Hi Tea

Oh, ., no, so sad… I walked by this little tea house many times over the last few years…
but I had never known what kind of place it was; and never got a chance to take a break and check it out.
This afternoon, I walked by it again, saw the sign for rent, (it must have been there for a while???) with some curiosity why they ran out of the business, then came here …
what a loss it is in our lovely neighborhood :(
Only wish they could do a little bit more on marketing this little place, as least let people who live around will get to know them…
wish they can come back soon.
It’s time to create an easy and a less costly way to help our local small cool places to market them…? Yes, I am going to create a project just for this at right this moment.
Sitting at Caribou and sipping the coffee of the day, I am typing this… (yeah, I love Caribou’s wood walls and friendly people there)

It looks like this place has closed and, frankly, I am not surprised. Why? It was TOO damn expensive. Hi Tea was a great concept that was never properly implemented. I was a faithful regular when they first opened and ultimately was turned off and knew that I could get more bang for my buck elsewhere.
The tea was wonderful and the food was absolutely delicious — especially the carrot-​ginger soup and the paninis. But I don’t think I ever got out of there without spending $ 15 or $ 16 for a sandwich, maybe some pasta salad and a drink. They needed to price adjust, work on their marketing and regulate their hours to get folks IN there and keep them, but they never did.
One of the co-​owners is the same guy who owns SRO on Dearborn, so obviously he knows how to run an establishment. Here’s hoping they can find a way to revamp and re-​open because the neighborhood definitely needs a place like Hi Tea — but just not at those prices!

Hi Tea is closed and there are no signs or additional info. They closed shortly before my original post but they were known for slightly unpredictable hours. Its been another few weeks and nothing has changed. The South Loop has lost a great spot.

My co-​workers and I used to love going down there for a yummy, healthy lunch. I could even get some vegan delights! But one day we walked in and they were only serving tea… and the next day they were closed. Lights off, phone disconnected.
There is no mention of this anywhere that I can find on the internet. Even their website resembles that of a fully-​functioning establishment. If they ever open again, I recommend stopping by, but until then, you’ll have to get your tea somewhere else.

**Update**
Well, unfortunately Hi-​Tea is closed. they didn’t warn anyone, there wasn’t a sign up for a very long time, nothing.
I called there one day to check their hours and the phone was disconnected.
I’m REALLY bummed. This was my place to go and work with my laptop while enjoying some vegan delights.
I hope they re-​open but I’m not holding my breath.
Went here for the 1^st time the other day. I’ve wanted to check out this place for a while (I live right around the corner).
Anyway, I’m not a big fan of tea but the guy convinced me to try a tea he thought I’d like. and I did :) I wish I would have brought a little pack of stevia to sweeten it up but the flavor itself was yummy!
They have VEGAN options for sandwiches and VEGAN cheese! All sandwiches come with a jicama slaw and it’s VEGAN as well!
I got a vegan grilled cheese with spinach and onion and it was YUMMY!!!
The service rocked, the guy behind the counter really knew what he was talking about and he was quite funny :)
KUDOS to the owner for acknowledging that there are A LOT of vegans in Chicago and the numbers just keep growing.
I will definitely be frequenting this place with my laptop to work and relax in the cozy atmosphere.
One suggestion: get a recycling bin for all of the papers/​cups.
Definitely recommend this place!

So I first went here today about hearing about it from friends, so it’s somewhat fitting that it’s my first review.
I ordered the Turkey Gruyère and the «Strawberry Fields» Iced Green Tea. I have to say, the sandwich was delicious — I usually prefer ham over turkey, but it was really good — the turkey wasn’t dry, and it had some kind of oil or vinaigrette on it that paired perfectly with everything. I didn’t think much of the jicama slaw, and the particular tea I had wasn’t anything super special.
For what you got, I think the price was a little high, as the sandwich wasn’t that big — but then again, all sandwiches you order when you’re out are a little pricey.
It’s a cute place though, and I would definitely go again — definitely a good place to go in the South Loop.

Tea Rocks!
It makes me feel like British royalty … and it drys out my sense of humour (see the extra «u» there? classy…).
All jokes aside this place was really good and did the job quickly. Prices aren’t bad — but if you really boil it down (yes, the puns!) than it’s just leaves and hot water… so I guess it could be cheaper.
I dig it.

Funky little out of the way tea spot, with about 60 different kinds of loose leaf tea, and a range of sandwich choices.
The sandwiches are a selection of staples, and while not gourmet by any means they are quite good. Includes a few vegetarian choices and a couple that can be adapted to vegan (no cheese, vegan cheese if you’re into that sort of thing, or tofu). Really nice tea, and reasonably priced.

Great tea selection, lovely employees, and a cozy atmosphere. Tasty sandwiches, too (namely the tomato mozzarella baguette and the earl grey chicken salad). Vegetarian options are available, as well as delicious vegan cookies. Everyone is laid back and the people behind the counter will be happy to help you select a tea just for you; they are even willing to try mixing different teas for you if you give them a hint of what you like. Go, sit, enjoy a little chat and a pot of tea with a friend at one of the cute window tables. You will be sure to leave a little happier and feeling refreshed.

On a freezing day where you are feeling under the weather, and want a super yummy cup of hot tea, this is the place.
So many choices, so little time.
I also love the caprese sandwich — roasted tomatoes, tangy vinegar on a crunchy baguette — its great.

The tea selection is great, but it’s sooooo expensive. I don’t usually expect to pay that much for a cup of hot tea. They also serve gelato from Michael Canady’s Chocolatier down the road. Yum!

I partially wish this was in a better location so more people would know about it but on second thought, heck with ‘em. Keep it a secret.
The drinks are great, the sandwiches are tasty and they even sell antiques.

So a little bit about Hi Tea, It’s the shit. One of the best parts about it is that any of their large variety of teas can be iced within a few minutes.
Their tea is great, from traditional jasmines to more complex flavored teas. The staff is extremely friendly and very knowledgeable about their products.
They also have Gelato, which was great too.
Considering there is little choice in the area for coffee or tea besides DD, which is good, and Starfucks, you would be really missing out if you were jonesing for some good drink and eats in the south loop area and didn’t go to Hi Tea.
Atmosphere is very relaxed. I like that you can order whole pots of tea for your table. They have internet access, although I have never used it. They also have sandwiches that look really tasty. I normally go for the tea though. The dog doesn’t like to wait outside for too long.
Seriously, Good Tea. Check it out.
RrL

I had come in search of finger sandwiches but found that there were none available here. I opted for a sandwich of almond butter and strawberry jam in wheat, and a strawberry fields green tea.
The sandwich all-​together reminded me too much of a plain PB&J. The almond butter wasn’t amazing and the jam was mediocre. I guess it made for a semi-​healthy lunch. In addition, the sandwich was accompanied by a small jicama and apple salad that was lacking in seasoning. The tea was revitalizing under the scorching heat outside and it tasted singularly of strawberries.
The space allows for much seating inside, including a lower deck by the window. It seemed like an optimal place to study; it was quiet and there was brain food. I wish there were one of these around my school when I was still a student.

Love this spot. The tea and the tea selection is amazing! My favorite is the mango rhubarb and California dreaming green tea… yummy! Their food is delectable, reasonably priced, and great portions, at least for a girl:-) The staff is great as well. I personally really like Raymond. Super happy this joint opened! Great addition to the South Loop. We needed a place like this.
Update-7−17−07 They have the most delicious fresh fruit tarts. I got one today and it had blueberries, kiwi, strawberries, peaches, and plums on it! Yum!

UPDATE:
I came here for lunch the other day. Grabbed a chicken salad sandwich and a cup of iced tea, got a seat and watched the première of Starter Wife (it was good) on my laptop. The little salad thing that came with the sandwich was alright… but I didn’t care too much for it. It was a relaxing experience. The people who worked there was nice… the wifi was free. hmm. I’m going to give the soup a try next time.
I’ve only been once… but i LOVED it. I love teeeaaaaa so with over 50 different ones to choose from… its the bombshizzle. I had one of their green teas (forgot which). It had a gorgeous frangrance and a light buttery taste to it. There are sandwiches and soups and tables in the front and wifi for customers but I was in a hurry so I can’t tell you much about anything else but the tea.

This tea shop recently opened around the corner from Columbia. The thing that impressed me most about my visit was the manager’s interest in getting the customer’s opinion on their experience. I visited with a regular customer who was a Columbia student and the manager came over to chat and check that everything met our satisfaction.
The shop features an excellent tea selection. I ordered a pot of the Monkey Picked Oolong, which tasted just like it had been picked by monkeys! The shop also features pastries and various tea-​related paraphrenalia.
If you ever get caught in a summer storm in the South Loop, Hi-​Tea is an excellent spot to ride out the rain.

I came here on a date once. It was OK. The sandwiches were tasty, but small, and not very filling. We both had a sneaking suspicion that the soups they serve here are the Trader Joe’s soup-​in-​a-​box kinds… Are we right, Hi Tea?
Nice space and nice employees.
Their tea is really great, and they have an amazing selection, but other than that… eh.

Much has already been said here about the enjoyable experience of Hi Tea. There are at least five good reasons to visit.
1 — The quality and selection of premium teas exceeds anything else I’ve had in Chicago.
2 — The soups, sandwhiches and sides (cold pasta salads, fage greek yogurt, simple and fresh fruit cups) are delicious. Even if you’re not a tea-​drinker, Hi Tea is a great, affordable place to eat.
3 — The tea drinking accoutrements – such as modern tea pots, traditional tea pots, and tea bags – are affordable and cool
4 — The atmosphere, in part driven by the side street adajcent-​to-​the-​el train location, is urban serenity, and
5 — The service is top notch; helpful, engaging, attentative.

Hi Tea has finally opened their doors for business! The staff is helpful and very knowledgable, which is good because the tea menu is pretty daunting. They carry over 50 different loose leaf teas which you can enjoy at a table with one of the many grilled or baguette sandwiches, take to go, or even buy by the canister. The price points are reasonable and the atmosphere is very comfortable with clips of old black and white commercials airing on three TV’s and local art on the walls. The seating is two level and the bottom level by the window seems almost like a private room.
The food is simple but good. Panini grilled or baguette roast beef, turkey, or caprese sandwiches, chicken salad or egg salad on multigrain sunflower bread, or a fun twist on the old PB&J: almond butter and your choice of four jams. Each sandwich is served with a side of jicama apple slaw which is more of a salad than a slaw, but is incredible. The ingredients are very fresh and the bread is sourced from Red Hen bakery. Simple but good. Hi Tea also offers all natural soups which rotate daily. So far I’ve had roasted cashew and carrot, roasted red pepper tomato, and creamy butternut squash. They’ve all been great. Along with soups and sandwiches are the ubiquitous pastries foound in coffe and tea houses. The only thing I thought was missing was shortbread.
I’m psyched that Hi Tea is finally open! Now there is somewhere to go in the South Loop besides Gourmand.