The other week, Adam, a fellow Snob-er, and I headed to Presstea where we sampled some of the best tea I’ve ever sipped – and I’m tea obsessed. It’s rare that a day goes by that I don’t have at least one cup of tea and I’ve got a collection that ranges from Kusmi that I buy at their store right near my apartment to hard-to-find matchas that I got while I was in Japan a few months ago. What Presstea offers however is unlike anything I’ve ever tasted. First off the owner spent years traveling to carefully source all of his proprietary tea blends. He gets his teas from all over – Taiwan, Japan, Africa. It’s all about mixing and matching the best ones available. Then here’s the kicker; he invented a machine that’s basically like an espresso maker, but for tea. All of the teas therefore pack extra punch and while you can get regular tea, they also have tea shots (Like an espresso shot – the owner said some of their tea blends, because of the way they make them, are so caffeinated he doesn’t drink them past 12pm! How’s that for motivation to ditch your coffee routine?), tea lattes (see image below), and iced teas that they blend with pureed fruit – no added sugar (you can also get them without the fruit, but I would highly recommend getting the fruit…so good!! Especially passion fruit and mango).
Everything at Presstea is pure, natural and health conscious. They also have an amazing selection of pastries. Their earl gray and matcha madeleines are to die and they have a chocolate chunk cookie with just the right amount of sweetness (i.e. it tastes a lot more guilt-free than it looks), as well as some savory scones and croissants. Honestly I tried more than I care to admit and you can’t go wrong with any of their nosh options. If you’re interested in something savory, they also have a burrito ramen hybrid called the ramenrrito. I don’t typically eat burritos or ramen, but the owner, a trained chef, somehow makes this rather heavy and filling meal somehow taste lightweight. The key must be in the ingredients, which like the teas are all carefully sourced. In fact, the beef, which is imported from New Zealand, is so fresh and bacteria-free that it can be kept in the fridge for 112 days before it needs to be frozen!
As for the ambiance, this is a casual-chic eatery/cafe, perfect for lounging around or meeting a friend for lunch/a cup of tea in the afternoon. And, if you’re not located in NYC, no worries. They plan on adding retail soon!
