Infuze Tea House
870 West Cordova Street
Vancouver, B.C.
V6C 3N8, Canada
(604) 688-3170
Mon - Fri: 7:00am to 7:00pm
Sat - Sun: 12:00am to 7:00pm
As all damels in distress have their shining knights, and sinners have their saviours; Infuze Teahouse has rescued this Vancouverite drowning in a city oversaturated with cliched corporate coffee giants. Out of the dark and into the light(and enlightened) seems to be the mission statement which threads itself through all the various aspects of Infuze.
I am an Infuze addict, according to my tea addict customer loyalty card, stopping in on a daily basis for an iced chai latte, or a bowl of matcha, or a mug of assam, or... However, I once was lost and how I was found is a story I'd like to share with you.
Amid the grey concrete highrise office towers and hotels of downtown Vancouver's West Cordova Street, I found Infuze. It's stark, ultra-modern design drew me in from the street. White. Bright. It beckoned to step into the light. I had entered the pages of a Wallpaper magazine spread of designer heaven; Nirvana for the modern. White tables and counters, viynl benches running up the walls cut with subdued lighting provided the physical comforts for the other imbibers, sipping mugs of either amber or emerald green drinks. I approached the counter towards the welcoming smiles of the staff and paused to take it all in. The cinnamon-sweet aroma of brewing chai and riffs of down tempo beats rounded out my initial sensory imprinting of the shop. So far, so good, but how was the tea...
After narrowing my decision and choice of tea from the over fifty teas, herbal and fruit infusioins, and specialty drinks; with the aid of an extremely knowledgable staff member and sample jars, down to Genmaicha or Taiwanese Green Oolong, I opted for the Genmai. I was not disappointed.
The counter service was fast and efficient; yet, personal and sincere. The tea was amazing. The greenest green tea I've ever had. I was told this is due to the added infusion of matcha within the tea. The result is a bolder colour and taste then the standard genmaicha. After finishing my tea, I left the comforts of my vinyl throne and approached the counter for a second round. This time, I went for the oolong. I could have stayed there all day drinking mug after mug.
Now, as a regular customer, I can let you in on a few Infuze facts. The teahouse opened in the late fall of last year. It offers a wide range of black, green and oolong teas; herbal and fruit infusions; and specialty tea-based drinks from all over the world. Hot or iced. In-house or take-out. Teapot or mug. The choices here are endless. Their teas are certified in Germany, according to EU standards, for the lowest levels of herbicides and pesticides; a fact which impresses upon me a desire from the owners to offer a high quality product. Add this with their premium green teas flown directly from Japan to the teahouse, they boast the freshest green teas in the city, and together these facts speak of a commitment to quality. The prices are very reasonable, ranging from $2 - $4 a mug, depending on size and variety. Light lunches and afternoon nibbles are also available. Rounding out the product line are loose-leaf tins and hardware to provide tea addicts with the same fix at home or at work.
I encourage those who live in the Vancouver area to stop by Infuze Teahouse. It truly is an absolutely enlightening experience; the silver lining amid the clouds which all too often cover this city.