The Tea Bar Brings a Cup of Cheer

Coffee franchises are everywhere these days, but in the U.S. particularly, tea often goes unappreciated. Outside of America, tea is the number one beverage besides water. Many coffee houses in the states serve chai, but few places specialize in just tea. A newcomer to Fort Lee is changing all that by bringing back the traditional tea house. The Tea Bar café and restaurant at 1356 Palisade Ave. has been serving up a wide selection of tea for a little over a month now.

The Tea Bar is a meeting ground of culture and food. Not only does the Tea House have a delicious menu, but it also features works by local artists on the café walls and holds live jazz performances every Saturday. There will even be jazz on Christmas Eve.

During the holiday season, the Tea Bar has several popular and festive teas. The Christmas tea is a light flavorful tea with cinnamon and other holiday spices. The Christmas tea is popular with honey but also tastes delicious with no sweetener. The tea is served in a lovely clear pot and arrives with a timer that indicates how long it has to steep. Then you simply hold the pot over your cup and release a lever to let the tea fall into the cup below. Another holiday favorite is the pumpkin spice tea.

The Tea Bar is primarily known for its extensive collection of teas, including flavors such as almond, apricot, blood orange, hazelnut, raspberry and one of the big favorites, chocolate chai, but you can also eat a full meal at the tea bar for lunch or dinner.

Overall, the Tea Bar has a very chic but cozy feeling to it. Tables are set up to accommodate small groups, and there are a few smaller tables on the side as well. Residents seem to have taken quite well to the idea of a tea bar right here in Fort Lee. The owner, Paul Kong, works primarily in finance but wanted to bring some of the city life into New Jersey with live music, art and exclusive teas. Kong said Fort Lee seemed like the ideal place to start his business because of the diverse population, particularly the mix of Asian populations residing in Fort Lee that would be receptive to tea culture. Kong himself has moved into Fort Lee in order to be a part of the community he is trying to connect with. Whether you're a tea buff, an artist, a weary holiday shopper or just in the mood for a relaxing cup of tea, the Tea Bar is definitely some place you'll want to check out.