Smith Teamaker

This place is super cute! I did a tea flight where you can pick four teas to try. I chose an oolong, green tea, earl grey, and chai tea. It was delicious and I bought a couple teas to take home. The tea maker was very nice and welcoming and also included some samples to try. I would definitely come back again.

We’ve been a fan of Smith Teamaker for quite a while ever since we picked up a box of the Fez blend during a grocery trip at Central Market and we’ve been ordering online every since, so while visiting Portland we had to stop by the tasting room to get some fresh tea and try a couple of specialty drinks.
The room is small, but incredibly welcoming– especially after getting out of the cold/​rainy weather. The space is very quiet, there was a small bar and a couple of tables to sit at. We ordered a flight of teas which the server recommended to us based on the types of teas we like– we ended up with the white petal, a green tea (I can’t remember the name now, but it’s the base green tea for the Fez), the Lord Bergamot, and the big hibiscus. The flight was great. The flight was great. They bring all the teas out on a tray, in large ceramic cups ordered from lightest to darkest teas. It also came with cards describing each tea and little jars of the dried tea to look and smell. After tasting a tea there was water to dip our spoons in and you’d move on to the next one. The white petal tea was by far my favorite. A very subtle taste that would build towards a more complex after taste. After tasting some teas and picking up some to take home I also ordered a matcha green tea latte, which was by far the best green tea latte I’ve ever had.
I’ve worked as a barista before, and a lot of coffee shops will try their hand at green tea lattes, and while they can be great– this one was perfect. The foam was creamy. The milk temperature was ideal for sipping immediately after they make it. The latte was slightly sweet, and grassy in the best way possible. I kind of guzzled it if we’re being honest. We’ll definitely make our back to the tasting room the next time we’re in town and in the mean time I’ll be sure to stock up on the tea online.

The team at Smith were amazing to work with while I placed a bulk order for a wedding-​bag stuffer. They were very kind (and patient) because I looked into them 8 months before I planned to actually make the purchase — all their responses were within 24 hours and very informative on what our options were. In 2 weeks I actually get to come back to Portland and try their tea (of course I have to sample!) — I look forward to continuing supporting them!

Of you’re looking for an intimate place with quiet, relaxed conversation, then the tasting room perfect. It seats maybe a dozen people at most.
The selection of tea is varied, just as it should be. If I come here with a friend then I’ll get a flight, which is 32oz of tea.
The service was excellent; I went mid-​afternoon on a Friday, and it was nearly empty.

Great spot for a date! Went here on a second date with whom is now the most important person in my life.
Lord Bergamot is the only tea that matters!
Do a tea tasting! Way to class it up!

I went this morning & had the tea flight, 4 teas for $ 10. Midweek is a great time to go because it’s not busy. The tea was very good and Cameron, who served me was friendly & very helpful. The tasting room was very nice & felt cozy.

This is such a fun and fancy idea! They just need a slightly bigger spot and perhaps a few more staff as the ones working were pretty stressed out for a tea shop! We each tried a different tea, the seasonal thai, and a tea latte. My soy tea latte was superb! Worth the wait, but I’m glad we showed up before 12 others came into the door. With no available seating it was getting pretty cramped.
I had heard they will ship tea for a $ 3. fee, so I inquired and the man with the beard said only the SE location does that. Or online.
Fun interesting tea pots to look at while you wait. Elegant room. Thanks for a fun experience!

Quaint & cute little place with so many interesting teas and a neat tea flight option so that you can sample four different teas in one sitting. Unfortunately they were out of a few key teas when we visited (including chai and matcha!), which was a big bummer. Also very limited seating so hopefully you are lucky enough to get there on a non-​busy day. Staff was very friendly and helpful.

Though I live around the corner from Smith, it took me a year to finally swing by the teamaker’s tasting room (it’s operating hours are limited). With the Smith factory, where tea is bagged and labeled, across the street the teamaker has a large presence in Slabtown though the tasting room itself is quaint, with a couple of tables, a small bar, and a friendly tea master on staff. That said, I didn’t have to wait for a seat or service.
A sucker for sampling, I was leaning towards ordering a Smith Tea flight, BUT matacha is the one tea that cannot be included in the flight (Fair enough, it’s a ceremonial tea). So I ditched the flight, instead opting for the matcha latte. AND MAN AM I GLAD I DID. While the earthy, umami flavor of matcha is not for everyone, if you like matcha, or are tempted to try it, Smith is the place to. I’ve tasted other brands’ matcha and Smith blows them all out of the (150 – 170 degree) water. I’ve had the Smith Matcha Latte a few times now, and though it’s always delicious, I’ve found I prefer the Matcha Latte with soy over cow’s milk (nothing against dairy, the soy simply makes for a richer matcha flavor), and now opt for the Ginger Matcha, which is the regular Matcha Latte with powdered ginger added. In addition to the tea menu, Smith products and tea-​making accessories are sold in the tasting room.

Was not impressed with the staff, took a long time to order tea and was a super busy shop but poor service for only 3tables but very good tea.

Not much to say about this place other than how GREAT it is. I’m not a huge tea person myself, but we sampled a flight and I found several that I could see drinking on a regular basis. And the service was outstanding!
Highly recommended. Keep up the good work!

A friend recommended this tea shop, so we went and had a tea tasting. The shop holds no more than 10 people. Hence, I don’t recommend large groups. The staff are knowledgeable about their tea and if there isn’t too much foot traffic, you can request to smell all the tea. The green and white tea options were my favorite as they were subtle hints of flavor. The Rooibos and Hibiscus was too tart of me, but still good in one cup.
The tea tasting we had comes with four teas of your choice, descriptions about each tea, and four small dishes of the tea leaves for your olfactory enjoyment. This place reminded me a bit like Remedy Tea in Seattle, but with a more intimate setting versus casual. You can order tea to go, off the shelves, or in bulk. They also have a sister shop they’re opening that may have tea classes or tastings. The branch will be bigger and may also serve food.
For such a rainy day, the tea hit the spot. The staff were fun to talk to and joke around with.

Lovely and sophisticated, a good place to go to stoke your inner tea goddess. Not so much a café, more of a quiet place to either take a respite with a warm cup of chai or sample a flight of black teas or tisanes. For those Smith Tea appreciators, we can just sigh and ahhhh…

I bought a teapot from this store that I like very much, and when the lid broke (by my own fault – I dropped it) and I contacted them to ask how I could order a new one, they sent me a replacement that they happened to have in their storeroom for free! I was so surprised and happy, they totally made my week.
THANK YOU.

I have just recently moved to the city, and living out in the ‘burbs, I didn’t learn about this gem in the NW corner of the city until recently when a non-​Pdx friend told me he had encountered the best chai he’d had so far, and that it was a Portland brand. I then proceeded to seek out this famous chai (of course) and I just have to say, I am so glad this tea is in my life. I try to make sure that I have my Masala chai stocked up at home, but I always enjoy the drive up to the tea room, since I get to order their chai latte.
I’m Indian and I’ve grown up with a love for chai, and I have to say that this is one of the best chai lattes I’ve had recently – perfectly foamy and sweetened just enough. If you have the time to kill and there’s an open table or spot at the bar, I highly recommend having your tea here. You can try their tea flights (a tasting of four of their teas for 8 dollars) which is amazing if you love tea. Tea orders come with a small almond cookie/​cracker thing which is the perfect pairing. No other food on this menu – just tea.
They really make a mean cup of tea. My chai at home just never tastes the same!

Absolutely love this place! Discovered it on a trip to Portland a few years ago and need to return each visit. Plus, we order the tea online regularly as it is truly superior to much of what is out there (haven’t found an equivalent tea spot in Chicago). The tea guys (Aaron and Donovan) are fab and great fun to chat with as they brew to perfection such a lovely variety of teas from around the world! Very glad to see the tea tradition being carried on. Hope you guys order the Guricha and add it to the menu!

TEAM SMITH. I’m a PDX native and my loyalty to Smith Tea is strongly devoted. I love the packaging – it’s exquisite, chic, and elegant. Teas are cultivated with detail and care, and the quality is always outstanding. I show this tea to friends in Houston (where I go to school) and they’re all mesmerized. A cup of Smith tea immediately transports me back home.
I recently tried their sparkling honeybush tea on tap (I think it’s only seasonal). Please, please make this in bulk someday. Absolutely refreshing, with a bright sunny hue and a natural, sweet flavor that makes my taste buds tingle pleasantly.

I’ve been a customer here for years and I’m convinced these guys can do no wrong! This is the Masala Chai in nitro with a bit of half and half. So so good!

I want to give Smith 5 stars because I love the tea so much, and the space is cute, but there are a couple employees who really rub me the wrong way. I can make tea at home for a fraction of the price, so I appreciate when the people serving me aren’t disinterested, pretentious, resting-​bitch-​face folks who make me feel like I should have just stayed home. I respect that Steven Smith put a great deal of energy into bringing fantastic tea to Portland, but let’s all settle down and treat each other nicely, ok?
To be fair, there are two or three people I’ve encountered who work here who are great, including a short witty dude who is good at making small talk and still fitting in interesting info on the tea without sounding like a know it all. Hoping to see more of him at subsequent visits.
Things I’ve enjoyed: iced big hibiscus, bergamot, basically anything they put in a cup. Don’t go here in a hurry. Take your time.

Steven Smith passed away at age 65 in 2015.
The following link tells the story of his tea adventures:

Big fan typing this review. Grabbed a sealed bag of Lord Bergamot (a delicate mix of Sri Lankan and Indian tea bathed in bergamot oil from S Italy) because it really is that good. The lady threw in a sample of the Brahmin full black tea as well.

Just popped in here this afternoon with a friend for a tea flight. Not only does the shop feel cozy and homey, like you’re sipping on tea while chatting about life at a friend’s house, the tea master (as I will call him because we didn’t get his name) was so helpful and knowledgable about all of the teas.
We decided to split a tea flight (which they recommend) and it is a fantastic deal at just $ 8 for 4 teas to share. With recommendations from the tea master, my friend and I tried the White Petal, Lord Bergamot, Honeybush, and Peppermint teas. He brought them out to us on a lovely tray, complete with informational cards detailing each type of tea along with a sample of the loose tea in a small glass jar for us to see and smell.
The tea master instructed us on how to best taste the tea, by starting with the lightest and finishing with the heaviest. Also – (quick) slurping is totally okay here! We were told it is the best way to first experience the tea so you get the taste as well as the aroma. My favorites were the White Petal and Lord Bergamot.
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience here and can’t wait to come back and try another flight of amazing teas and bask in the ambiance of this quaint little shop.

Some of my favorite tea in Portland. I first came here last year and was blown away. I tasted a few teas and by far my favorite is the Red Nectar and the Lord Bergamont.
Definitely give them a try.

Smith tea has almost no competitor in Portland which is a good thing, and not to say just because of that it is not offering good stuff.
The tea selection is good with mostly single varietal tea and no weird blends like Teavana or David’s Tea. The menu is quite focused featuring signature tea representation from distinct tea regions.
If you are a newbie to tea, the tasting flight of 4 where you can pick almost any tea on the menu for trial is a good way to start. The «ceremony» when the tasting platter is served consist of four small tea containers for you to smell and they are accompanied by corresponding tea info cards that educate you on the variety. Tea are stepped in four separate white cups that you can easily compare the colors of the tea and is definitely visually appealing.
You are advised to sip the teas using provided spoon and can «wash» the spoon in a cup of hot water provided.
The prices are alright for this type of artisan tea but at $ 13.99 a box of 15 (?) Tea bags compared to «fine tea» sold in (even) high end supermarket makes me hesitate to reach for one to take home.
The seating is very limited and reservation is not accepted so if you are looking to chill with a friend over tea I suggest you to pick odd hours to swing by.
Cheerio!

Although its not in the most convenient location, I’m glad i found this place on my trip to Portland. This place is not your über commercialized Teavana with selling loose tea blends mixed with artificial flavoring. This place definitely has a passion for the authenticity and respect for the leaf. It’s also certainly much more welcoming (than i originally though) — with seating as well as a retail section.
My guests and I did the Tea Flight — choosing the White Silver Needle, Dragonwell Green, and First and Second Flush Darjeeling. The tasting set came presented with a visual of the dried tea leaf, as well as a card detailing some important information about the tea leaf as well. The tasting set allowed you to try the tea as a true tea master would. We asked the staff a lot of questions, and they were very knowledgeable and had a passion for tea.
There’s a parking lot very close by which was convenient.

Originally we were going to check out the neighbour, Olympic Provisions, what has happened over the many times we have come to Portland is now make a sure stop to come by Smith Tea’s, it’s like a must now. and when we are always there we get greeted by Tiffany who remembers us from our visits before! Part of coming here is of course the high quality and passion for tea’s, the other is the familiarity we have with Tiffany here, which makes the visit so pleasant.
Entering this tasting room, there is a sort of zen-​like feel that lures you in here, and for us, it lures us right to their ‘bar’ section, where you can see a blocked off window showing their operating area of packaging the teas. I take lots of pictures and can always pull up the last meeting as to what we tried the last time we were at this location. I highly recommend anyone do the 4 flight taster to get a feel of this experience. For $ 5 this is a deal, they don’t give you small little cups, but big mugs, with a description card, and good introduction to all the teas individually. There is a vast selection that they have here… from white teas, green teas, oolong teas, black teas, and herbal infusions.
The thing you get here is quality, I’m not just talking about the teas, I’m talking about the people who work here… they eat, sleep and breath tea, Tiffany is a great example, asking us what types of teas we like, and going with that introducing some things where we might not think of trying. and you know what that means… friends (in terms of bills with faces on them) will be left behind, «take my money» seems to always happen here, and it doesn’t help that I recieve request when I ‘check-​in’ here to purchase additional items to bring across the border!
My one all time favorite here is the Lord Bergamot, it seems like we always leave with this everytime we come down. One of true gems we stumbled upon that keep us coming back for more! Also we get some good pointers from Tiffany as to where to eat on the vegetarian aspect!
Portland, it’s not just about the food and the beer, it’s about the tea as well!