TeaGschwendner European Tea Bistro in Algonquin, Illinois
4/5
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Infusin_Susan rated this place
4/5
and said Edit

When this place opened a few years ago, I was very excited. It was not only a full service tea shop, selling what looked like 100 or so varieties of loose leaf tea (and teaware, cups, pots, etc.), but a restaurant/bistro, serving creative soups, salads, wraps, sandwiches, etc., and high tea service. After a year or so, the shop stopped being a full service restaurant but continued to do a monthly themed high tea service and occasional tasting events. Then, perhaps a year ago, the company cut back once again on its service. Now, the dining tables are gone, and it is simply a tea store selling loose leaf teas and teaware/accessories. When you purchase loose tea, you can purchase as little as 50 grams, even of the most expensive “Edmon’s” varieties, and the salespeople will often give you a free sample of your choice. You can also get a cup of hot or iced tea to go. I wasn’t happy about the changes, but given that this store is in a mall that does not have a lot of foot traffic, I suppose they were inevitable. Service here is always polite and friendly, nothing like the pushy hard sell one receives at Teavana. I give this shop four stars because of the quality of the tea and the helpful salespeople.

My favorite TeaGschwendner teas include:
-Arabian Nights
-Sumatra Oolong Barisan
-O’Connor’s Cream

Profile

Bio

I like strong, robust flavors. My current favorites include strong black teas (Keemuns, Yunnan teas and Assams, for example), flavored blacks such as Harney’s Paris, oolongs of any kind, and gyokuros. I like Rooibos and honeybush teas as well, and other herbal blends to help me relax in the evening.

I am willing to try just about anything, but I am not particularly fond of jasmine tea, very fruity or heavily flavored blends, anything with pineapple; and I know this is practically heresy, but I don’t like Darjeelings.

Location

In my kitchen, heating water

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