Once or twice a year I visit Seattle for several days, and when I do,
I make it a point to visit three tea vendors: Seattle Best, Typhoon
Thai Restaurant, and The Floating Leaf. They have remarkably
different approaches.

At Seattle Best, if I sit down to drink tea, I will listen to a
powerful and protracted sales presentation, the goal of which is to
have me pay a premium price for Taiwanese high mountain oolong.
Usually, I do not make a purchase. Instead, I leave a sizable tip in
the tip jar. If I do make a purchase, I walk out with a few ounces of
incredibly expensive oolong (and sometimes, buyer’s remorse). At
Typhoon, I order tea from a three-page tea menu before ordering a
delicious lunch of Thai food. The tea comes in a big, metal pot, and
the wait staff refills the teapot with hot water as necessary. The
tea is fun, the restaurant cool and relaxing, the food great.
Typhoon’s tea is not by any means inexpensive. At Floating Leaves, I
ask the proprietor at the front counter about the dozen or so
excellent teas on the list and choose one to drink in-house. I take a
seat at a table, and the friendly proprietor brings a gaiwan, cups,
kettle, and water heater. I prepare the tea myself, and I pay the
hefty bill as I leave. If I want, I can purchase dry tea leaves to
carry out.

I’ve been to New York City twice, and I met both times with the owners
of The Tea Gallery. They knew several weeks in advance I was going to
visit. They could not have been more kind, solicitous, and patient.

Different businesses have different models. Sometimes teashops open
late. Joanne—what time did you visit? Right after they opened their
doors and as they were setting up for the day? You say they were
rude. Did they call you names? Even in my own small town, sometimes
I cannot get a haircut unless I call in advance. ~grasshopper