I am a big fan of going out for tea, especially to places that really set themselves apart from the rest, such as Cha Do Raku in the Plateau Mount Royal. This tiny boutique and Japanese tea salon seem to be the interior of a friend’s house, and the service is equally welcoming. The space is on the corner of a residential area of the Plateau, but the leafy green taking over the windows and the Asian lettering on the door drew me in.
Once seated in a cozy corner, (this is definitely the kind of place where you would want to spend an entire rainy afternoon), a binder was brought to the table, listing the impressive selection of teas. Along with a menu of the teas comes a description for each, with their benefits and characteristics.
Prior to being a tea salon, the owner sold the tea online, so the variety is large and well researched, originating mostly from Japan and Taiwan. To accompany the tea there is a small choice of sweet and savory snacks; I enjoyed a mochi cake on my visit. Being a boutique, all the teas you try can be purchased, as well as a beautiful variety of tea pots and cups.
Coffee shops are abundant in Montreal, so it is always a treat to find a new and unique tea salon.
