If you’re looking to get a basic cup tea or something far more exotic, then look no further to T Salon, located in the Chelsea Market. There is perhaps no tea that can’t be found within this establishment as, once inside, it seems to be a vital component for supporting the ceilings.
In addition to selling over 400 different blends of tea in looseleaf, which are stored within a multitude of large glass containers lining the inside walls, the “Salon” also sells coffee, alcoholic beverages and gourmet food that includes tea ingredients. “[Miriam Novelle] trained me to be knowledgeable about the teas but the most difficult part was memorizing some of the names,” said Jaya Saliem, the manager of T Salon. All employees at the Salon are required to be proficient with each of the teas’ names, backgrounds and medicinal purposes.
Operating for several years in Soho since its establishment in 1992, it then moved two more times until re-opening in the Meatpacking District in May, 2007.
One of the Salon’s staples is its ccommitment to the environment. The interior’s construction is composed of bamboo, which is produced with little to no environmental damage. Ink used for printing on all of the store’s products is derived from soy, which is both non-toxic and biodegradable. Many of the cups used for selling tea are made from “corn plastic” that is made from, you guessed it, corn, and is also eco-friendly.
In addition to the upscale clientele that visit the store like Anne Hatheway, Sandra Bernhart, Whoopi Goldberg and Giselle Bundchen, it’s the everyday customers, according to Mr. Saliem, that make working at T Salon a pleasure. “[Everyone] is young and respectful. There isn’t a sense that we’re on different levels…we call people by their first name.”
This sounds amazing!! Your precise descriptions definitely make me want to go and get tea there!