Portola Coffee Lab Starts a New Take on Tea

Portola Coffee Lab is launching Seventh Tea Bar in early December. Named for the Chinese belief that tea is the seventh of seven necessities, a new concept has been developed by Jeff and Christa Duggan, roasters who opened their craft coffee bar Portola last year in Costa Mesa, California.

Seventh Tea Bar will be located next to their main location.

For the full story click here.

Tea Picks Up More Steam

We had written earlier this year about Starbucks’ search for tea, it ends and begins with a purchase of Teavana for $620 million cash.

Adding to the list of Teatailers in New York this week is Palais du Thés, a French tea importer and retailer, started in 1987 by François-Xavier Delmas. The chain has 28 boutiques worldwide. The 29th is its first in the United States and the first outside France that is not a franchise.

Fresco Gelateria opens in the East Village

The new gelato offers traditional Italian flavors as well as some more adventurous choices like mastic and rosewater.
Fresco Gelateria is located on 138 Second Avenue towards the corner of St. Marks Place

Organic Avenue is now open in Chelsea

The store opened at 8 a.m. yesterday morning to many loyal patrons. Organic Avenue is best known for their cold-pressed juices and vegan meals.
Organic Avene is located on 8th Avenue and 21st Street

Table Green and Table Green Café opens food kiosks in Battery Park City

Green Table, a Chelsea Market cafe, recently opened two food kiosks in Battery Park City serving Blue Marble ice cream and Crop to Cup coffee.
The kiosks are located inside of Battery Park (Battery Place and State Street) close to the Castle Clinton National Monument

Vegan Divas opens in the Upper East Side

This vegan bakery and cafe offers doughnuts, cookies, muffins, chocolate mousse, macaroons and carrot cake. They sell kosher baked goods too.
Vegan Divas is located at 1437 First Avenue between East 74th and 75th Street

Chelsea’s Table Dairy Bar Window is now open

Chelsea’s Tables now has a walk-up window serving smoothies and frozen yogurt made from Stonyfield Farm Organic products.
Chelsea’s Table Dairy Bar is located at Chelsea Piers (Pier 62) near West 22nd Street

Chobani opens in Soho

Chobani has finally opened its flagship location on Prince Street. The menu offers breakfast-ready fruit and granola, peanut butter and jelly, pistachio and chocolate and more.
Chobani is located at 150 Prince St. at West Broadway

Pop Karma is now open in the Lower East Side

It seems like a popcorn trend is happening in New York City as another shop dedicated to popping kernels opened on Monday. Pop Karma, which started as a Kickstarter project, now has a retail location that offers unique flavors like Mediterranean, Zen Cheddar, Pure Caramel, Barbecue, White Truffle Cheddar and Margarita.
Pop Karma is located at 95 Orchard Street towards the corner of Broome Street

Chrysanthemum, Rare Teas & Flowers opens in Prospect Heights

A joint venture between a floral designer and tea master puts a unique spin on traditional tea flavors for an exotic taste. The space hosts a variety of rare tea collections, Yi Xing pots, cups,
tea ware and instruments with floral arrangements on display. They will also have classes for Chinese tea art, tea appreciation and painting.
Chrysanthemum is located on 669 Washington Ave. between St. Marks Avenue and Prospect Place