TeaGschwender
1624 S. Randall Rd
Algonquin, IL 60102
(847) 458-8501 Store Hours:
Mon-Sat 11AM to 9PM
Sun 11AM to 6PM
I was hoping for the best when I discovered a tea bistro in Algonquin Commons, and TeaGschwender more than delivered on my expectations. The bistro side offers cozy seating arrangements, leather couches and comfortable chairs, with an elegant ceramic tea pot at the center of each of the dining tables. In addition to the over 300 varieties of tea available hot or iced, there is a simple menu of delectable sandwiches, wraps, salads and other lite fare, along with taste bud delighting desserts. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food and presentation, especially the artfully arranged side order of fruit which included grapes, apple slices, and strawberries. The staff were friendly and accommodating. We later saw that it was an actual chef in traditional white hat and coat working in the kitchen, which explained the gourmet level of the food.
The retail side offers ready-made bags of popular flavors of loose tea, as well as counter service for purchasing any of the many varieties in bulk form. With each purchase the customer receives a catalog of the teas with descriptions of the flavors and origins, as well as the history and mission of TeaGschwender. They also throw in a special measuring spoon, and each package has specific instructions for brewing by the cup or pot.
With lunch we sampled the wild cherry tea iced, and it was a bright red, sweetly flavored delight. An obvious favorite, there remained only a tiny sample left for me to purchase for home use, but they offered to email me when a new batch arrived. I also bought a bag of herbal fruit tea and cup-sized filter. Brewed at home, it was much less potent than the wild cherry, but with bits of fruit and whole cranberries in the mix, it had a nice flavor. An 80g package goes for $5.45, which TeaGschwender informs us works out to $.20 per cup. Not a bad bargain. Some of the teas were more expensive, but their prices seemed fair.
In the shop were also several varieties of tea pots, filters, measuring spoons, dinner ware and gifts. This is where the pricing suddenly shot up. A simple tea pot that would serve no more than four people ranged in price from $75 to $180. The mugs and some of the utensils seemed a bit high as well, especially for the area. They might have priced themselves out of the local market on these items.
Overall I give TeaGschwender high marks for product quality and service. There were plenty of employees to cover the different aspects of the shop, and they seemed excited about their products and willing to make suggestions and offer advice. It’s refreshing to have a gem like this in the neighborhood, one of only three TeaGschwender bistros in the United States. I highly recommend the trip for lunch or to stock up on a delicious blend of teas. I can bet it’ll become your new favorite place.
