Stocks: loose leaf teas, tea pots, mugs, strainers, tins and sweeteners Service: Helpful and knowledgeable without being pushy. Generous with samples too Décor: did you know that tea is shipped is wooden boxes or jute bags? Me neither but if you want to know what those look like, check out the store’s décor. It’s also quite big and well laid out. Inventory: I love their selection. Everything was unique without necessarily having too much of a variety. Case in point, I wanted a black chai and there was only one in the catalog. Take it or leave it. I hate when tea stores overwhelm you with options. Pricing: surprisingly reasonable Parking: This is 9th Ave in Inglewood. Chances are high that the earth will do a full rotation on its axis before you find a parking spot on the street in front of the store. Circle a block or two and walk to the store. Will I go back to the Tea Trader? Absolutely! Quick note on accessibility: it’s on the second floor so will need to take a long flight of stairs. Something to be aware of if you have mobility concerns
Andrew C.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Calgary, Canada
Honest to goodness tea trader with knowledgeable staff. Come here for your loose leaf tea and paraphernalia. This is where you will find authentic teas that won’t cost as much as David’s Teas, Teopia, Tevana. It’s not a place to grab a cup to go or even sit and their hours are only during normal working hours but if you want tea in bulk at good prices — this is the place.
Taw J.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Calgary, Canada
What a great place, fresh clean and some of the best teas I’ve found in Calgary… Welcoming and friendly, great knowledge of there teas and very helpful, and will recommend to every taste. Glad I found this place, no more mall action, stop in, buy some tea, shop the day away at the shops in Inglewood and head home for a warm cup of tea. Give it a try, you won’t be disappointed.
Wendy P.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Calgary, Canada
As soon as you open the door to the Tea Trader, be sure to take a deep breath in. The smell of dozens of teas is wonderful! My knowledge of tea goes so far as to know there are white teas, green teas and black teas. Some have caffeine, some do not. That’s about it. It makes me thankful for places like the Tea Trader who spend some time imparting knowledge about their product. I ask questions, they are happy to answer them and to find the right tea fit for me, or give me a sample to brew before I buy. I stopped in yesterday to find a tea sipworthy of a Wednesday night. Not knowing much about teas means not knowing what I want to get. I do know that my new love is the aroma of teas, both before I brew it and while I drink it. In other tea shops, I’ve enjoyed taking random cans off the shelf, opening them up and smelling my tea. That’s generally how I’ve found the one I want to take home. Yet, this process hasn’t typically involved me talking to anyone about what I’m sniffing out. Little cards and placards do the job instead. At the Tea Trader, all of the tea is shelved behind the front counter, which means I’m being helped by a staff member at all times and makes me privy to their tea-rrific knowledge and recommendations. I must’ve sniffed out 8 or 9 different kinds of tea. We kept the black teas at bay since I was looking for an evening drink. Eventually I came out with Tulsi Leaves. I brewed my cup at home. It was such a light mixture of scents and taste. I savoured each mouthful. I already had the necessary pots and things to brew loose leaf tea at home, but the Tea Trader has you covered if you’re in need of some supplies.
Lonnie T.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Calgary, Canada
Lots of selection! All of their tea is bulk order. You can chat with them and pick out some amazing teas from all over the world! You can see the tea and smell the tea. I only wish that you could sample the tea here. Apparently it’s not in their license to serve it. Glad to find a place that offers some decent darjeeling.
Lyn c.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Calgary, Canada
In a half-hour visit, I learned about various kinds of teas from round the world, tasted the tea of the day and smelled a dozen more. Chose Caramel Rooibos, Marketspice Rooibos, Organic Cherry Rose Green Tea and a catalogue to go. I’m longing for a clear glass teapot and a selection of tea buds that will release Jasmine flowers. You can arrange for delivery. In fact, you can enjoy their tea by subscription — sample monthly selections by theme or by country. And of course, they carry a nice assortment of tea ware: pots and mugs, tea socks, tea balls, strainers, trays and tongs. sample catalogue listing: Prairie Garden: A stunning blend of green and white tea with rosebuds, flowers and the fresh flavour of rhubarb — evocative of a gentle spring rain.
Arinn W.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Vancouver, Canada
I stumbled onto this place expecting a tea house – they sell tea, but it’s not a place to sit down and drink it. I ended picking out one of my favourites(cherry green! it’s sooooo good) and some expanding tea-balls. They also do a tea catalog and you can choose to get your tea mailed to you in fancy tins. This place is going to become a standby for me.
Sapna G.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Calgary, Canada
If you’re a tea feen such as myself, you will appreciate all that is The Tea Trader. Located on ‘the strip’ in Inglewood, the Tea Trader boasts 130 different kinds of loose leaf teas, with a tea from just about every corner of the globe. Whether you fancy Chinese tea, Kenyan tea, Turkish tea, Indian tea, Japanese tea or flavoured teas, the Tea Trader has a little something for everyone. The shop is located on the second floor and the smell of all the different teas lures you up the stairs. The service is good as is their selection. A very cool addition to our city.
Christopher W.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Calgary, Canada
This place is the real deal for tea enthusiasts. They have over a hundred different flavours of tea from all over the world with authentic tea crates dispersed throughout the store filled with real tea. They know their stuff; I don’t, however… I was looking for a certain tea for my girlfriend they actually didn’t have, but the woman thought for a moment, then grabbed a large canister from behind the counter, opened the top and thrust it into my face. I’m not a tea drinker so I wasn’t sure how to respond. Did she want me to smell it or put my hands through it to test the texture? Maybe she expected me to grab a handful of loose leaves and toss it into my mouth to fully comprehend the flavour. I didn’t understand. So I just stuck my nose over the top of the lid and took a whiff. «Yeah, that’s the stuff,» I told her. Shit, we could all get high on the aroma of lemon grass tea leaves… Anyway, she was quite helpful in finding an alternative to the tea I was looking for. I like this place, but I’m no expert so if you’re into tea, you’ll just have to try the place out for yourself. They do have a good selection…