Seven Cups

I was saddened to read in their recent newsletter that they’ll be closing their doors soon (end of January).

Really nice place to sit down and enjoy a pot (or pots) of tea in a relaxed atmosphere. This place allows you to lose sense of time and clear your mind from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. They also have Mahjong nights where a regular taught me how to play. It seems like a Chinese version of gin rummy, more or less.
My favorite everyday drinking tea is called Gen Mai Cha, which is green tea with a little puffed toasted rice which gives the tea a nice cereal quality to it.
They also have a nice selection of display teas, black puer teas, oolongs, green tea, and rare yellow teas.
A great place to get to know someone on a date and a cool place to take an out of town guest.

This place is fun. Every Friday they do a tea tasting, where they educate you on the history, process of making, and taste profiles of their teas; and it’s free, which is always a plus. Greg, the owner, is a really laid back guy that’s easy to talk to and amazingly knowledgeable about his products.
Check out their blooming teas, which are always cool. You’ve also gotta love their décor – it’s a pretty quaint little establishment, it feels like a traditional Chinese tea house. Their mochi cakes are great complements to the tea, they have really unique flavors (like ube, whatever that is, and red bean). All around a great little establishment!

This is the only place to get authentic tea in Denver. It’s a bit pricy, but probably worth it unless you know enough to brave ordering tea on the interwebs.
Just don’t get the sencha!

While I was sitting there mulling over coins, bamboo, dragons and how the tiles all fit together, I was enjoying a superb pot of tea. I felt like I had stepped into another reality. .. and it was relaxing and warm.
I am still a super fan of Seven Cups.
Mahjong! On Tuesday and Thursday evenings! And if you are a beginner, like I am, they are patient and happy to teach you. Tuesday night was, hopefully, the beginning of a long relationship with Mahjong!
Seven Cups on South Pearl in Denver.

The loose leaf tea selection here for purchase is really great. I prefer purchasing tea here then buying online because you can actually smell the flavors of the tea and select the ones that fit your tea style.
I have not been disappointed with the number of oolongs, pu’er’s, and other tea types that fill the shelves of this shop. While the loose leaf tea may seem expensive, each bag will last a really long time (6 – 12 months if you drink it a couple times a week) and additionally there are quite a few quality low-​priced teas.
I have never sat there and had a pot of tea in the store mainly because I feel the layout is not very welcoming. I don’t understand why they have their check-​out area right near the window when they should have tables to enjoy the tea and the view there instead.

This little tea room is a treasure find in Denver!!! I grew up around Chinese tea culture because of my dad’s work as a tai chi teacher and tea educator. I was also lucky to have some great experiences with tea while visiting family in China. I always look for new teas and tea shops on my travels so I was so excited when this gem opened here in my own backyard!
This shop offers an amazing selection of rare and fine teas that are hard to find anywhere. It is a great place to sit and savor a cup of tea.
In response to David C’s review, I disagree with his statement that they should have used boiling water for all their teas. Different types of tea (greens, oolongs, etc) respond best to different water temperatures and steeping times. For example, using boiling water to steep delicate green tea leaves can ruin the flavor. Using hot water just before boiling point releases the flavor and lets the tea really shine.
Fortunately, the staff at Seven Cups really know their stuff. They prepare the teas at the ideal temperature and steeping time for that specific tea.
I agree that ceramic (especially Yixing clay) is the traditional and best way to serve tea at home. But I like that Seven Cups uses a glass wear, a trend I’ve seen popping up in tea houses everywhere, including traditional tea houses in Beijing, since it lets you see the color of the tea and the leaves.
While the teas can appear to be expensive, you have to remember that you are buying quality loose leaf teas that are usually hand picked and roasted at small tea farms, instead of pulverized and sold in commercial bulk to supermarkets. With a good loose leaf tea, you don’t need to use as much and it will usually steep 3−4x longer so it can actually be cheaper than your average tea bag!!!
Overall, I love this shop and I’d recommend it to anyone who loves tea or want to try something new!

Great place to hang out and learn alittle something! They have a load of different teas here. But they also have small talks, lectures and other things. I just went to a calligraphy demo last night– two hours of fun for just 10 bucks!
This is a really great place to take a date or out of town guest when you want to just hang out and talk. If you are a Tea Fan– it is a must!

My love for caffeine is not limited to just coffee and diet Coke. Some days I prefer to get my octane from a nice steaming cup of tea, with a little bit of agave nectar (yeah, you read that right — down with white sugar!) and a bit of half and half. Is that weird? Well, if it is I don’t care.
I finally made it into Seven Cups recently after staring longingly through the window for many, many hours while getting my hair done at Mop Factory across the street. Although I didn’t have the full-​on brewing experience (next trip) I did spend some time perusing all the loose leaf teas lined up beautifully in glass jars by the front door.
Smoke tea? Yes, it smells like smoke! Not cigarette smoke, more like «I’m standing in front of a campfire» smoke. There is plenty to choose from here, and if you’re unsure about varieties, just give them a holler. I am frequently baffled by the selection of teas when I go shopping — probably because I grew up in a household where Lipton was in limitless supply. Looking at all those teas can be a little overwhelming if you don’t know exactly what you want, so just ask! I stuck with what I know — strong, black tea. I bought a 50 gram bag of organic black tea for about $ 7. Is that expensive? I suppose so, but it’s delicious and it’s organic so it gets my vote.
Next time: A 1:1 with my laptop and some tea brewed at the table. Bliss!

I love this place. It is my new favorite tea shop. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and the menu is insanely long. The tea is kind of expensive at a glance, but its so strong that you can easily get 3 or 4 infusions out of one pot. With that in mind, it ends up being pretty cheap entertainment, not to mention healthy entertainment.
I’m excited that tey are bringing out their iced teas next week.
Can’t wait to go back!

One of my favorite things is tea. Hot tea, cold tea… the only preference I have is if it’s cold outside, warm it up and if it’s hot outside serve it on ice. Well, this place definitely tickled my fancy.
A friend of mine and I met here for tea last night. I walked in alone and was immediately asked if I was there to play Majiang, which was being played throughout the dining room. I was pretty sure I wasn’t, so I just asked for a table. The host politely led me to a table in a cozy dining room that was comfortably lit and elegantly furnished. Before stepping away, the host told me to make sure to ask if I had any questions. Which I inevitably did because of the extensive menu.
When he returned, I asked if he could recommend something calming since I’d had a bit of a hectic day and he gave me three choices, all of which I was able to smell before deciding on Osmanthus. The tea was served in a delicate teapot for a service of one. It was delicious. Bonus: all their teas are organic and are fair trade.
Because I drink hot tea for homeopathic reasons, the tea house did not receive 5 stars because they did not mention what effects and ailments the different teas were of most benefit for. I had to ask, which isn’t a bad thing necessarily, but it would have been nice to read about instead.
The service was wonderful, the ambiance is incredibly calming, the tea was fantastic. I highly recommend this place to others looking for a relaxing place to sit and enjoy a cup of tea.

All aboard for an important stop on the tea snob express!
I knew good things were afoot when our train pulled into the station and the black tea section was absolutely, certifiably dwarfed by the greens, oolongs and puers. With a good range of choice, I usually start with the oolongs and they did not disappoint. I tried an oolong that just came in and really enjoyed it. My wife tried a yellow for the first time, the Imperial Jun Shan Yin Zhen, and we both loved it. Delicate, smooth and beautiful.
Our server knew a huge amount about teas and was very helpful in choosing both some to try and some to take home. They have a smaller assortment of tasting bags (just a couple ounces) to explore with, which I love and appreciate. We took home three or four.
This is more of a traditional Chinese tea experience — no timers, and few choices with herbs or other additives. The teas themselves are the clear star and rightfully so. The atmosphere is calming and the interior is nicely appointed. They also serve a bunch of different Japanese sweets (with their mostly Chinese teas) and ice creams. The sweets were nice to enjoy with the tea, without taking any focus away.
This is a wonderful place to have in Denver.

I want to like Greg’s cute little tea shop because it strikes me that he is really striving to bring authentic tea culture to Denver. A lot of the elements are really great, the rosewood furniture is elegant and fitting, the walls are adorned with tea themed scroll paintings from what I gather is a local artist, and there is definitely an ambiance to the place. There are great smelling teas on display and great looking tea ware, including purple clay Yixing teapots. What is off, though, is the execution.
Tea houses in China are boisterous affairs, as in what you picture when you think of dim sum. That is the whole reason why dim sum exists, to enjoy tea. Just like you can’t have beer without peanuts or buffalo wings, you can’t drink tea without some steamed delicacies on hand. If the vibe of the place was more Japanese, I might overlook this element, but it is clearly aiming for a Chinese feel. I’m not saying it needs pushcarts, but it needs a kitchen of some kind.
Second strike may be the preparation of the tea itself. The only times you ever see tea served in glass of any kind in China is when it is in the reused glass jars of laborers on lunch break or on the train. Ceramic of some sort is the only proper vessel in which to serve tea. I was served my tea in what looked like a Pilsner glass. Worse, all the leaves were floating on the surface.
Tea leaves are supposed to sit at the bottom of an empty pot or cup and have the hot water poured over them. This is necessary for loose leaf tea to brew properly. If done this way, a few leaves might float, perhaps, but not every single leaf. However, if you cast the leaves onto the hot water, that is exactly what you will see. This is a big strike, but easily corrected.
There seems to be some Seven Cups doctrine that says the water should be at 185 degrees Fahrenheit or something, somewhere below boiling. It results in bland lukewarm tea. The water should have boiled. It does not need to be at a rolling boil when it is poured, but it needs to be hot. There should be steam coming off of the tea when it is first poured. If not, at least put some ice cubes and Nutrasweet in it.
Finally, the price. At $ 4.50 for a «glass» of tea versus $ 4.99 for a 1.5 lbs. bag of Taiwanese jasmine green from the local Asian supermarket, this place is not where one goes when one needs to stock up.
I did like the shop and the owner. He was very patient and very helpful in helping me find a possible Sichuan tea I’d been looking for for a long time. I am all for supporting local unique businesses, so I am keeping an open mind about Seven Cups’ future. If it raises the expectations of tea drinking in the area, that is a mission I could definitely get behind.

I like buying all the fun and cool teas from here.
I really like the «Meng Ding Snow Drop Jasmine». It is such a pretty sight when the buds open up at the bottom of the teacup, and the aroma of this tea is just wonderful.
Friendly staff — if you ask them they will explain you about the teas — it is fun to listen to the elaborate description obout the tea! ;)

Nice Chinese tea house with a good variety of tea. Black, white, or green tea each come in a spectrum of flavors. The tea house in the back is elegant. It’s quiet and calm inside – a great place to enjoy some tea.
I’m still trying to figure out what kind of green tea I like. There are samples to sniff, and I suggest you give that a try. I look forward to going back for the free tastings to help me learn a bit more and stop making expensive mistakes when buying tea.
I’m glad there’s a place like this in Denver.

I met Greg (the owner) at a party a few weeks ago, and finally got a chance to stop in after finding out he had Lapsang Souchong which I’ve been dying to try for literally years.
The ladyfriend and I stopped in on a Sunday afternoon and spent nearly a half hour opening jars and smelling teas — that’s the best part; all the teas are set out in jars around the front of the shop, and you can just open the jars and smell them to get a sense of them.
All the teas are Chinese, so don’t expect to go looking for South African Rooibos tea or anything, but they have a fantastic selection. With a wide range of smells it’s hard to choose, but I picked up some Lapsang Souchong, the heavy smoke scent, and some other tea called «Gunpowder» which was a green that smelled divine.
Staff is incredibly helpful and friendly, the décor is lovely, and the gentle Asian music really helps to put one at ease. I feel like it needs a Deli, though — oddly enough. Or some snacks or something. Maybe that’s not the point of a Chinese Tea House, so I’m missing the point myself — but regardless it’s a very lovely place, with an incredible assortment of teas, very friendly staff, and it would most definitely be a great place to hang out and sample teas — which they do on Fridays at 3pm!

I am lucky enough to work right across the street from Seven Cups. Here is what you need to know about this place.
You can get your tea to-​go. Hot or iced.
You can hang out and drink your tea there. They even have free wi-​fi. Great for students!
You can get tea leaves there and make your tea later.
They offer free tastings on Fridays at 3pm
Greg and his staff are extremely helpful, knowledgeable and super great people.
I have even convinced coffee drinking folks that tea is delicious and they haven’t been disappointed. Come give it a try… My favorites so far are the honey hibiscus iced tea and the black with mango juice (I think)? Freaking delicious!

This is the real tea deal. I stumbled upon it by accident in my grand quest to track down some matcha tea. You know, that sweet green tea they put in boba tea and Starbucks green tea lattes? Yeah, you can’t find it anywhere. Even though it’s technically a Japanese tea (this is a Chinese tea house), the owner was kind enough to point me in the right direction. (In case you’re wondering, Pacific Mercantile Co. carries matcha). I picked up a small bag of another green variety, though, and it was quite tasty. Not too expensive, either. They sell authentic tea seats, too. And it looks like they do regular sampling and tea ceremonies – will definitely have to visit for those.
Once you go for the real leaves, it’s hard to go back to the bagged stuff. Unless you work in a cubicle like me…

I went to Seven Cups for the first time on Sunday afternoon for a book club meeting (we had just read «Three Cups of Tea» by Greg Mortenson… definitely check it out, you will be INSPIRED). It was a nice quiet place for us gals to chat about the book and update each other on the latest gossip.
There is an extensive tea collection on the menu, which could be very overwhelming. Fortunately, we had a «tasting» arranged with several different types of tea for us to try, which took a lot of the guess work out of the selection. We were also brought several flavors of traditional «moon cakes» that were different… but tasty.
This would be a great place to try new teas, catch up with a friend, or read a book.

I’m a recent convert from coffee to tea (sorry Starbucks, I’m just not that into you). I tried bagged tea — good ol’ Celestial Seasonings — and found that the whole experience (and taste) was lacking. Turns out the bags just contain the dust of the tea leaves — yuck.
Anyhoo…I did some research and tried to find a place here in Denver to become my new crack house and Seven Cups did not disappoint.
The space has an unassuming elegance about it; very open and inviting. I loved the contrast of the dark, richly-​colored furniture against the natural light from the large front windows. The teas are up front and nicely organized so I didn’t feel completely overwhelmed in spite of a good-​sized selection.
I was sad to see that there were no customers on this New Year’s Eve day, but was grateful to have such personalized assistance.
I told him (sorry, him, I should have gotten your name — cute, dark hair, a little facial hair action) what I was looking for in a tea and he gave excellent recommendations along with lots of interesting facts about the different teas. I drank it up, so to speak.
He took great care wrapping up my teas and accoutrements — bonus points for that — and delivered excellent customer service. I can’t wait to go back for tea tastings!