Specializing in white, yellow, green, oolong, black, pu-erh, and herbal teas from China and Taiwan, this relaxing Palos Verdes tea lounge is furnished with Chinese … antiques and offers a selection of smoothies, tea based lattes, artisan pastries, and desserts in addition to their brews. Imen, the shop's passionate owner, also offers Kung Fu Tea presentations, seasonal tasting events, and a complimentary introduction to Chinese tea seminar. [link]

I'll be honest with you: I was relatively upset when Elixer closed. For years, that was my go-to spot when I needed to do some serious recharging. While it's true that … there was often a script meeting going on at the wicker table next to mine, somehow it didn't matter. The incredibly green landscaping, the central fountain, the medicinal tonics (they work, I swear), and the world music shielded me from the artifice of it all. Dr. Tea's Tea Garden & Herbal Emporium, which had been on Beverly Boulevard for years, is what moved into the old Elixer space. In a way, not all that much has changed. It's still the same serene sanctuary, and they still offer a vast selection of the world's finest quality Asian teas and herbal products. They even offer their own line of tonics, so there you go. [link]

Though it's designed in the style of a traditional Korean teahouse, with tables low to the ground and cushions on the floor, this Koreatown spot also has some elevated … tables and chairs for Westerners stiff in the joints. The calming ambiance is created by soft but warm lighting, a gurgling fountain, and seating areas separated by screens for privacy. Korean instrumental music plays softly in the background as waitresses clad in traditional dress serve tea and shaved ice. [link]

It's hard to find words for just how serious JC Ho and Teresa Chiang -- proprietors of this extraordinary Santa Monica coffee and teahouse -- are about what they do. … These people mean business, and the business they're in is all about providing and preparing the absolute finest beans and teas. They utilize a vacuum pot method of brewing coffee -- basically a scientific approach to creating the ideal cup. If it's tea you're after, they'll help you choose from their extensive selection, and will educate you about and perform cha tao, the traditional tea ceremony that has been practiced in various Asian Pacific countries for thousands of years. [link]

The tea at this Fullerton oasis is prepared Korean style, which means that grains, fruit, and medicinal foods are part of the punch. In addition to mainstream fare such … as green, black assam, and jasmine, a whole section of the menu is dedicated to "Asian Health Teas." Similar to tonics for their functional properties, choices include GoongJoongMyung, which is made with ginseng, pine nuts, peanuts, and Chinese date, and Yoolmu, made mostly from grains that lend it a "cereal-like" flavor. Additionally, the cafe offers a full food menu, slushes and shaved ice in flavors like green tea and red bean, and beer and wine. To top it all off, the setting is a beautifully renovated 1913 house and sprawling garden replete with lush landscaping and bubbling fountains. [link]

While you can't actually sit down and indulge in a cuppa here, you can enjoy a serene shopping experience made Zen by exotic orchids and the meditative sound of a … trickling fountain. This Pasadena tea shop stocks over 120 different kinds of loose leaf teas and herbs, as well as ceramic wares, Chinese brushes, netsuke, teapots, and more. Tea is sold by weight, so you can buy as much or as little as you want. [link]