The Blue Turtle Tea & Spice Company

A really lovely shop in Uptown Westerville featuring some really tasty custom made granola, spices, loose teas, and food. Haven’t actually tried the sit down service, but we got some tea and spices to take home and their selection was fantastic!

Their ghost chili is one of the best chilis I have ever eaten. The jerk quesadilla is delicious, too. As for the tea, they recommended the monk’s blend and I loved it. They really know their tea collection. Just tell them what you like and they will find teas that you’ll love.

Went in to investigate the tea and found out they served food. THe food is fresh, I had the turkey and ham sandwich with garlic mayo a side salad. The bread is just normal sandwich loaf, but plenty pleanty of turkey and ham also the salad mix was good. The garlic mayo was just that. some mayo with garlic, could have used a little spice, maybe chipotle or even better herbed garlic aoli. The side salad was mixed greens with a few slices of cucumber, the balsmic vinegarette was excellent. I did end up putting that on the sandwich and was great. The vegitarian menu looks great.
I had the Pheonix Jasmine Pearls tea which was very weak, however I make this tea at home and like it stronger. The Black Current was excellent especially with the wounderful carrot cake. THe piece was just enough for one and not too big. Could probably share if having lunch, However if just there for the tea and cake keep it all to yourself. It is just right.
Amanda the owner is very knowledgable and friendly. She will definately work with you if there is anything you would like to try or order. This is a very enjoyable place to sit, eat and chat. No soft furnature just regular table and chairs due to the walls being lined with spices and teas.
I did buy the vanilla beans and some Tandori spice blend. Both are excellent. I made some rice pudding with the vanilla beans and Chicken Tikka Masala with the spices. Both excellent.
You can smell all the teas and spices, even sample taste of the flavored sugars. They also sell local honey for the tea which is excellent.
I would definately return for the vegitarian menu, the tea and desserts. I am excited to try the other items on the menu.

Variety of teas at Blue Turtle Tea Company. Valerie and I went to this place last Friday at 10 am since both of our kids were in preschool. When we stepped in, we were overwhelmed by the various smells of tea along with the smell of chili! We were greeted by the chef (who makes the food fresh daily!) and he educated us about the various types of tea (their website says they over 100 loose teas from around the world). After smelling the various teas, Valerie decided to go with a Cranberry Apple tea since she likes fruity smelling teas. I went with a chai tea and chose a Chocolate Chai tea. They delivered the teas in a tall tea mug with the loose leaves of tea in a tea strainer ball. (see picture below) The chef told us to let it steep for a few minutes and then we could add half and half (this is the only milk product you can add to your tea at this place) and any other sugars/​sweeteners/​honey. I thought my Chocolate Chai tea was just «okay» because I didn’t care for the slighlty bitter aftertaste. Valerie on the other hand, loved her Cranberry Apple tea!
After an hour of yapping with one another, it was time to order lunch! Valerie and I both ordered the «mixed plates» which is a ½ soup/​salad ‚½ quesadilla/​soup or ½ sandwich/​quesadilla. Both were $ 9.75. I ordered the ½ quesadilla called «The Islander» which is a Jamacian Jerk Pork, hot and sweet bbq and sour cream on the side. This was absoultley FANTASTIC. When you bite into the quesadilla, it tastes sweet and then the heat/​spice «kicks» in at the end! (Do I sound like a judge on «Top Chef» or what??) The other ½ of my order was the Ghost Chili Chili Soup and it was the right amount it was spice as well – okay I love food that is SPICY! (thank you Ghost Chili!) Val ordered the ½ salad Roasted Curry Apricot Chicken and Tomato Bisque Soup. Val thought the tomato bisque was delicious and she said «It tastes like homemade soup.» Now, I do think that her chicken salad was the real star! The Roasted Curry Apricot Chicken – it started off with a slightly sweet taste (from the apricot) and then ended with a curry flavor!
Even though our bill with tea and tip came up to $ 26, I do think the food/​experience was worth every penny! It’s been awhile since I have been «wowed» by food flavors and this place really surprised me! Blue Turtle Tea prides itself in offering organic and fair trade products (teas and spices) from around the world. They also offer classes, tea parties and «Murder Mystery» parties as well. The food is there is really a bonus (forgot to mention they have vegetarian and gluen free wraps!)! I never expected to find such original delicious food in this place. I am ready to go back! SMAC Approved!
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The staff is very welcoming and encourages browsing. Every time I’ve wondered about how to use a unique spice (ie habanero sugar) they’ve had excellent and practical ideas (use it in cornbread!) the snack/​dessert items are unique and delicious.

Have yet to purchase spices but this place smells amazing as soon as you walk in the door. The woman who owns this little gem works front of house and was extremely sweet and happy to explain the foundings of her business and about new additions to the menu. We ordered hot cocoa (delicious), fresh iced teas (black tea and georgia peach) Yum! We had the tomato bisque which was nothing like any tomato bisque I have ever tested and it was delicious. The mushroom soup which was rich with flavor and also not anything like I expected. I was told the chicken salad sandwich was delicious by my mother in law but can not speak for it myself because I don’t eat meat. I will say however that she is a very picky eater and had expected it to have a mayo base and it was mustard! She tried it though and immediately remarked. The portabella sandwich was the perfect balance of flavor and both were on a thick sliced hearty bread that was amazing. The house salad should be renamed. House salad makes me think of something basic. This salad was so unbasic I sopped up the dressing with the potato roll that came with my soup. All in all an excellent experience. We plan to visit again soon to try the new veggie burger theyre adding to the menu. Did I mention this place is all organic, free trade, and has vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options? Seriously. So good. OH OH OH and the end of my meal was topped off with a chocolate chocolate cake topped with expresso sugar. my mother in law got a peppermint patty. It was home made of course, shaped like a turtle :) and wrapped in blue foil.