Cultivate Tea

It’s been awhile since I wandered around the Main street shops, and I came across this cute tea shop. I’ll confess that I’m not a tea fanatic, but I have friends who are quite into so I absorb tidbits just from listening to their conversations. My tea is usually limited to the stuff I get at dim sum, and then cheap japanese genmaicha.
That said, this small little shop is clearly set up by the owners to show off the wonders of tea. The seating is limited, about 3 tables and then a couple bar stools. The counter is where you can sit to watch tea pouring happen, and it’s very nice being able to watch them make the tea for you. Many different options of tea, none of which I knew but the owners are very friendly and you just have to let them know what you want.
Personally I went for the kombucha since I wasn’t in a tea mood. The oolong kombucha was fantastic, and I will definitely return to try all the other kombucha offerings.

As I was walking up Main Street with a friend, he suggested we try the Matcha at Cultivate. I haven’t tried Matcha as a drink before (but have had the Matcha cookies at Basho, which I love). We went in and were greeted by Jude, who gave us an overview of the process and also described a few of the other teas they offered.
Watching the Matcha being made was wonderful — it was a quiet moment on a cold day in an otherwise busy city. The drinks were made with precision, process, and care — and a fascinating process at that.
After finishing the Matcha (which was delicious), Jude offered us a flight of the different kombucha they’ve been working on. Each one was different and refreshing — all the while Jude provided commentary about each of their teas used to make the kombucha.
If you need a quiet moment and delicious tea, I highly recommend the kind folks at Cultivate.

Great tea shop with a modern, clean setting and vibe. Knowledgeable staff on a variety of teas, definitely not your grandpa’s style of tea shop. A healthy alternative to grabbing a cup of Java on the go. Much different, and in my opinion much superior to David’s Tea as they focus entirely on the real stuff… leaves harvested in China and brewed with great care and attention to detail to temperature and timing, instead of the odd artificial tasting infusions that smell great but taste like plastic (which is basically what you get when you add artificial popcorn and chocolate scents to water). They really focus on all of the details, including rinsing of cups, ensuring they are of the right temperature to hold tea and time it takes to steep.

I stopped by with my mom during our last few hours in BC before our flight and I’m so glad I looked up this place! The shop was refreshing and décor charming. We chatted with the lady owner and learned a few things as well! She recommended teas for us and we ended up buying a tea set and tin of floral tea. The desserts were delicious; my mom is vegan and she had quite a few selections to choose from. A great experience and lovely store, would definitely visit again if I have the chance.

Along with all the other happy customers I also had a great experience in this little tea shop.
I was in Vancouver one Sunday afternoon and when I walked in it was empty. I immediately loved the aesthetics of nature and zen simplicity in the store. so I chatted with the owner and she recommended a black tea with chocolate undertones after I told her what I liked.
Their selection of teas is small, but quality and the tea cups they use are all handmade and local. I ended up staying for an hour ish and the small place filled up slowly but she continued to check on me, be more tea and carry on our small talk.

Good selection of quality teas — they have good teas instead of a dizzying array of mediocre teas. They have a small selection of pastries that all look yummy and come in tiny servings, which is perfect because I don’t really want a cookie the size of my palm!
I was there on a Wednesday afternoon and it was quiet and peaceful, great place for getting some work done. Free wifi. Ordered the oolong — it was delicious, slightly sweet, nutty and floral and really satisfying. Best tea I’ve had in Vancouver — as good as tea ceremonies back home (Singapore)!
I felt really awkward walking in at first because it was so quiet and the lady behind the counter didn’t acknowledge me. Bought some matcha, wandered out, then decided I wanted to stay. After I sat down and got out my laptop I really enjoyed how peaceful it was.
Bonus — after I finished my tea, they came by my table and silently refilled my teapot! Wasn’t expecting that but really appreciated it. Made the $ 4.50 price well worth it in my opinion. Will definitely be coming back.

New tea place that opened on Main. I came here on the way to RSD this year and grabbed some loose leaf tea for cold brewing. It’s not your typical tea store as it is a different type of culture with their own set or rules. Staff there are very knowledgeable and patient. There still working on their pastry line, however, the atmosphere is very inviting and having just tea and chat is worth it. Prices are hit and miss depending on the species of tea you’re purchasing. You are buying quality.

Oh this is how green green tea should taste! So much flavor. The chalkboard menu of teas is thankfully not overwhelming in length, unlike at many coffee shops. The staff are friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. The music is soothing but not soporific. Free wifi. It’s a great place to work or to chat. One of my favorite spots in Vancouver.

Great tea and great atmosphere! Such a great location as well. Perfect place to stop during a stroll on Main.

Jude and Lynn, the owners, are amazing. Such excellent knowledge on the various teas. They really take time to get to know you personally and are passionate about sharing their tea wisdom!
Great hangout and date spot.

Great little shop. Highly recommend going up to the tea bar for a sample of their teas. Jude & his wife were a pleasure to chat with & they’ll help you find the perfect tea. Their Matcha was the best I’ve had.
Ps. Their little Japanese deserts are tasty and cheap — a must try!

I’m so excited that such an incredible selection of Chinese and Taiwanese teas is so close to my house! Really cute shop, very nice and helpful owners, and of course a wide selection of teas you can’t easily find on this side of the world, all direct from the tea farms themselves. I will definitely be frequenting this place :)

This is an hidden gem ! Forget the scented teas, and come to discover pure good quality teas leaves properly brewed.
I’ve been getting a 2005 Pu’Erh properly prepared by the owner for just a couple toonies, you’d never find a deal like this anywhere ! And trust me, I’m a tea geek.
I really appreciated the relaxed place, very propice to creativity, and the friendliness of the tenant.
A must try !

We really enjoyed Jude serving us tea and chatting with him. He has lots of knowledge about tea. It’s definitely worth the time to have him serve the tea at the tea bar. Don’t expect a typical tea cup to go. The way he serve tea is the traditional way and we spent almost an hour drinking many cups in a mini tea cups. Not pretentious at all and the store has a cozy atmosphere.