There’s nothing like spending a laid back afternoon sipping on some tea while reading, writing, and/or surfing the web. In Boise, one of the best places to do just that is Snake River Tea.
I only say “one of” because I haven’t been everywhere in Boise, but this local business immediately became my favorite spot in the downtown area. I even came back a number of times in the two weeks I was in the city during the summer.
The tea shop is a casual place with an intriguing variety of beverages. If you’re unsure of what you want, head on over to the magnetic tea wall to the right of the counter where there are dozens of metal canisters, all of which are labeled and filled with aromatic tea leaves. You can grab the containers off the wall and open them up and smell them to help you decide on what to order. Each container is labeled as well so you can easily tell the employees what you’d like.
If you’re still not sure about what to buy, check the three teapots lined up at front counter for some free samples.
It takes a couple of minutes to get your drink after placing your order because the tea is brewed on the spot. Once you’re served, it’s nice to take some time to enjoy the environment inside, which seems to reflect the chill vibes all over Boise. There are plenty of seats available, including regular chairs at tables, chairs at the bar, a sofa, and sofa seats. Some seats are relatively close to outlets if you want to plug in your electronic devices to charge them up and/or do some work.
The tea is brewed fresh and right where you can see it
The teashop even has its own reading material in case you forget to bring your own, and it also has some games you can play. On my first visit there, my friends and I decided to indulge in a fun round of scrabble.
If you end up really liking some of the tea, you can also purchase tea leaves by the ounce and brew your own at home. My friends got a few bags and were able to brew the leaves a couple of times, so they’re pretty good quality.
But you’re not just limited to tea at Snake River Tea. There are also food options, and they started serving boba right before I left! I wasn’t too fond of the food and boba, though. I think their specialty is really the tea. But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t come back to this place in a heartbeat if I get the chance to again.
Snake River Tea is definitely a Boise treasure worth visiting again and again, especially for those who absolutely love tea 🙂