TeaTiff

This is a shared post for both River & Stone Tea and Northeast Tea House. Since both are lovingly created by Si, we’ve brought them together here to keep things simple and connected.

We feel incredibly lucky to be so close to such a special tea house—and to have access to beautifully fresh-milled matcha. If you ever find yourself in Minneapolis and need a moment to slow down, take a breath, and step away from the noise of the world, we highly recommend stopping by Northeast Tea House. Treat yourself to one of their thoughtfully prepared teas or tisanes and enjoy a little peace.

Websites: 

https://northeastteahouse.com/

https://www.riverandstonetea.com/

Location(s) Headquarters:

• Northeast Teahouse: 224 E Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55414

• River & Stone: A separate warehouse used solely for milling

Company Focus:

• Northeast Tea House: Introducing people to eastern tea culture and providing a setting for relaxing and connecting with others. The whole sensory experience.

• River & Stone: Matcha specific brand. E-commerce only with a focus on expanding nationally.

Most popular company tea(s)?

• Northeast Tea House: Mainly matcha, but oddly, some days everyone wants the same thing. Like they all connected before coming in.

• River & Stone: Varies on availability, but Jingshan “High Mountain” Yabukita is loved by all types of matcha drinkers. We tend to find that the milder blends, especially here in MN, are the more popular sellers.

Does the company name have a meaning?

• Northeast Tea House: Built in northeast Minneapolis, but from a historical, more nerdy perspective, it is based on the first monk, Eisai, who studied at a monastery to the Northeast of Kyoto.

• River & Stone: It’s based on our use of stone mills and a call back to Mill City. Minneapolis was a city powered by the water mills

Do you participate in any charities? 

• We don’t have anything consistent, but we like to help the community when we can.

What is your favorite tea?  

• When I wake up, I look to the sky to decide. If it’s sunny, I’ll choose something more floral. I always drink Crassicoluma when I get home from work/ I like the comfort of the black tea taste without the caffeine.

What are your thoughts on transparency in the tea industry?

• As a nerd, I want to know everything. Right down to the soil the tea plants come from. Any info I can get, I share with my customers. We try not to hide where we source our tea from, and we realize that customers have the choice to buy where they want, but we appreciate those who stick with us despite knowing this. That being said, transparency is important, but we will not risk our relationship with our farmers. Many prefer to remain secret. They do not care about the publicity due to their size and prefer to keep it that way.

What role does tea play in our lives?

• Tea is currently not the caffeinated beverage of choice in the US, but I hope someday that will change. This seems to grow and change in proportion to stress. People are starting to look for caffeine that gives them fewer jitters/anxiety, and matcha is a great way to supplement that. Tea is a ritual and culture; massive role in other countries and is growing here. A hobby. You can enjoy something new every day, and it doesn’t have to be expensive. It’s good for you.

Anything else you’d like to add?

• Check out Northeast Teahouse for events.

Social Media: Steepster

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TeaTiff Picks: Mill City Blend. To be honest, I really have enjoyed each matcha I have tried from Si, but the uniqueness of this blend just sits so nicely with my palate. But if you are looking for something truly unique, try their sobacha matcha.