Rare Tea Cellar
Company Info
Company Info
Email:
For questions concerning your retail order, you can reach us at 773.661.9570 or fill out our online contact form!
Please direct restaurant, hotel, and all other wholesale inquiries to 773.561.3000
Mailing:
Rare Tea Cellar
Customer Service
3701 N. Ravenswood Ave, #101
Chicago, IL 60613
(Warehouse Location: NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC)
FAQs
What is Rare Tea Cellar?
We specialize in the finest and rarest teas and ingredients available on planet earth. For over 15 years we have supplied top chefs, hotels, restaurants and mixologists with unique ingredients.
Are you open to the public?
We currently do not have a storefront open to the public. At this time retail orders are fulfilled through our website www.rareteacellar.com.
Where can I buy your tea in Chicago?
Publican Quality Meats and Madame Zuzu’s carry a selection of our retails teas. For a list of restaurants that carry/serve our tea please check out our Clients Page.
I live in Chicago and just placed an order online, can I stop by and pick it up?
We apologize, but at this time, we do not offer in-store pick-ups.
How can I receive free shipping?
We offer free shipping on U.S. orders of $100 or more. (Some exclusions apply)
How soon will my order ship out after it is placed?
Orders placed Monday-Friday usually ship out within 24-48 hours after they are placed. Orders placed after 5pm on Friday will ship out the following Monday.
TEA FAQ
How much caffeine is in each cup of tea?
Please reference each tea's caffeine content to the following approximations:High – Approx. 55-60mg of Caffeine
Med – Approx. 50mg of Caffeine
Low – Approx.Less than 40mg of Caffeine
Naturally Caffeine Free – All of our Herbal teas naturally do not contain any caffeine
Decaffeinated Teas – Caffeine removed by CO2 process removing over 99% of the caffeine.
If you are very sensitive to caffeine we recommend our Herbal Teas.
How long should I steep my tea?
As a general guideline, we recommend steeping tea for 3-5 minutes. To release the maximum about of antioxidants in a tea we have learned from the antioxidant experts at Cornell University tea must be brewed for 5 minutes.
How much tea do I need per cup?
In general we recommend (1) teaspoon (5-7 grams) per 12oz of water.
How do I keep my tea fresh?
Once opened, we recommend storing your tea in an airtight container.
(*The biggest enemy of tea is air and if left opened for too long it will start to absorb the aromas around it.)
Does all tea come from the same plant?
All teas come from the camellia sinensis plant. All herbal teas and blends are considered tisanes (or herbs) and do not come from the tea plant.
How long will my tea stay fresh after it is opened?
Any unopened teas will last a minimum of two years in the original packaging. Once opened, to maintain freshness, they should be enjoyed within 6 months to a year.
Can I steep my tea more than once?
Most teas can handle 3 or more infusions. Please refer to each tea’s specific brewing instructions for more details.
HEALTH FAQ
Should I avoid any certain teas while pregnant?
First, as a disclaimer, we recommend consulting your doctor before consuming any tea while pregnant.
From our experience, we recommend avoiding:
- Roman Chamomile Blossom
- All Pu-erh Teas (due to their natural mold/bacteria)
Are your teas gluten-free?
All of our teas are naturally gluten-free.
Which of your teas contain nuts?
While our teas do not contain nuts, a number of them have been processed by machines that also process nuts and are held in a facility that carries different types of nuts.
