Aroma Tea Shop

I always come here for my favorite creamy oolong. They recently started serving milk tea and I am obsessed! You can pick any tea for a base. Best matcha milk tea and HK milk tea I’ve had in ages.

Excellent selection. Highly knowledgeable owner with an unpretentious, delightfully irreverent style. Gracious, helpful staff. The pricing is honest. It’s the ideal tea shop for three types of people: those who know tea or want to learn about tea and anyone in between.

Aromatic teas and great service make this place worth visiting. The tea here is expensive, but it smells amazing. It's rarely busy and you can buy tea gift boxes, teacup sets, and t-shirts in addition to loose leaf teas. If you're very serious about tea, you can get fancy teapots and teacups here. If you're unsure of what you want, just ask whoever's working. I've never felt rushed and service has always been pleasant. The lychee black tea smelled incredible and tasted good too.

The owner is super nice! I bought some hairy crab oolong and taiwanese da yu ling, both are delicious. And the tasting setup in the shop is really good, we tried around 5-6 samples of freshly brewed tea and that was really helpful in deciding what to buy :)

A great tea shop find in San Francisco! We stumbled across Aroma Tea Shop while looking for a nearby bakery and what a find. There are a huge number of loose leave tea choices, sold by the ounce. The owner was super knowlegeable and happy to brew us a few samples. The Lychee Strawberry is a great cold brew Ice Tea and the Vanilla Black tea is my current favorite. The real find of the day was the Earl Grey Chocolate bar, I can't wait to go back and get that again.

Fabulous tea place, so many varieties and such a knowledgeable and friendly owner I drive 100 miles to get my ceremonial Matcha powder from here. I have found none better or fresher.

Aroma Tea shop has a great selection of teas, and they also have multiple locations. However, they are sadly not doing tea tastings at the moment.

This is a good place. You can get high quality of teas. But there are not many different kinds of teas. Mostly are chinese teas. But the best thing it that you can ask the worker and try tea in the store.

Would HIGHLY recommend. 10/10 free tea experience with a knowledgeable and funny guide. They offer a complementary tea tasting that is very informative and no pressure to purchase tea afterwards. Learned about the origins. differences, and the oxidative and roasting process that makes tea differ from each other. They have a large selection of black, green, oolong, and pu'er tea. Tea tasting I had d/t oolong preference: 1) High Mountain Taiwan Oolong: I later purchased for $25 for 2oz (a good deal!) 2) Honey Taiwan Oolong 3) Milk Taiwan Oolong 4) Duck Shit Oolong 5) Ceremonial Grade (Level 1 out of 5): the highest grade of matcha Logistics: -Accepts card -Limited street meter parking -walk-ins available with five seats for tea tasting

I have a long standing relationship with the very excellent Aroma Tea Shop, dating back to 2004/5ish when I lived in Pacifica on the other side of "the pond" now that I'm in The East Bay I keep myself stocked with all the outstanding teas they have to offer. I've also taken all my family and friends there for a visit, the tea tasting and sampling is a great event especially for some that haven't done it before. The staff is always friendly and very knowledable about the origins and health benits of each tea you taste. They also sell some great teaware, I've bought a few ceramic tea pots with built-in filters. Even their Japanese Macha is right on par with what I would order directly from Japan, and much more affordable! I highly recommend both visiting and online ordering, they ship to just about anywhere and I'm able to send tea as gifts to my family in NY!

I've been a customer for well over ten years. I collect Chinese vintage tea and their teas are the absolute best! Their customer service is outstanding and I wish I could add another star!!

Love this place, it's so nice to have a local tea shop. I'm not super knowledgeable but really like pu-erh and they have quite a few options at different price ranges and will happily walk you through the differences, let you smell them etc. I've never done a tasting but I know that's something they offer. Good selection of herbal teas as well, they sometimes have this "wellness" blend that I quite like. The prices reflect the quality so don't expect it to be grocery store prices. But you can also buy in quite small amounts.

Aroma is a great tea shop. The owner is an expert and you'll walk away from your visit more knowledgeable about tea.

What a gem! Such a great experience today. The man working let us sample different teas and suggested options. Got some great green tea, jasmine green tea, and mint. Will definitely be back for me!

5/5 Stars. I like this Tea shop the most, because it is clean, and the tea experts here have all of the different types of teas already organized. Also, this shop is one of the best, because the person who is a master in teas working here, always let you sample the best choices of teas, before you pick, and make a decision to purchase, or to buy. Their teas are better than most coffee. And Haymen, the master in teas, is very knowledgeable in the process of brewing and making tea. I tried taking a few sips, and sample the smell offered by the tea experts here, and I have found Haymen to be a very good tea master. This is the reason why I like Haymen, the tea master working at this shop, because Haymen truly know which teas are the best, and I highly recommend Haymen, the tea master here, because he is helpful, and is knowledgeable about every teas and tastes. You will discover immunity boost and health benefits just by talking and asking questions to Haymen, the Tea Master, the Master of all Tea Leaves at this shop.

Well, it's been a long time coming for me to review this place. We stumbled across this due to being in the area and visiting 6th Ave Aquarium and Burma Superstar. The first time we came, it was great. Haymon was there and was a fantastic person to talk to. He informed us that we could get a sample of tea and detailed how he was to prepare it for the best taste. Their wide selection left us smelling many and walking out with some quite nice teas even if it was on the pricier side. We signed up for their rewards program as we thought we'd be coming here for a long time to support the local business. The next time we came in about a month, a lady was there rather than Haymon. As we have came here before and got the free tea sample last time that is also listed on a sign above one of their doors and on the yelp page, we assumed we could do it again to see what we enjoyed. We were told they don't do that anymore. While we still ended up getting some loose hojicha, Jasmine, and lapsang souchong, this experience left a bad taste in our mouths. Later on, because we were part of the rewards program and promotional emails, there was an email that stated that if you came in, you could get a free tea infused chocolate candy bar while supplies last. Nowhere on the promo did it say you needed to purchase something to get this promo. We assumed that it's because we signed up for the news letter, it was a special treat for those in the know. We go in and the lady is there once again. We see that there are in fact still chocolate bars in stock. We inquire about the promo and show it to her. She tells me "it says with purchase". I spend 5 minutes scouring the promo and don't see it. I inquire again and ask where she sees "with purchase" within the promo are told that it's with purchase only in a pretty sour tone. The annoyed tone really threw us off and made us uncomfortable to purchase or even smell anything so we just left. We didn't even try asking this time for the tea tasting because she told us last time they don't do it anymore. These past two instances turned us off completely from this shop for the attitude and customer service skills from the lady. We really wanted to support this tea shop but instead, we'll be taking our business elsewhere. Note to the shop: if you don't do tea tastings anymore, remove the sign, take it off your yelp, take it off your website. If you still do tea tastings, then be consistent. Offering it to select guests or based on how you feel leaves a terrible feeling.

The tea shop carries a variety of delicious teas. If you enjoy drinking good tea, this is the place to go for some great and full-flavored teas. The owner is very welcoming and has a lot of suggestions for you, depending on your palette. I also loved that he has the blossoming teas. He also has a tea-tasting table, which is awesome and greaserve people who visit the store.

Self care is important, and over the past few years, a major part of my self care has been the Really Good Earl Grey tea from Aroma. They have so many other good teas also, but I keep coming back to the Really Good Early Grey. Additionally, the friendly and knowledgeable staff have helped me find gifts for family.

Great service, awesome tea, and the owner is very personable, and knowledgeable about his teas. I now go to him all the time and I get something new each time.

Visiting from out of town, I heard that a visit to Aroma Tea Shop was a must. I'm so happy my friend and I stopped! We were treated to tastings of several teas and learned about proper brewing and sipping to get the full aroma and tasting experience. Don't miss this gem of a tea shop, it's a must for tea lovers and novices alike.

Gem of a tea shop. Surprisingly wide selection of quality loose leaf teas, ranging from green teas to oolongs and pu er teas. Canisters of teas are labeled clearly. Some teas also include the year it is from, as the aging of certain teas enhances the flavor. Like some good wines and scotches. Knowledgeable and helpful staff to help you with making choices. Don't be dissuaded by the prices on the containers because nobody buys teas by the pound. One ounce goes a long way for tea, making everyone affordable. Have fun here.

I'm confused by this. I received a box of tea, and I opened it up to find no labeling and the bags aren't sealed. (The writing you see in silver is me guessing by scent) Is this how it's usually done? Because in photographs I see online the teabags each in their own sealed bag.

My favorite tea shop in the US and top 5 in the world. Pre-Covid, my wife and I would drive from SoCal to San Francisco to spend an afternoon tasting teas. The quaint shop in SF Chinatown (now closed) had chairs and tables for tea tasting. They have hundreds of loose teas. They ask what type of teas you like - oolong, jasmine, green, white. They bring out some teas to steep, taste and compare. For me, I'm an oolong tea lover. I chose Monkey picked Oolong and Lychee Oolong. They also have a large assortment of tumblers and teapots and teacups. DJ's rating: 5.00/5.00 Would I come back? Definitely Yes.

We visited Aroma Tea Shop to pick up some tea for a friend who really loves tea. While we were there we decided to pick up one of the premium teas that they offer. We asked about which ones were most popular, and the lady who was helping us suggested the Oolong. In particular, the "Supreme High Mountain Jim Xuan Milk Oolong" (see photo). When we got home, we made a pot. It was amazing. The taste was extremely pleasant, a very fine, smooth oolong tea flavor. We were amazed by the aroma, which supplemented the tea flavor and really transported the drinkers to another plain of existence. Was it that good? Simply put: yes. The store sells loose tea by the ounce. When you purchase tea, it gets weighed and put into a sealed plastic bag. The bag can be opened to measure out the needed tea, then resealed to keep the tea fresh. A label is placed on the back of the bag to provide the full name of the tea along with preparation details (see photo). There are a wide selection of teas, including a "Early Grey" for anyone who wants to play it safe and order a familiar sounding tea. Of course, this tea is especially familiar to fans of Star Trek the Next Generation, as Captain Jean-Luc Picard is always ordering is "Tea - hot- early grey" from the replicator. I did not try this tea, but may sometime in the future. There were also a wide range of green teas, including the basic "Gunpowder", along with some higher grades.

Delicious teas, a wide variety, good service. Feels authentic. Excellent with online orders. In the past, they've included a sample tea also

Cute little store in Richmond with a huge collection of loose leaf tea! They have some really unique flavors (lychee black tea, rose tea among others) and the person who runs the store is very helpful - he helped us pick teas based on what we like and gave us a complementary jasmine tea chocolate bar. We also got some dried lavender from there that we now use for making lavender latter at home!!

I love tea so I was absolutely excited when I saw this on a post on Facebook about the best tea shops in the country. So I drove up I must say I was not disappointed. The young lady at the front was so knowledgeable and patient and throughly explained the tea to me with the aroma , the flavor and steeping time. The pics are below are a few of the teas I purchased. They also have an array of clay tea pots and cups and they have the pur ah tea which is absolutely amazing (and a little pricey but soooo worth it). It was organized and clean I am happy I will be able to order online when I move back to Georgia. I am very happy and so glad I found this hidden gem. Oo and I got a T-shirt. A must try

We've passed by this shop a couple times when walking along Clement but due to our recent hunt for loose tea leaves, finally stopped in. They have shelves of tea blends to choose from. We were looking for some chai so we got their masala chai blend (17.99/4 oz) and also their thai tea mix (7.99/4oz). The thai tea mix was super fragrant and when mixed with some barista style oat milk and honey was as good as, if not better than, some of the thai tea that you order at restaurants! The masala chai was also good but the portion of ginger seems to be quite high because it was the most prominent flavor after steeping. It's not my favorite chai that we've tried so I would not get this again. But definitely will be back for more thai tea mix and to try the numerous amount of other teas available.

I had to come out to the city for some family things yesterday. While on the road, we came here because I wanted to check out some tea places in the city. I prefer tea to coffee, so I was really excited when I found Aroma on Google. I already had enough black tea, so I was looking for some oolong or green and I was not disappointed when I walked out with a bag of their peaches and green tea. It has a really nice fragrance to it and I was surprised by how well peaches and green tea can go together. As I'm writing this review, I've just put the boiled water into my teapot and am just waiting for the tea to steep. The fragrance is really strong and sweet. The tea leaves add a really nice light green color to the water and has a really nice smell to it the longer you let the leaves steep. After taking my first few sips, it's definitely an acquired taste. The peach flavors are really subtle in the tea, and it leaves a unique aftertaste. I think I'm used to drinking green tea as-is, so adding a fruity flavor is a new experience, but it's still really nice. After drinking through the first cup, it's a pleasant surprise by how you can still taste the green tea in there, but the flavors don't clash. It's a really complimentary mixture and I think the more pots I brew, the more accustomed to the taste I'll get. Right now it's still really promising, so I would definitely come back for this if I had the chance.

So glad AROMA TEA SHOP exists! Not only do they sell tea by the pound, they can brew you a cup to go too if you want. Not exactly cheap. But then, she lady wasn't stingy when she was doling out tea leaves for ONE cup of tea, either. STRAWBERRY had a strong strawberry scent at the beginning, but it became unrecognizable after a while. Unlike the MANGO tea and PEPPERMINT tea: both kept their scent and flavor way after the strawberry one disappeared. AROMA TEA SHOP also has a sizeable selection of blooming teas. I've been to other tea shops where they only have one flavor! It looks like it is possible for them to perform a whole tea ceremony too!

Great place for tea! Staff is knowledgeable and passionate about their teas. You get to enjoy samples of tea while you browse. He also gave us some background on how the teas are created. The place itself is easy to find and clean. Come and support local store owners!

While you can get teas much cheaper at the grocery store a couple blocks away, the staff here is very knowledgeable about the teas they offer and you can have a sample taste before you commit. Totally worth it. Looks like they will show you how to serve tea the right way, but who has time for that?

Wonderful place to get unique and tasty tea. The owner is very kind to tell you about each tea and if you're lucky you will get a fresh tasting. Since I was buying a few gifts, he even threw in a little extra.

I thought this would be one of those intimidating places where the proprietor would try to explain the finer nuances of various tea leaves to which I would respond with a glazed stare. But no, the most intimidating part of the shop is the over 150 varieties of tea on display in various canisters with photos on their descriptive labels, most literal translations and others comically tongue-in-cheek. Jamie W. and I came here after stopping to smell the roses and whatever flora they have at the San Francisco Botanical Garden. The high praise on Yelp lured us in on a slow Saturday afternoon when we had the full attention of the very young staff (photo: http://bit.ly/2eDdrH8). There was no sighting of owner Haymen Da Luz, whom I heard was quite the colorful connoisseur, but his staff did him proud with their thorough descriptions and obliging behavior during our generous tea tasting. The selection covered the full range of loose leaf teas - jasmine, white, green oolong, black, pu-erh. We went for the sweeter ones like Chocolate Mint and Peach Momo White Tea (photo: http://bit.ly/2uKhQ12) before settling on a purchase of the Coconut Green Tea which was deliciously Mounds-like in flavor (photo: http://bit.ly/2ukLiZh). There were all kinds of tea accessories available including little clay pots and gaiwan sets (photo: http://bit.ly/2tPiOF9). It's definitely worth a return visit to get a further education on the joys of tea. TEA - 4 stars...really subtle flavors that linger in the palate AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...cute little space packed with quality...love how they explain they don't sell boba because their teas don't suck balls SERVICE - 4 stars...informative and attentive TOTAL - 4 stars...really a treat on a quiet afternoon if you don't overstay your welcome

Whenever I'm doing something around Clement street I try to stop in here. It's a fun place to look around and try some tea. I love their rosebud tea. It's just rosebuds so it's not mixed with anything else which is great if you want a pure herbal rose tea. I really like rose tea but I've had a hard time finding an herbal rose tea that's not mixed with black tea. Aroma has about 7 different types of rose tea! The Lychee and Oolong blends are good if you like something very sweet. The owners are extremely knowledgeable of their products and the whole tea process. They can help you pick something out if you have something specific in mind or just educate you on teas.

Great customer service and funny guy. I love coming here to not only taste different teas, but for the puns, laughs, and most importantly to learn something new about the history of China and tea. This is the only tea shop where they really educate you about what you're tasting, where tea comes from, the differences, etc while still maintaining a fun atmosphere and experience. The tea is pure and straight from China and you can really taste and see the difference. It's also right next to a bunch of restaurants so I love coming here after grabbing a bite to order a nice hot or cold refreshing drink to satisfy my cravings

I have been drinking tea since the 1970s. My style of preparation and selection has been almost exclusively from the stores of black tea using preferred teapot infusion methods of Great Britain and Ireland. Over the years I have added occasional varieties such as Indian chai, Tibetan tea, and full-bodied Russian caravan with its sweet, malty, and smoky taste. I had been reading about the properties of oolong and have been curious about trying some. Since I don't see myself as a convert to green tea, I thought that oolong might be a happy medium. Chinatown can be a bit overwhelming when it comes to purchasing loose tea. Not all shop keepers are passionate about the product and offering samples to smell or to taste in the era of Covid is challenging. So I opted to find a smaller shop in the Richmond District. When I arrived on Saturday in the early afternoon at the Aroma Tea Shop, there were two young women ahead of me who were chatting up the owner for information about tea flavor, preparation, quality, etc. I half listened in while I was browsing the ample tea assortments that are stored in closed cans on the shelves. The clerk was the owner of the shop and was clearly knowledgeable about the product he sells and consumes. He has direct contact with the persons who run the business end of the agricultural estates where the tea plants are grown, harvested, processed, and shipped. Since my interest was an initial curiosity, I did not want to invest a large amount into the venture, but I also did not want to purchase something of inferior quality that would dissuade me from continuing the enjoyment of the process and product that goes into creating the perfect cup of oolong. I purchased a white porcelain gaiwan (brewing cup with lid and saucer) and two small glass cups that had a tiny round handle on the side of the glass. I considered this to be a superior choice as it would allow me to enjoy the traditional small amount of tea per serving, I would be able to see the color of the brew, and I could have the option of holding the cup with a small handle. While the shop itself is somewhat small in square footage, there was ample space to display the teas and teaware. The layout was very well-planned and at no time did I feel cramped for space. The owner was able to discuss the tea ceremony, had his own teapot and heating source to demonstrate how the process may be done, and also shared videos of his sharing tea with others in the industry. I was recommended an affordable oolong that was pre-packaged. Oolong is available in a variety of processed forms. If I choose to continue with my interest of the Chinese tea ceremony, I would certainly look towards this shop as the source of my tea and accessories. If you find yourself in the inner Richmond district and would like to be waited on individually by an English-speaking proprietor, I would STRONGLY RECOMMEND a visit to the Aroma Tea Shop at 302 6th Avenue at Clement.

Awesome hidden gem in the neighborhood. They let you sample teas and they have lots. I was in a rush but couldn't decide so I picked up a few blooming teas that they had prepackaged. Many teas with fruit flavors and higher qualities for those that are advance tea enthusiasts. They definitely have a customer base, while I was in the shop, a return customer came in and just read off her order and waited for it to be fulfilled.

I love this place! I am not a big tea drinker but this place definitely has me boiling up water and making a pot of tea. It is a fun place to shop. I wish they would bring back their quirky small packets of teas, dried rosebuds, dried lemon and so much more. I highly recommend Aroma Tea Shop!

Best tea shop in SF! Super affordable and a great selection. I called just to verify the hours and the gentleman who answered was getting ready to close but waited 10 mins for me. He also threw in a free sample of blooming tea. They carry an array of loose leaf tea from Taiwan and China. Friendly staff and super knowledgeable will be my go to for loose leaf tea. Located in inner Richmond.

Very nice and friendly tea shop, and the teas I bought (two types of green tea, and one rooibos chai) turned out to be delicious! The gentleman working at the shop gave me a visual tour of the teas that he thought I might like given my preferences. Usually, he mentioned, he sets up a tasting but unfortunately due to COVID this is not possible at the moment. Service was friendly and courteous, and the teas turned out to be really nice. Each tea package is also labeled with specific steeping instructions for that particular type of tea, which I really appreciated as a non-aficionado.

I first discovered this vendor when I visited San Francisco and I was impressed. I bought tea from him at the store. I've since purchased through mail-order on three separate occasions. The mail-order service is poor: he substitutes merchandise without asking and things are poorly packaged such that they become damaged in transport. Not good. I do not recommend buying from him unless you go to the store.

Lovely service and atmosphere. Great advices. Testing opportunity. Worth every cent. No.1. Place to buy tea. Go there!

You gotta love a legitimate tea place. I walked in and said my ailments and she (Ying) told me which tea would work for me and the benefits. I asked for some sugar or honey. She said NOPE this is a traditional real place. She said you need the taste the full flavor of the tea. I got a cup of the bitter tea. It taste very bitter but my cough seems to have settled down. She also gave us some information about the Pur Eh tea and why she enjoyed that tea. We had a sample it was very nice. If I lived in this area I would be a regular at this place.

I had a really pleasant experience at Aroma this weekend. Dropped in and sat down for a tasting, the woman serving was very kind and patiently took us through probably a dozen different teas. You can try anything in the store and prices go from around $11 for 4oz to around $45 for very fancy stuff. The teas I purchased were around $22 each. While some reviewers mention feeling pressure to buy tea, I didn't feel any whatsoever. I think it's natural that you'll feel an obligation (self-imposed) to buy if you've been tasting tea for an hour, but I never felt like I was in a sales pitch. In the end I found 3 teas I really like and have been brewing like crazy all weekend... have.. to... peeeeeeeeee! I suspect they're reading their Yelp reviews carefully... one reviewer expressed concerns over how they charge sales tax and I noticed they have a detailed explanation over their cash register about sales tax... coincidence?!?! Anywhoooo, what a great way to spend half an hour in the Richmond...

Aroma Tea Shop is the place for Asian tea aficionados. It's appropriately located just off Clement Street (San Francisco's other Chinatown) on 6th Avenue. There's a second location in Chinatown. Thanks to Jessica T for introducing us to this place. I've been up and down Clement many times, but haven't explored several of its side streets. This is a unique find and it's been in business since 2005. Aroma Tea Shop's Richmond store amounts to a single room filled with over 150 teas. I believe most of these are loose leaf, stored in canisters. For regular folks, the selection can be overwhelming. The main wall has five shelves filled to the brim. Each shelf contains 24 canisters, tightly lined up. The back wall has an additional three shelves containing about 40 additional canisters. The outside of each canister has an enlarged photo of the actual tea leaves, the food it may taste like, or a humorous picture or graphic. For example, the "Really Fresh Lemongrass" tea is represented by a photo of lemongrass, the Cherry Rose Sencha tea is represented by a photo of cherries, and the Muscat Grape Oolong tea is represented by a photo of grapes and wine. Playful examples include the "8 Immorals" oolong tea sporting the Super 8 Motel graphic, the Yunnan Kung Fu Black Tea using the pixel cover art from the 8-bit Nintendo game Kung Fu, the "Super Russian Caravan" black tea using art from Communist Russia, and the popular "Blue People King Grade" tea featuring a photo of blue-shirted Best Buy employees. Most of the teas are sold in 4-ounce increments, though I did see some selling in 2-ounce increments. Tea types include white, green, black, oolong, jasmine, herbal, and pu-erh. Pu-erh tea is an aged and fermented dark tea from the Yunnan province in China. Each tea canister is displayed with a small, helpful information card with details on taste and country of origin. I think most of the teas come from China, Taiwan, and Japan. I did see one from France. Prices run the gamut from $9 to $120 (!) for 4 ounces. This is a family-run business headed by the husband-wife duo of Haymen Da Luz and Ying Wu. They make trips to Asia to personally pick which teas to bring back. On a wall inside the shop, there's a giant photo of them at one of the tea leaf farms in Taiwan. There are photos of their two kids too. It's a humble, unpretentious business, unlike some hipster coffee bars or highfalutin gourmet tea retailers. "Tea Man" Haymen is quite the showman. He's a genuinely funny guy and seems skilled at his craft and very knowledgeable about tea. He and his wife regularly conduct free tea tastings at their special custom-built tasting counter. Haymen hosted our group's tea tasting where we sampled the Coconut Paradise green tea, the Muscat Grape oolong tea, the Meng Hai Big Leaf (1990) pu-erh tea, and the Blue People King Grade tea. He walked us through the flavors from earthy and roasted to sweet and fruity. The flavor profiles were distinctively different. I've never tasted such a wide range of teas in one sitting. The tasting reminded me of the coffee taster's flavor wheel (there's one for tea tasters too). About 10 teas are available hot or iced to go for $3.50 each. These include Muscat Oolong, Peach White Tea, Jasmine Milk Tea, and Hella Strong Chai (haha). You know it's from San Francisco when it has the word "hella" in it. In addition to tea leaves and ready-to-drink tea beverages, Aroma Tea Shop also carries tea pots, cups, trays, filters/strainers, bottles, and other various tea-related accessories. While I'm no tea expert (I'm just a bubble tea simpleton), I can appreciate the sheer variety of fine teas offered at this shop and recommend to anyone who happens to be visiting the neighborhood swing by for a free tasting. You'll probably learn something new and, who knows, perhaps find a new tea to take home.

During our last day together on the 2015 Acronym Summit weekend Jessica T. and Collen B. took us on a lovely walk around a few different San Francisco neighborhoods. In the span of a few hours we ate a wonderful meal, checked out some beautiful scenery, and found some amazing little stores. Of all the places we visited that day (and there were many!) Aroma Tea Shop was by far my favorite! Aroma is a family ran business. I love that about them. The husband and wife team who were running the store were both very helpful and funny (the guy cracked me up, his wife was a little more on the reserved side; they balanced eachother out nicely). Our group was happily treated to many different samples of tea; ranging from muddy to fruit-tasting. There were tons of tea containers lining the walls and we were asked if we would like to sample different ones. During the entire sampling experience we were treated to jokes, the history of tea, and explanations of both what the tea does to/for you (health benefits) and price points. Furthermore, the man running the store explained how they make trips to China and Taiwan to visit the tea farms themselves so that they know they are importing the best quality of tea leaves. You can buy tea by the ounce to take home, choose from many different types of prepackaged tea leafs, or treat yourself to a hot or iced tea drink of your choice (per the hillarious sign don't expect boba). I didn't purchase a drink but several members of the group did; some for flavor and other to cure ailments (ie a tummy ache, which they said later on the tea really helped). They also have boxed and wrapped gift sets that you can purchase that would make a wonderful gift for someone who really enjoyed tea. Aroma was by far one of my favorite places to visit on my weekend trip to San Francisco. The customer service was stellar, and something that I think more businesses should strive to model themselves after. Throughout all the information that was shared to us I felt like there was no pressure at all to purchase anything, and I really respect that. Although I don't see any trips to San Francisco for myself in the near future Aroma is definitely somewhere that I would recommend both visitors and locals check out. [Note: there is street parking, and also a small parking area on the curb a few buildings down].

My first ever tea tasting experience was here at Aroma Tea Shop in the Richmond district in SF. I never knew such a thing existed, as none of the tea shops in my hometown offer this kind of experience. Pull up a chair and get ready to experience some really great tasting teas. I'm not a tea connoisseur by any means, but even as a novice tea drinker, I could taste the difference between tea from a bag and the tea offered at this tea shop. Yes, the tea here is more expensive, but quality matters, and at least you can sample the tea before you buy it, so you're assured that you're spending your hard earned dollars on something you like. In addition to loose leaf teas, they also sell hot and cold tea based beverages. But much to my dismay, they don't sell their tea drinks with boba. :)

This place is amazing! I found out about this place because of a video Tasty posted on Facebook. Jenny helped me out today and has great customer service. She asked what type of teas I'm used to and then suggested some and let me taste them. There were other people there so whatever they wanted to taste she also let me taste. If she's doing a pot of tea why not let everyone taste lol. Awesome. She's very knowledgeable regarding the teas. I loved it here. I want to show it off to everyone. The teas are the best around. Very worth your money. Sorry I didn't tip you Jenny, next time I'll make sure to take enough money.

*** In Short *** Long-time neighborhood shop offering an extensive array and knowledge of teas. *** In Depth *** Having eaten in the area many times over the years, I've seen and passed by Aroma countless times, but never actually gone in. Not that I have a dislike of tea: far from it! But it was only until recently, learning that tea *wasn't* the cause of my teeth stains, that I started getting back into it. And what better way than to stock up on loose leaf teas?! Stopping in one day after lunch nearby, my friend and I sat down to a (free!) tea tasting session with the surprisingly hip and hilarious owner of the shop, sampling almost a dozen varietals, and learning quite a bit about the origins and differences during that process. With so many teas available, ranging all across the quality spectrum, it can definitely be hard to choose, but they help find tea samples that meet your particular interests. That said, even that can be a little off, as I didn't like most of the initial teas enough to commit, only coming across a couple at the very end of my tasting session. Part of the reason for this is probably due to them brewing a much stronger tea than I myself prefer, so keep that in mind while taste testing. ***Accessibility Info*** Venue - Not very large, but very spacious, with just the single counter in the back for the register and tea tasting, so accessibility shouldn't be too big an issue. Bathroom - Don't think they actually have a public one.

Great tea selection and they give you samples if you ask. I always come by here whenever I want tea. Better yet, if you aren't sure what you want but describe what you want the tea for or what flavor profile you like, they'll go ahead and make a lot of suggestions. Definitely recommend coming here if you want to pick up loose leaf tea.

My favorite and only tea shop! So many of my friends recommended. Owner and staff are the most knowledgeable and are great at assisting you in making the best choices, which is really needed when there is so much to choose from! You will leave knowing so much more than when you walked in.

Aroma Tea Shop on 6th is - in this Yelpist's humble opinion - a national treasure. Truly exceptional customer service combined with an extensive and high quality selection of teas make for an unforgettable experience. Whether you are a tea connoisseur or just a casual sipper, your visit to Aroma Tea Shop will make you smarter and your day better. Tucked away on 6th, right off of the hustle and bustle of Clement, is the wide-windowed, yellow canopied storefront that can best be described as being to tea what the Library of Alexandria was to books prior to its tragic immolation. This tiny storefront contains a magnificent collection of the finest and most desirable cured leaves of Camilia Senensis. The store, as one of the owners Haymen kindly explained to me upon one visit, is set up in many ways like a modern dispensary. Canisters of tea and a small selection of brewing and drinking-ware line the walls of this tiny tea shop. The centerpiece of the store is a tasting bar, where up to four people can comfortably sit and sample teas of their choice or, better yet, teas recommended by whoever is working. Your dialogue with the host over tiny steaming cups of freshly brewed tea is the real heart and soul of the Aroma Tea Shop experience. No matter who your host is, they are going to know everything you could possibly want to know about all of the available varieties, and they are more than happy to share this wealth of knowledge with anyone who cares to inquire. It's basically like going to a bar, except your bartender is serving you free samples of finely aged Scotch from his private reserves, which he picked up during his latest trip to Scotland, and telling you all about it. And instead of getting wasted, you are being uplifted by the soothing smells and flavors of teas of all varieties. Time flies as your senses are stimulated and your mind expanded by taste after taste of Aroma Tea Shop's carefully cultivated selection. My recommendation is that you go when you've got time to kill. I've easily ended up spending 45 minutes to an hour there every time I have gone, shooting the breeze, sipping brews, and educating myself one of the world's oldest and most popular beverages. Be sure to buy a couple ounces and tip your host a dollar or two for providing a 5 star experience. These people are experts without the snobbery, and their product is of the highest quality.

Horrible customer service. Save yourself a terrible tea buying experience and take your money elsewhere.

The person helping me was super nice and gave me a cup of tea (of course i had to pay). Also. Picked up some super good peach flavored tea. Yum

Such a great spot with knowledgeable staff! No tastings due to covid, of course, but I was really happy with my purchases and what I learned at the store. Will definitely be back!

When I go out - I don't get wasted. I get hydrated. I'm not a big drinker. At all. Whenever I meet up with friends at bars, I like to match their shots and overly sweet cocktails with glasses of water. By the end of the night - I'm feeling alert, revived, and energetic - and they're sluggish, tired, and ready to go home. Recently, with the wave of colds and flu that been going around this city, I've become even more focused on staying hydrated and keeping my body healthy with antioxidants. One of my favorite ways to accomplish this - is by drinking tea. Aroma Tea Shop is an ideal tea oasis for learning about all of the health benefits of tea, a great spot to buy high quality tea, and even a unique spot to be moderately social as well, while being schooled in the wonder that is tea. Aroma Tea Shop has a small darling tea bar area where you can sample teas for free, while you decide on a tea - that suits you. Throughout the sampling process - Haymen will educate you about each tea and all of the intricacies about that particular tea. We asked him for a recommendation and he spoke highly of the Blue People Oolong. He was right. It's wonderful. It coats your throat with a slightly sweet after-taste and after just a couple of small cups - I instantly felt a surge of energy. My skin even felt smoother and more moisturized. If you're looking for a distinct tea adventure in which you can learn first-hand about wondrous teas, without pretension, and with a couple of spoonfuls of wit - then come to Aroma Tea Shop. You will not be disappointed. Trust.