“ Wow! Such a cute place. I'll be back. Small, so consider reservations. I stopped by to complete a tea gift and it had a friendly and warm vibe. ”

“ I love tea. And I love places that do tea right. If you are new to Asian tea, go to Blue Willow and try the Black Honey Oolong. Its got to be the most popular tea they sell. Like many of their teas, the Black Honey Oolong is imported from Taiwan. This tea is sourced from a single farm run by a single family. There is a local bug that nibbles on the tea leaves and begins the fermintation process while the leaf is still on the plant. The ambiance here is delightful. Its modern Asian fare. PRO-TIP: If you like the Black Honey Oolong so much that you want to buy some to make at home, they will sell you a 2oz canister of it for $24. If you sign up for their subscription plan to it, it will only be $21 per month. PRO-TIP: If you go on there website, there is a 10% coupon for online orders if you give them your email address. ”

“ So delicious! This is an amazing tea place with very relaxing vibes and everything felt very authentic. I got their iced matcha latte and my friend got a regular matcha bowl and both were delicious. I also bought the marukyu koyamaen matcha powder from here for about $34! ”

“ What a cute spot! It's bigger on the inside than you'd expect from the exterior. There's lots of cute seating to choose from, if it's not too busy. The 2021 sticky rice chou and red dragon teas were excellent. The nuts are also nice, though the serving is small for $3. I loved poring over the books and business cards in the little alcove. The bathroom was clean and I was surprised to see incense was burnt in there. The downsides: hours seem inconsistent (online said they closed at 6pm on a Friday, but in-person they said 8pm that day), the cashier wasn't sure which nuts were in the mix, all pastries were sold out, and Berkeley Bucks was a bit of a hassle to redeem (seems like the workers aren't trained on the process). ”

“ This is a lovely, cozy spot with a large selections of teas. I had the hojicha latte with oatmilk. It was nutty and lightly sweet. I also saw some tea flights come out that I may need to come back out to try another time. ”

“ A beautiful, hidden-away cafe serving a variety of loose-leaf teas and a limited amount of pastries. Blue Willow Teaspot is a must-try for tea lovers; they offer an enormous variety of green, white, black/red, and herbal teas, along with matcha and some chai lattes. The staff are friendly, interior is absolutely stunning. The prices are a bit steep but the ambience and quality help justify the costs. My friend and I stopped by around 4pm on a Monday for a quick catch-up. He tried the Blood Orange blend (per the website, a "fruit tisane containing dried orange peel, hibiscus petals and rose hips") and I tried the Lunar Winter green tea (notes of smoke, red-bean paste). We both got 1 cup each so we didn't get to actually brew the tea ourselves or try their tea pots, etc. The teas were good but each cup cost ~$7 each, which I feel is a bit much considering each cup is about 8 oz. Perhaps the pot is better value? We also wish we could have sat indoors but all of the tables were occupied so we had to sit outside in the cold, meaning our teas got cold quickly. I wish they had a bit more seating outside and had some portable warmers, especially since fall/winter is coming. I also wish they had a few more pastries on hand and/or some snacks on the menu! I maybe saw 2 total pastries at the front so I was a little disappointed since I wanted something to pair with my tea. ”

“ Today I stopped by Blue Willow Teaspot on the way from Three Stone Hearth to Huey's to pick up my laundry. I found parking in the same little lot I did before and walked over to the shop. There were two young women working behind the counter and one of them helped me. I didn't ask her name but she was very nice. I saw a couple of the pretzel goat cheese pastries. I asked if they were baked there and she said no, that they were baked by Firebrand Bakery, so that answers that. I love Firebrand's baked goods, but this may be my favorite. I bought both. She started to put one on a plate and I said I was taking them to go. She teasingly replied that they tasted better there and I told her I was running errands, so she gave them to me in individual bags, offering me a handle bag which I declined. It was a lovely interaction and I will be back, although not as soon as I was this time. ”

“ These people know their teas! I love tea. I collect tea. If you like tea and know very little about it please start here. You'll learn how to steep with the proper temperatures and timings. Now that can be a small challenge but that is only part of a tea flight. You can get a simple cup and a snack. You can schedule a full tea ceremony, too! Blue Willow Teaspot makes for a lovely "third place." ”

“ As tea lovers, my companion and I had wanted to try Blue Willow Teaspot for the longest time! From the second we stepped in, a feeling of calmness came over me and I enjoyed the hours spent sipping on their tea. The interior somewhat reminded me of a Japanese tea house. You feel zen surrounded by the plants, tea-inspired decor, and wooden furniture. There are several tables to sit, work, study, and chat at. WiFi is available and it's a popular spot for workers. Depending on the day and time, reservations or time limits may be necessary. I will say that the service wasn't the best. It took 30 minutes for our tea to come out. The worker messed up on our order and gave it to us regardless which was nice, but still. This is a desirable spot for tea lovers. The menu is expansive with various tea types and tea grades. I was overwhelmed by the options so went with familiarity--Hojicha Latte with Oat Milk and Chai Latte with Oat Milk for us both. You could taste the strong flavor of both teas. It wasn't traditional nor the best I've had but still good. We also shared a pastry--it was fine but a bit drier and cold. Other diners had tea pots which looked super cute so maybe next time I'll go for that. For those seeking a relaxing or calming atmosphere to work or talk, Blue Willow Teaspot is charming and tucked in Northwest Berkeley off Tenth Street. There's free street parking around the area. With how close it is to my home, I'd come back for another work day! ”