice fruity black teas, puerh, it’s all great. Try their chai! It’s better then any other chai in town! No syrup!
MAGIC

I was a little underwhelmed. One suggestion. Either go with couches and get rid of the tables. Or the other way around. If it was comfortable and maybe had a few newspapers it might be more inviting to stay. The tables were small and cramped together. Person sitting next to me was maybe 10 inches away from me.
Also news flash to all the white people. If you go to the Asian grocery store like sun foods. Much wider selection at half the cost.
On a positive note. The people working there were very friendly and helpful.

If you don’t know already, the Tea Source has the best tea options in town. They may not be as flashy as Teavana at MOA but they make up for it in the selection and quality. The employees really know the fine nuances of teas and they can make great recommendations for any preference you have — green, black, flavored, etc. You can enjoy a cup there or buy your own loose leaf teas by the ounce. There’s tons of tea pots, cups, strainers, cozys and even an 80 lb log of pressed tea just shy of $ 2000! Young and old fill Tea Sounce most weekends and Monday is double stamp day if you buy a cup. Not sure what you like or don’t understand why tea is so valued elsewhere? I suggest taking a class at the Tea Source and find your new passion!

TeaSource has an overwhelming selection of teas sorted and described in a menu contained in a binder, because a more typical menu would be too small and difficult to change. They have jars and jars and more jars of tea that you can smell or look at (but please try not to sneeze). Staff are helpful and can recommend more accessible teas if you want to explore new types or if you are new to tea.
The space is well-​lit with a pleasant display of tea and tea paraphernalia on the walls. There are little signs asking people to limit their time to about 90 minutes, but if it’s not crowded this isn’t enforced. Snack options are not awesome and heavy on gluten, unfortunately. Tea, however — tea is steeped at the appropriate temperature and water refills are available but you’ll need to pull the little steeper basket out yourself so your delicious tea doesn’t overbrew.

Great selection of quality teas. Super helpful staff. Other than that, tea drinkers are a very strange sort. Lots of knitters and wizards.

Still love the tea here. Discovering new ones all the time – some out of necessity because my «go to’s» run out (like a fine wine, when they are gone, they are gone) and also… why not try new ones because there are so many? There are almost as many teas as there are moods or weather changes here in Minnesota.
One thing that has bothered me on a couple of trips to the St. Paul store over the past several months is tense relations between people who look like the management staff and the tea source employees. The employees themselves are always courteous and friendly, but twice I have watched a manager discipline an employee in front of me – the customer. Both times I thought the situation was «no big deal» and regardless this should have never been done in public. It made the employee look like a fool and made me feel uncomfortable.
There is always a «help wanted» sign in the door. Makes me wonder if it’s a difficult place to work. Too bad, since it’s a wonderful place to buy tea.

Love me some TeaSource.
Some people like Teavana, some people like TeaSource. TeaSource doesn’t make commission or try to hound you into buying things. Score.
Love the variety, the fact that I can get 2 ounces at a time, and that they have seating (though a bit snug). They’re always willing to give out samples, which is great too.

I still remember how much I got thrilled when I first found this lovely yet professional tea shop as well as their huge selection of loose leaves. Their chai is so particular and amazing, I have traveled the world from East to West and this is still my #1. Their very competitive/​reasonable pricing is also a plus.

I’m moving to Wisconsin soon, and there are 2 things I will miss about Minnesota. 1. Not seeing Green & Gold everywhere (Since I’ll be in Packer territory! AHH) 2. The Tea Source. Thankfully we will still be able to order our tea online, sadly, that means we can’t browse the discounted teas. (20% selections up front)
Really, this place is amazing. Once you go loose leaf, you never go back. If you are new in the world of good tea, the staff are very knowledgeable. I’ve bought over 35 varieties of teas here over the past couple years, and the quality is spot on. There are a couple of types that I have really enjoyed that are being discontinued for some reason, as sad as that is, I can usually find another amazing tea to replace it with.
My fiancé and I just decided to try peruh for the first time. We had no idea what to buy, and the staff was wonderful at making recommendations and explaining the flavor difference between the options.

The staff at TeaSource will tell you everything you need to know about choosing and brewing the perfect tea. In every major city I’ve been in, I have found no baristas as knowledgeable about tea as these folks.
I also love their weekly sample tray; five cups for $ 3 is a great deal when they brew some of the fancier teas. And the whole place smells amazing.

Why, oh why, have I not proclaimed my love for Tea Source before this? I have never had a bad experience (or tea, for that matter) here! I would go here for the chai alone, but the fact that they have so many fantastic teas at fantastic prices is a great addition.
I recently went here to purchase some tea for a tea party I was having for valentine’s day. I wanted something a little different, but black. Ended up with a delicious tea called Berried Treasure (yes, that really is the name) that has dried strawberries and pink peppercorns in it. Really perfect and enjoyed by my entire group! The girls behind the counter are always extremely helpful and knowledgeable, working to fit what you are comfortable drinking and spending!
The prices here are very reasonable. I bought 2 oz. of tea for around 4 dollars. I still have about 1.5 ounces left and I’ve had several pots! I mean, c’mon, that’s what I spend at the coffee shop on one stinkin’ latte! Maybe I should just make the switch and become an exclusively tea-​drinkin’ gal! Tea Source could definitely make it easy!

A great spot for tea aficionados and those that think tea=Lipton. The staff is very knowledgeable and helpful, especially if you don’t know what you want. They’ll ask questions and guide you to a few choices that suit your taste.
For the herbal tea lover, I recommend Evening in Missoula. So perfect on a cold evening.

First, I am a huge tea fan. One might even call me obsessive. As such, I’ve been to every teastore in the Twin Cities but, ironically, I find the iconic TeaSource to be the least interesting.
Before I say anything else, I will freely admit that TeaSource has a great variety of teas, all of which are high-​grade and thoughtfully chosen. (But then again, Northern Lights and La Societe du The, both in Minneapolis, also have wonderful selections).
Moving on. This particular location has no ambience at all. It’s sort of like getting a pot of tea in a doctor’s office. It’s not nice. They seriously need to revamp the décor here and make the joint feel less clinical.
Second, they have no vegan baked goods. If you’re running anything akin to a coffee shop/​tea shop or gathering place for people to sip a hot beverage, you MUST offer at least one vegan baked good as an accompaniment. Yes, TeaSource has some non-​vegan items, but who cares about those? This is liberal hippie Twin Cities, not Tulsa. TeaSource would do well to expand its offerings and attract a broader array of clientele, much like La Societe du The (they got vegan stuff).
Third, TeaSource’s chai is made with sweetened condensed milk and it’s pre-​made, so there’s no option to get it with soy/​rice/​almond milk at the store itself. This is a travesty. After all, we’re in America, not England. Coffee shops and tea shops offer non-​dairy alternatives here and I’ll wave the flag and be proud of this tradition.
In conclusion, I wouldn’t mind buying some loose-​leaf teas here, but I would recommend against coming here if you’re just looking to hang out.
If you’re looking for cool tea shops that have character, quality and nice atmosphere, I recommend the aforementioned Northern Lights (in the skyway in downtown Minneapolis), La Societe du The (27^th and Lyndale), or the newly-​opened Infinitea (28^th and Hennepin).

The Twin Cities are very fortunate to have two world-​class tea businesses right here, namely TeaSource and a little shop on Lyndale which I’ve also reviewed.
Another reviewer has a valid point about the ambience of the two locations. It is perhaps a bit of an austere place to enjoy a pot of tea. However, I think the St. Paul location has at least improved somewhat in this regard.
If your goal is to buy tea or a teapot in the Twin Cities, this is probably the best place to do it. There are lots of inexpensive options for the loose-​leaf beginner, and for the connoisseur the overall selection is very competitive with the best East Coast and West Coast mail order options. The tea is always very fresh, and there is always something new to try. Like Trader Joe’s, this means that sometimes old favorites are retired in favor of the new. However, there is always a good selection of every major and many minor kinds of tea.
I recommend the Swiss Gold infusers. That and a simple ceramic teapot are just about the best tea preparation method available.
In response to Dan B.: This is actually the best value for premium tea in the Twin Cities. If you think it’s expensive, I would say it’s just the going rate. Compare to the chain store at the MOA and you’ll see.

No Doubt – Mr. Waddington– You are the midwest’s tea authority.
True passion here, well thought imported tea, consciously purchased– The best chai spice mix in town, (sorry coffeehouses that people go to for Chai.) amazing tea-​educated staff. And great variety. All choices. What I like is if you like fru-​fru tea (with fruits and flavor) the flavors are actual fruits, whole herbs and whole spices and flowers, not sprayed on flavor. I am glad that many coffeehouses serve the tea source teas (but remember a coffeehouse should focus foremost on their mainstay. coffee).
And the plus is to hear Mr. Waddington on the Splendid Table almost once a month talk with Lynn Rosetta Kasper about tea!!!