• Ito En

  822 Madison Avenue, near 69th Street, 212-988-7111

  Leave it to Ito En, the largest supplier of green tea in the world, to open the most beautiful tea shop in town. Seventy-five varieties of black, green, white, and herbal tea from India, China, and Sri Lanka are for sale. Check out the flowering teas that come with chrysanthemum blossoms, which open when brewed, adding a mild floral flavor as well as a beautiful visual effect. Each day, you can sample different offerings from the hand-carved cherry-wood tasting bar, and don’t miss the accompanying crunchy, chocolate-covered almonds dusted in green-tea powder. You won’t be able to leave without a little bag of them..

From the 2004 Best of New York issue of New York Magazine