There are some places you step inside and feel instantly transported, forget what city you’re even in. Kettl is as close to a sanctuary as you can have in this city. An uncluttered, minimalist haven filled with tea, a welcoming break from the clutter and chaos of the city it serves. Kettl is a wonderful find for a casual tea drinker, and a respected purveyor for the serious tea lovers. For over a decade now, Kettl has been a direct source of the freshest Japanese tea straight from Fukuoka to New York City. Now, it’s a well-established presence in the city, not only for sit-down tea experiences and takeaway cups, but also for tea and teaware, direct to consumer and wholesale.

With a breadth of teas in their collection, Kettl makes quality Japanese tea accessible, and fosters a welcoming educational environment to learn more about the nuances of different grades of matcha, different roasts of houjicha, different regions of sencha. The tea shop functions both as a cafe and a boutique. For a quick stop you can get the classics in to-go cups and be on your way. For a slower more leisurely appreciation of tea, you can stay for an in-house brew of your choice in their extensive inventory, your chance to sample those tasting notes for yourself, prepared professionally. And while you’re here pick up some tea for home brewing, and drool over the ceramics. Kettl is a great stop any time you’re in the neighborhood but also well worth a dedicated trip for anyone interested in Japanese teas.