Vital Tea Leaf, San Francisco

An enchanting array of aromas spirals around customers every time they enter Vital Tea Leaf, emanating from the jars of dried leaves that line the vibrant walls and shelves. Owner Uncle Gee and son Ming collect more than 400 complex teas of all shades during their trips abroad to China, where they meet with growers and sellers to sample their wares personally. Their business takes the traditional tea house into the modern age by modeling each location after a wine bar, encouraging visitors to expand their palates with complimentary tastings of sweet lychee, antioxidant-packed jasmine, creamy milk oolong blends, and other singular blends.

Patrons browse teas in every form, including loose-leaf, aged bricks, and hand-rolled flowering tea balls. They can ensure proper service of their cups with teaware that ranges from clay and glass teapots to hand-painted tea sets and teacup holders shaped like a hand to practice professional handshakes.