Top 10 tea houses

1. Téance
 Berkeley
This serene tea bar is part of a movement of teahouses introducing the ancient tradition of tea to grande-latte-with-whipped-cream drinkers. And it's enough to convince a coffee addict to give tea a chance. Tastings from $7.50; teance.com or 510/524-2832.

2. Red Blossom Tea Company
 San Francisco
Although it’s a shop only―no tea served―it’s worth a stop to stock up on the high-quality Chinese teas, which have been sold to the likes of Charlie Trotter’s restaurants and the Westin St. Francis. redblossomtea.com or 415/395-0868.

3. Miro Tea
 Seattle
This modern tea shop, which also serves food, opened in August last year in Seattle’s historic Ballard neighborhood and offers an extensive selection of teas, from rare pu-erhs to competition-grade Dragonwell green tea. Check out the shop’s informative blog. $; mirotea.com or 206/782-6832.

4. The Tao of Tea
 Portland
Its two shops offer an extensive and sophisticated selection of Asian teas. There’s also a Tao tea bar in a Whole Foods Market (7380 S.W. Bridgeport Rd., Tigard, OR). $; taooftea.com, 503/736-0119 (3430 S.E. Belmont St.), or 503/ 224-8455 (239 N.W. Everett St.).