Vital Tea Leaf

I found out about this place thru a blog post on places to visit in Chinatown by a local. What a great suggestion! I like tea so I had to check it out. There is free tea tasting, & the tea is very high quality. The flavors are robust. The lady who worked there was so friendly. She explained what tea she was making, how to brew it properly, what the tea was medicinally good for. The entire atmosphere was jovial, welcoming, & inviting. There was never any pressure to purchase. I did purchase 2 different teas for $70 because I liked them though. The loose leaf tea bags should last a month if I drink every day. Good value. I got golden chamomile & a green tea. They take credit cards. Highly recommend if you enjoy tea.

Vital Tealeaf offers an exceptional selection of Chinese herbal teas. Kenny, the knowledgeable and friendly staff member, provided an informative and fun experience with tea tastings. We spent nearly two hours enjoying the vast variety and left with delightful purchases. Highly recommend for anyone interested in quality teas!

Awesome tea store with a lot of variety. They served us up any tea we wanted and were very friendly. I wish they had smaller sizes for purchase, but overall a great experience

Great experience! Our host was so friendly and let us try so many different teas (my daughter was very excited about everything). We ended up buying two kinds, but could have taken many more. We will be back!

This fast-casual tea shop was such a pleasant find of the day. They have ALL types of loose leaf tea for any type of need. They offer complimentary tea tasting, and it's extremely educational and interactive with the customers. The staff was super friendly, I believe it's family owned. They have two locations in Chinatown. We walked away with some blue tea after the tasting. Will definitely be back!

My first time in San Fran and during our Chinatown visit we stopped here twice because the staff pictured was just the absolute best, so funny and knowledgeable! Definitely recommend stopping by to taste a variety or teas and to be quite entertained lol! The Blue People Oolong tea was my favorite!

Loved the tea tasting experience! Learned proper tea techniques and was able to find a tea for my needs. Owners are very sweet and kind. Must do when in SF!

I had an absolutely amazing experience at this location! The staff were incredible, especially the girl who helped me—she was extremely sweet, friendly, and knowledgeable. She did a fantastic job recommending different teas based on what I was looking for, making the entire experience both welcoming and educational! The service was phenomenal, and the tea selection was extensive. The free tea sampling really enhanced the experience, allowing me to choose the perfect teas. I will definitely be coming back! I bought the Blue People Ginseng Oolong, and it was absolutely delicious!

We love coming here for tea tastings, knowledge and a great weekend activity to take visitors! It's ideally situated on Grant street and has every type of tea you could want! I used to live in Shanghai and this experience is very similar to the tastings I did when I lived there. The variety of tea options is tough to find, so we love coming here. 10/10 recommend for a fun weekend activity!

We visited during a Chinatown Dim Sum tour and I can't recommend the experience unless you come in absolutely planning to buy something. The tasting itself was enjoyable, with their owner going through a few of the different types of tea they sell with high humor and pizazz. However, purchasing was heavily encouraged - to the point a couple not in our party came in to taste and then hurriedly left, after which the employee who had been helping them made a big fuss about them only wanting to buy $10 worth of tea. I did purchase the Iron Goddess and enjoyed it quite a bit, but it felt expensive for what it was and we felt pressured into our purchase because the stop was included in the tour. All in all, I remember the tea fondly but would prefer they sell the tastings as an experience. They shouldn't be considered "free" or included in pre-paid tours.

Came here as part of Food Tour. This place was great! The attendant was ver informative. I ended up purchasing some tea. It wasn't the cheapest, but, I hope that it has all the benefits that the attendant said it does! Who know tea tastings would be so much fun! From what I read, tea tastings are free!

Kenny @ Vital Tea Shop was the Highlight of the tour of Chinatown what a Character! I learned new information about the best ways to seep/serve tea, herbs, flowers while being treated to a tasting of 6 varieties. He was very knowledgeable and extremely helpful with choosing selections of tea based on our preferences.

Bye i tried practicing my mandarin to the store owner and she said "i only know canto" OTL i came in super awkwardly, browsed for the teas i wanted to try, and then asked the nice lady if i could sample! the whole process is really enjoyable. the smell and warmth of tea is unbeatable (esp. in sf when it's always cold). i got a lot of souvenirs for my friends and im really happy with my purchase. I love the silver needle tea the most! there's a bunch of teapots at the end of the store! in case you wanted to walk away with the Whole Experience haha. I love it here i'm bringing my family when i'm back in sf thank you for a great afternoon :)

3 stop on the SF food walking tour! VERY great customer service she greeted our group immediately when we got here. All sat down and she started making tea for us to taste. Tea lines the walls on all sides, gives it a great vibe for a tea shop! I picked up tea for my husbands "fatty liver"

Great place if you're looking to buy loose leaf teas! Entertaining guy ran the shop when we stoped by, he didn't spare on niceties which was fun. Store is clean, if you're coming for a "free" tasting (everyone that came left with something though) expect to be here for 30 minutes to an hour unless you really force the guy to pay out your tab. The experience is: you come in, optionally look around if you want to see the options yourself, sit down, he may ask you what you are looking for, roast you a bit, give you a small tasting cup, and then talk and pour away. He entertains the entire place while he makes tea and everyone gets to try everything together. That's only if you're there when it's busier, which he said are weekends and holidays when they're open, but I imagine you get a bit more personal experience otherwise. The only thing (not a big deal) is we were there for a lot longer than we wanted because he kept serving us tea and didn't check us out haha. I would definitely come back if I were in the area and would be open to buying loose leaf tea.

- free, extensive tea tasting - exceptionally friendly and chatty services - high quality teas Ask and you shall receive! Anything you want to sample, they'll make for you--seemingly no matter the cost. We were served at least ten samples while we were there, if not more. Their selection is huge, the staff is lovely and knowledgeable. Recommend!

This fast-casual tea shop was such a pleasant find of the day. They have ALL types of loose leaf tea for any type of need. They offer complimentary tea tasting, and it's extremely educational and interactive with the customers. The staff was super friendly, I believe it's family owned. They have two locations in Chinatown. We walked away with some blue tea after the tasting. Will definitely be back!

Amazing place to try all kinds of tea, and was able to sample unique flavors I've never tried before. The owner is like the "soup nazi" of tea and makes snarky comments, may or may not be for you. The place is clean and prices start around $20 for a 1/4 lb (the minimum size).

Had a wonderful time - they patiently let us try lots of different types of tea (my 12 year old LOVES tea) and were so friendly. We'll definitely be back.

Five stars! We loved our experience tea tasting. It was our first time and the vibe was great. The teas were great and the service was excellent. Definitely recommend if you're in the city and want to try something different.

I have nothing but good things to say about this place!! The way I felt like all my problems were cured after trying their tea..... This is a cozy family-owned tea shop in chinatown that offers completely free tea tasting! It can get full quickly so try to arrive 15-20 minutes prior to the hour so you can secure a seat, especially if you're going with bigger groups. I think the max seating is probably about 15 chairs. The owners are so incredibly sweet and explain each tea you sample in great detail, along with the health benefits of each one. I loved the ginseng oolong tea, as well as this one black tea which was aged 20 years but I unfortunately do not remember the name. Everything was so good and it was a super nice experience. I would definitely recommend trying and buying something from them too as they are all genuine tea leaves!

Absolutely loved this store! I am new to drinking tea & loved how knowledgeable the staff was regarding all their teas and which ones are best for certain health issues you may be having. They have a nice long table/bar in front that you can sit at and sample teas and learn the process of how to prepare different teas. I had no idea that the temperature you make your tea at can ruin the benefits of the tea if too hot. Great experience & will be ordering tea to my home in MN

Uncle rules and he is an EXPERIENCE for which you must be willing to go with the flow and say embarrassing things, but it's great. In Sacramento, we have the One Man Band, but this is way better than that uniquely strange and sometimes uncomfortable experience that you have to take with a lot of absurdist humor (and here you get some great tea samples for free!). We ended up buying a lot of tea and a tea cup. Great selection, something for everyone, very casual business but they take their tea seriously. You can ask what health benefits each tea has and they will give you recommendations based on your needs. The blue people tea was my favorite - I was very impressed with the almost minty sweetness from the licorice root and ginseng in it. Would definitely come back to experience uncle again, as well as to buy more tea once we run out (we bought a few months of tea).

Excellent selection of teas and some very nice merchandise. Very knowledgeable staff. I'm working my way through the "blossom" selection. I appreciate being able to buy an individual one to try on rainy days.

Just happened upon this place walking around. Large jars of tea fill the walls. A long bar packed with people and an energetic person quickly making and pouring tea. A new tea every few minutes along with a complex description of both flavor and health benefits. Amazing variety. The tasting is free but purchasing some is encouraged. Very easy to do, the teas are vibrant and delicious.

Absolutely amazing experience and phenomenal teas. The staff were extremely knowledgeable, friendly and entertaining. Great spot to stop in.

This is where you should buy every day drinking tea. There's other spots for special gift teas. Tea selection is big. What I like -iron goddess king -silver needles -monkey picked -golden turtle -dragon well -pu-erh -Jasmine

This was HILARIOUS. From the moment you walk in and sit down, you know you're in for a unique experience. The proprietor may go by Uncle but be warned, this is not Uncle Iroh's tea shop. Uncle swears, makes crude jokes, and is here to make tea for you to sample and make jokes for you to laugh at. It's a bit like Dicks in that you will sometimes be the butt of the joke. It's ok. As Uncle says, "This is not a tea shop, it's an insane asylum." It's also a comedy show. I honestly cannot remember which teas we liked and which ones we didn't. I wasn't able to keep notes because I was paying attention to the show aspect and how to make tea properly more than which teas we were tasting. I did enjoy most of the tea and we did end up buying a few things here. All in all, I really enjoyed this. We got lucky and happened to wander in right as he was getting started, but I'm not sure of their times. You can book a party with him, as we had to leave a little early to let them prep for a big group that had booked with him. All in all, be sure to drop in here if you're in the area. You won't regret it.

Nicest well informed people pour you tea, ask for The 94 year old Godfather . Perfect place to recoup after being in the city

I hope someone has recorded his shows somewhere because they're hilarious. I know my wife got some things but in general he's just very funny. He taught me how to steep tea correctly. I bought a few things of tea from him just because he's so funny and informative at the same time.

One of my favorite Chinatown experiences. We walked in for a free tasting and learned so much about differnt types of teas and their benefits. Ended up buying a bag which was a little pricey but the free tea tasting was super worth it!

Criz is awesome! Great time. Atmosphere and service On point. Chinatown tea at its best

Come to San Francisco for a refill on my tea and the great host makes ir a wonderful experience every time!

I can wholeheartedly say that a China town tour would be incomplete without a visit here and especially if you are lucky for a tea tasting session with Uncle! A highly accomplished engineer who is equally passionate about tea and will ensure you are taken care of for years as long as you don't add anything to your tea! Definitely worth a visit !

Im from the bay and came here in a tour with work. We had such a great time, learned a lot about tea, and were thoroughly entertained! I'll be back!

Honestly Chinatown seemed to be nice to just walk around eat some baked goods and grab some peeking duck but sitting with uncle and drinking tea was pleasant and actually fun. He is so hospitable, passionate and funny. I am pregnant and he made me a special tea which was so delicate and actually delicious. We sat and he immediately treated us like he's know in forever getting to know each persons story and sharing love . I literally would come back just to talk to him he seems to have so much wisdom and is so kind. Thank you uncle !

Loved the free tea tasting! My daughter and I were visiting Chinatown and stumbled across this place. Chris was a phenomenal speaker and guide through the tasting. He presented the history behind the teas with light hearted humor. The larger the group the more fun it became. Fabulous!

A Chinatown trip is incomplete without visiting Uncle! My sister and I were walking the streets of Chinatown, visiting stores that caught out attention, and walked by Uncle giving a family a tea tasting, so we also stopped by. Uncle is extremely knowledgeable on tea, and brews free tea right in front of you for you to try. Uncle is such an unforgettable, lively person who is never fails to garner a laugh and roast you at the same time. He has such an interesting past as well, and it's a lot of fun hearing his stories from the military and industry. We stayed for a solid hour tasting the coco pu'erh, jasmine white, and other teas. We ended up buying a herbal tea, though the tea doesn't taste the same without Uncle making it for you.

Such a lovely experience, so kind as soon as walked in and my friends and i didnt know we were in for such a treat. We tasted 4 different teas for free and Chris led us through a whole story of teas. Got to learn more about all kinds tea :)

We tried 4 or 5 teas here and got refills as well as different steeping numbers (since a first steep tastes different from a second steep etc). They explained the differences between the teas and showed how to brew them correctly. We bought a bag of green tea that changed dramatically between steepings. We also got a steeper that makes rinsing and brewing the tea super easy. Will definitely get more tea from here.

One of our favorite things to do in San Francisco is to go to Chinatown and go tea tasting. Lovely Mai helped us discover Blue people oolong and Jasmine silver needle as teas that were rather low in caffeine and provided nice health benefits for us. The other family that was there at the same time made this adventure a raucous time and we both left feeling satiated ( with tea and a good time) and both had bags of tea to take home. If you have never done a tea tasting in Chinatown - highly recommend it!

One of my favorite experiences in San Francisco. Ming was so hospitable and welcoming! He taught us soooo much about tea and made us laugh along the way. The tea sampling was free and I think we tried about ten learning what each one was good for and how to brew it perfectly. He would show us the tea before and let us smell it then after brewing. Honestly it was way more fun than the wine tasting tour we went on and a lot cheaper ! We went home with quite a few teas and then stopped by Ming's dim sum restaurant after. Highly highly suggest stopping in if you're in Chinatown.

Very knowledgeable, spent a good two weeks of visiting to learn everything my girlfriend and I liked, I'd recommend two or three visits if you are serious about learning and how to properly make it. Highest quality I've found in California.

This is the second time we've visited Kenny's shop and crossed it at happenstance after a volleyball game in the city. His teas helped me regulate my digestive tract in the past. Right now, I'm having a lot of dizziness and vertigo so I got a tea for dizziness and to clear out gallstones as that could be a cause of my current symptoms. I sought out non-caffeinated teas and they had suggestions for me. You can't tell from the outside (looks like a hole in the wall midst Chinatown), but on the inside it looks like a beautiful old school tea shop with clear glass pots everywhere filled with teas from all over the world. Definitely must visit for your ailment fixing needs and even just to zen out with some chamomile.

Had good time sampling different teas at this cozy little place. Service was good and the tea was delicious. However, it is pricey just so you are aware before you buy a bunch like I did. The teas we tried were full of flavor and I have to say you do not get this kind of experience picking tea bags in your average grocery store. Well worth the money and time spent there. Learned a lot about tea and glad our host was very knowledgeable. Would definitely visit again and recommend.

I was not someone who appreciated teas until I started coming to Vital Tea Leaf for their free tea tastings. All of their selections are high-quality and distinct, and some of the varieties they typically pour include Jasmine White, Iron Goddess, Cocoa Black, Milk Oolong (which smells and tastes like butter!), as well as herbal teas like Roses and, my personal favorite, Chrysanthemum. The staff (shoutout to Ming) is incredibly knowledgeable about teas and Eastern medicine, and is friendly and entertaining too. I've only had great experiences here and have even run into celebrity chef Martin Yan during one of my many visits!

I saw this place walking up to our Chinese restaurant. I was rushing to eat so I can come back and get Blossom tea. I've been seeing videos on TikTok about it. I got to get some. Soon as I was done eating, I ran right to the store ! It was closed. No ! Thank God the man was sitting there just resting. I banged and bang on the door. Please let me in. I want to buy ! Giving him the sign language movement for i will pay! Not Until I gave him the strip club movement of making it rain then he open the door.Ha! Six blossom teas for $10. I can't wait to drink tea now! The sign out Side says freetea tasting. Definitely check this place out. Sweet Man, five stars !

Great experience and learned a lot about different types of tea! Great experience for locals and tourists.

Incredibly friendly and helpful staff! They were very busy and still answered all of our questions and let us taste all the teas we liked. Great experience!!

Spontaneously popped in after seeing the "free tea tasting" sign. Owner was entertaining and we got to sample at least 5 different teas! Favorite was the white jasmine tea but that was $45... so we asked for a cheaper alternative to take home and left with the jasmine pearl, which was also delicious. The most popular tea was the black pearl which is the most strongly caffeinated, which I ended up taking home! It was $28 for a small bag. Tasted a lot like the tea I would drink in China. Had a lot of unique tea flavors I had not heard of... wish I got to try the duck shit oolong!

Came here to sample some tea, and the lady working here was very friendly and offered us to try as many teas as we wanted. We tried a variety of teas, and we ended up buying half pound of Tit Kwun Yum tea to make at home. Price was $38. Located in Chinatown, they have a second location also in Chinatown, nearby as well. :)

I'd been recommended this place by a coworker, so I stopped in with two friends during a girls weekend in the city. I had no idea what to expect, but we had a blast! We sampled 5 or 6 teas, while Uncle Gee told us about each one and their purported benefits. The space was cozy on a cold day, friendly, and open to beginners (one of my friends had never tried any oolong, and learned a lot). Left with some Blue People Ginseng Oolong, Jiaogulan, and an adorable and fairly cheap gaiwan. The tea isn't the highest quality, but it's fairly affordable and tasty enough. I would recommend this place to anyone!

What an awesome experience! Chris is a great host. Very knowledgeable about the different tea varieties, extremely helpful, and can easily open his own stand-up show. Wasn't a hard place to find. Walking in, we were met with a nice clean tea shop with welcoming staff. The tea tasting was a great experience and we got to try a whole range of different tea varieties. We also learned proper ways to brew certain teas and got to really experience the subtle/significant differences between the ones we tried. I don't think I'll be drinking coffee for awhile... I will definitely be back again in the future!

I was so impressed with this place. I don't know what got me to stop by, but I am so glad that I did... This is one of the best food/drink experiences I have had. I used to go to hidden peak tea house and I thought it was so cool, but vital tea leaf made it look like a joke. I have never had tea this good. It's like I have never had tea before. The blue people group tea was crazy. It was an experience drinking it. I learned so much about tea here. This is a must in the city.

Whether you live in the city or are visiting, you have to stop by Vital Tea Leaf. Enjoy some great tea, have unforgettable conversations, and maybe... spend 3 hours here like I did. I bought the milky oolong, no notes!

This was one of the best experiences to try different teas. I learned so much in the short half hour, 4-5 different tasting, and there is no cost. The guy serving had lots of knowledge about what type help relieve symptoms you might be having. You will have a smile on your face for the remainder of the day.

Summary: Try before you buy, from an extensive and tasty selection of loose leaf teas Details: One would think that being located within Chinatown, a tea shop like this might be something of a tourist trap, right? And while I won't deny that it does pull in a lot of tourists, it ALSO happens to be a really legit tea shop, offering up a huge selection of well-curated loose leaf teas at reasonable prices, a friendly and knowledge owner, and perhaps most importantly, the ability to try before you buy! Prices range pretty widely depending on what you're looking at, but on average, you're looking at ~$25-30 per 4oz of pretty good quality classics, ~$40-45 for the more premium leaves, and a lot less for less traditional/weird options like fruit teas. And while these prices are a bit higher than you can get from other online overseas retailers, the main sell here is you don't have to wait weeks or months for shipping, and being able to sample teas first means you aren't dropping a bunch of money on something you'll end up disliking, which is well worth the markup. We've been in for multiple tea tastings now as repeat customers, which themselves are free, informative, and pretty fun, as the owner is a pretty chill and entertaining dude. If you don't know what you like, just sit down and try a bunch of the stuff he pours out, but if you have specific things in mind, you can pretty much ask to try whatever you'd like! Accessibility: Much of the shop is just low counter seating, so accessibility shouldn't be too difficult if you can nab a spot up front, and if they aren't too crowded.