Sorry to inundate you all with my cluelessness on NY and it's
Chinatown, but I have one last question. I have heard mention of Ten
Ren on this NG a number of times and just realized that it is located
right where I will be in NYC at the end of this week... I leave
Thursday.

What are my best purchases to make here? What would be your top *must
purchase* teas? (can be for Ten Ren or any other tea shop in NYC) I do
want to try some bubble tea as well, since I've been kicking myself for
passing it up at a restaraunt in Penn State last summer.

I'm just looking for some last minute ideas or teas that I may not have
thought of, and any advice about Ten Ren is helpful too. I know I've
searched back and there are many mentions of it positive and negative.

So far, I have Mott Street as my main destination with Canal and
Mullberry streets as well. Peking Duck House, Ten Ren, a few standard
Chinatown shops and little Italy. I'm not sure about the Tea Gallery,
because it seems to be very highly acclaimed but a bit counter to my
personal sensibilities and outlook on tea. Also a trip to the Empire
State building and the Statue of Liberty are in the cards... which
leaves us a day and a half to just explore. Probably Central Park,
Times Square, etc. I've thought about hitting TeaNY only because it is
owned by Moby and personal interests not so much the tea/vegan stuff.

Thanks!
- Dominic

> Sorry to inundate you all with my cluelessness on NY and it's
> Chinatown, but I have one last question.

Why not go to some other shops while in NYC? Check out Franchia for the
food and the tea. Check their website:
www.franchia.com

And why not check out Takashimaya? A friend of mine brought me some
wonderful cakes that are excellent with tea from there. Really terrific
stuff. Of course, they have Japanese tea, and all that other stuff.

Takashimaya
693 Fifth Avenue at 54th Street
New York, NY 10022
(212)350-0100

Check out this review he
http://newyorkmetro.com/listings/res.../tea-box-cafe/


And if you're in Chinatown, check out some of the bakeries there too as
well.

Guangxi has a lot of bakeries, but they're nothing to get excited
about. The baked goods in Chinatown taste much better. But they make
bowls of rice vermicelli noodle soup here that are just fantastic.

Anyway, if I were to visit NYC, I would certainly visit these places.

niisonge wrote:
> > Sorry to inundate you all with my cluelessness on NY and it's
> > Chinatown, but I have one last question.
>
> Why not go to some other shops while in NYC?

Good tips all around Niisonge. I think Chinese bakeries are terrible
in general but fortunately the Chinese food there is so good that one
barely misses them.

Dominic I asked a Chinatown buddy where to go for traditional Chinese
medicine and he said that he thinks the doctor (store, really) that he
went to growing up is at Grand and Mott.

I don't know if Ten Ren lets you try, but the other tea places (Tea
Gallery?) probably do - I would just sample as much as you can and then
buy what you like.

Have a great time!

Alex wrote:
> niisonge wrote:
> > > Sorry to inundate you all with my cluelessness on NY and it's
> > > Chinatown, but I have one last question.
> >
> > Why not go to some other shops while in NYC?
>
> Good tips all around Niisonge. I think Chinese bakeries are terrible
> in general but fortunately the Chinese food there is so good that one
> barely misses them.

They are fine tips, however, I need to confine my shops to the three
streets I mentioned and nearby area. Mott, Canal, and Mullberry. I do
plan on hitting many shops (actually spending a day and a half at least
in that area) By no means is Ten Ren it, I was just looking to find out
if Ten Ren is particularly good for any specific types of tea or have
any exclusive finds.

> Dominic I asked a Chinatown buddy where to go for traditional Chinese
> medicine and he said that he thinks the doctor (store, really) that he
> went to growing up is at Grand and Mott.

I think I'm off the Chinese medicine idea since the numerous comments
about lead and other toxic substances. I may still give it a shot, and
Mott/Grand is right where I'll be. We'll see, I may still give it a
shot. (probably will, I live dangerously

> I don't know if Ten Ren lets you try, but the other tea places (Tea
> Gallery?) probably do - I would just sample as much as you can and then
> buy what you like.

Yes Ten Ren offers free samples. I'm sure other shops do too, and like
I said I will be hitting any and every smaller shop I can for good buys
and such.

> Have a great time!

I plan on it! This will be my first time in NYC and I have always
wanted to go there.

I'm still open to hearing specific types of tea/ shops that I should
not miss. I'd really hate to miss the opportunity to pick up some
unique and good teas while there. Anyone with specifics or their
personal favorites, please speak up.

Thanks!
- Dominic

> I said I will be hitting any and every smaller shop I can for good buys
> and such.

If you want good buys, try the Chinese supermarkets first. They usually
have a whole range of teas to choose from, including herbal ones. Some
might be kinds that you haven't tried yet. Most are pretty inexpensive.
At least look in a few supermarkets first, to get an idea. And go to
the supermarkets that are busy, not the ones that don't have so many
customers. Hey, it might not be the best tea, but it's drinkable, and
affordable.

When I want to buy some tea that's truely special and be of right
price, I would not buy from Ten Ren. I don't know the TR store in NY,
but from most of the posts, it's probably not any better than those in
Toronto.

I would try to locate smaller, non-franchise tea stores to buy teas
from. The sales/ owners there would usually be more friendly and more
willing to spend quality time with customers.

BUT, Ten Ren should not be a bad place for bubble tea (but then of
course, that depends on the young lad who mixes the drinks). I'd
suggest, if you're still in the experimenting stage, go for the plain
bubble milk tea (with black tea). In Toronto they have a Tie Guan Yin
milk tea which is surprisingly good... if they have it also in NY,
that'd be a good choice too.

Katie Tam


> What are my best purchases to make here? What would be your top *must
> purchase* teas? (can be for Ten Ren or any other tea shop in NYC) I do
> want to try some bubble tea as well, since I've been kicking myself for
> passing it up at a restaraunt in Penn State last summer.

Dominic, For trips to the city, I would go to Ten Ren, but they tend
to be a little pricey. I would probably get their King's Tea Green(3rd
or 2nd Grade) for Chinese/Taiwanese. But this board is right, there
are other great places, and I would for sure stop at Takashimaya
(downstairs Tea Box) and Itoen for interesting loose teas.

A
http://blog.ateava.com/


Dominic T. wrote:
> Sorry to inundate you all with my cluelessness on NY and it's
> Chinatown, but I have one last question. I have heard mention of Ten
> Ren on this NG a number of times and just realized that it is located
> right where I will be in NYC at the end of this week... I leave
> Thursday.
>
> What are my best purchases to make here? What would be your top *must
> purchase* teas? (can be for Ten Ren or any other tea shop in NYC) I do
> want to try some bubble tea as well, since I've been kicking myself for
> passing it up at a restaraunt in Penn State last summer.
>
> I'm just looking for some last minute ideas or teas that I may not have
> thought of, and any advice about Ten Ren is helpful too. I know I've
> searched back and there are many mentions of it positive and negative.
>
> So far, I have Mott Street as my main destination with Canal and
> Mullberry streets as well. Peking Duck House, Ten Ren, a few standard
> Chinatown shops and little Italy. I'm not sure about the Tea Gallery,
> because it seems to be very highly acclaimed but a bit counter to my
> personal sensibilities and outlook on tea. Also a trip to the Empire
> State building and the Statue of Liberty are in the cards... which
> leaves us a day and a half to just explore. Probably Central Park,
> Times Square, etc. I've thought about hitting TeaNY only because it is
> owned by Moby and personal interests not so much the tea/vegan stuff.
>
> Thanks!
> - Dominic