Atlanta etc.: Marilyn Wolf's Food Blog and Restaurant Blog

Tea House Formosa is a fairly new entrant on the Buford Highway scene. It's on the southbound side and a bit hidden in its two-story strip mall. Inside, the interior is very stylish. The tables were all full on this Saturday afternoon but they also have takeout. The menu includes a variety of food items, many of them snacks but some seem to be more substantial as well. Here is my cold oolong tea. First off, the packaging is great. The paper lid is stuck on and you just jab your straw through it. I find this much more pleasant than drinking through a hole in the lid. The tea itself was wonderfully flavorful with that earthy oolong taste.

Andreas and I used a conference planning meeting to enjoy a restful tea service at the Tea Room at the Nara Hotel. We sat down at a beautifully appointed table with this perfect little view. Our service was both crisp and very welcoming. Here is our tea set, each with a pot of tea and a cake of our choosing. I ordered oolong while Andreas ordered English breakfast. Our tea arrived in white pots with blue trim. On the side was a petite inverse egg timer. It was made of lava lamp materials, with blue oil suspended in water. Rather than pouring down to count time, the blue oil poured up. When all the blue bubbles reached the top, we removed our bags and enjoyed perfect cups of tea. Andreas ordered the cheesecake while I tried the pine nut cake. The cake was delicious and just the right size, big enough to enjoy but not too large or sweet.

Tah Cha Tea is on Chamblee Tucker Road just south of the intersection with the Perimeter. I've driven by several times without noticing it, since it is set back in the strip mall. But it is a very welcoming place with a great atmosphere. In addition to a strong selection of teas, they have a good selection of food. I had a good bowl of potato soup; they also have a selection of sandwiches. Their dessert selection is very impressive, ranging from chocolates to cannoli.