Grinding Their Own Matcha — Photo courtesy of O5 Tea (Facebook)
O5 Rare Tea Bar is a new addition to Vancouver's tea scene and it's safe to say that there is nothing else like this space in the city. Sure, Vancouverites appreciate their tea, but no one has created a space quite like the one that Pedro and Brian have on Kitsilano's West 4th Avenue.
From the outside, a large black and sleek door neighbors a sweeping window that allows people walking by a peek into this cool space. If the architecturally pleasing exterior and glimpse of the interior aren't enough to draw you in, perhaps their butter laden, hand-made caramels and tea will get you in there.
When you walk inside, you will be hit with serenity and aw by the bar setup. There are a number of steel stools that line the beautiful wooden bar while black stained wood panels extend the walls and ceiling, giving the room a pleasant mix of traditional and modern. There are a few different tea stations that are set up, complete with custom ceramic bowls made in Mexico and tea pots straight from Japan.
O5 sources their teas from Japan, Taiwan, China, Korea, the Himalayas and beyond. They even brought back a matcha grinder from one of their travels so that they can keep things as fresh and authentic as possible. The team at O5 have figuratively hand picked the teas they've chosen to serve by traveling the globe and meeting and spending time with the farmers that grow and harvest these quality teas. They've befriended each of the farmers and can answer every question you may have about any of the teas.
To complete your tea experience, the venue also serves tapas and a few sweet treats, such as their decadent caramels.
They also sell ceramics, Kale & Nori bitters and jarred local treats - the perfect present for the tea connoisseurs in your life. This shop and tea bar will definitely change the way you look at tea.
O5 Tea's Interior — Photo courtesy of O5 Tea (Facebook)
