Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar

by lady p.

A wonderful little hole-in-the-wall tea house, full of private, cozy tables, pillows and draperies. THE perfect little hidy-hole for a rendezvous to inspire intimacy without hitting the target over the head with roses and champagne. Nice tea menu, light vegetarian fare. The goat cheese/nuts/dried fruit plate is nice.

by Terrence A.

If you're looking Califormia but feeling Minnesota this is your place. Very nouveau-Bohemian-hippy. Decent food and a superb selection of teas.I actually really dig the decor - think Indian hashish den mixed with a Mother Nature vibe. Sort of...Anyway - tough day at the office? Get away at lunch and hide in this little hole-in-the-wall with a pot of great tea and a hookah. Nothing says "screw the Man" like a hookah.

by Mary L.

One of the most unique tea places I've ever been to. Everytime I'm in Charlottesville, I try to go. There are many nooks and crannies each themed and decorated differently. It's really cool. There is a little japanese  style area where you drink sitting on the ground and in another area you'll have benches and tons of drapery and pillows. There is also a great deck out back which I recommend on a good day. There are hundreds of teas from China to Morocco to try. I always just close my eyes and point to something on the menu and it normally never fails to satisfy. If you're looking to get lunch here, they have a great tuna sandwhich although I think it's seasonal. The owner is beyond nice and he's obviously a traveler. Everytime I've gone there, we've always been able to pull him aside and get him to tell us about some of his travels. It's a really warm and cozy place. If you ever find yourself in downtown Charlottesville, be sure to stop here.

by Nicole C.

I haven't been to the Twisted Branch in over two years and I noticed comments about management changes, which is unfortunate because this was such a great and unique spot on the downtown mall.  Twisted Branch embodied C'ville because it had the perfect irony that this town seems to have: something found in a highly commercial prepped out area but so convinced of its own unique counter-culture that somehow it just balances itself out.  Oh, and it's hippie; very hippie.  But then, it's Charlottesville.  The seating can be fill up fast, but if you get a good couch or even something on the patio, you can park yourself there with a few friends, get some tea or hookah and have a psychedelic good time.  I'm sad to hear that some of the unique and artsy things are gone, because this was a fun place to hang out.

by Ellen R.

This is such a great spot to come and relax. The tea selection is intimidating, but the folks at the counter will hook you up with recommendations if you tell them what you need, and they've always been really sweet. Try the goat-herder platter when you come with a group of friends--you will be nibbling for hours. It is different depending on who is making it that day. I used to see folks smoking hookahs here too. Haven't seen any lately--maybe they still have them? They have a few plug-ins if you want to come study, and there are low tables where you can sit cross legged if that's your thing. I don't come for the shows in the evenings because I prefer the mellow times in the afternoon. If you do turn up in the evening, make your way out the back of the teahouse and get a spot on the patio. If you come at the right time, you can see the chimney swifts plunging down their namesake.Last time I checked, they don't validate parking, but you can always park down on Monticello.Five stars for being such a great break in the day and so wonderfully packed with idiosyncrasies.

by Brendan F.

Back in the day, this place used to be my retreat whenever I felt like blowing off the library scene and getting into some Maharishi shit. They used to have a really extensive menu of teas, ranging from your standard Chinese black teas to some really trippy herb-mate combos that would send me into a headspin. The atmosphere they created in this 2nd floor tea room was something straight out of Buddha's crib and it was always very warm and cozy. The tree sculpture, key chandeliers, old as time couches that are so worn down your ass is basically sitting on a wood bench. It was all good. I haven't been back in several years but I hope things haven't changed too much, it would be a real shame to lose this place to the corporate feeding frenzy that's spreading over the downtown mall lately.

by Paul o.

I don't know what happened to this place, but it was not for the better.  Last visit it changed dramatically, from a comfortable setting with knowledgeable staff to a brightly lit venue where the staff had no clue about tea that used to be served there.  They also gave later hours over the phone, but then pretty much ran everyone out with a profane remark and change of music so that they could apparently close earlier.  Please bring back the real "twisted branch"...

by Lillith B.

This was once a great place to get unique tea (the tea itself would give you an experience) however upon visiting again recently the ownership/look and name of the store has changed. And not for the better. There is no more low lighting (bright lights) the tea tastes like they just went down the road to the nearest store (hot water/trash non loose tea) they do not give you enough for 2 people. The new owners/employees spend the night talking to people within their own click (instead of doing their job). The prices have also been jacked up, they also close the store whenever they feel like it instead of abiding by the hours they have set. You can no longer flier's in the hallway, and the employees also made  a comment towards us (since we had yet to leave, when they where closing) about turning on "get the f*ck out" music {since they abruptly changed their hours}. In short if you want over priced hot water and bad service this is the store for you.

by Phil H.

This place seems to have changed ownership since I was a student in 2006.  The sign on the front is less artsy, the name appears to have lost the "Twisted Branch" prefix, the lunch specials are more expensive ($6.50 instead of $5) with smaller portions (the salad used to be like twice as big), the staff seem less... subversive, and it looks like they've opened a location in Staunton.  Is Tea Bazaar selling out?  Maybe but it's still a winner in my book.  I would have given the old Tea Bazaar four stars based on the lunch salad alone.  We're talking mixed greens, tomato, red onion, cucumber, candied walnuts, feta, spices, pear slices, and toasted herb-and-oil brushed pita bread.  Do yourself a favor and go order this salad - they serve the specials until 2pm.  I've also had the mezza platter which is an assortment of Mediterranian things - decent.As for tea, I'm no connoisseur but I've been pleased with the selections I've tried, especially the dessert teas.  At $5 a pot (which serves 2 comfortably and 3 if you don't need much), it's a pretty good deal.  The chai is too mild for my taste but I like mine super spicy and sweet and I haven't found a place yet that's as good as home made.Atmosphere-wise, this place is hard to beat.  I think it tries a little too hard to be hip with religious icons and such adorning the walls but I like the intimate lighting and variety of seating options - comfy couches, low tables with kneeling mats, regular tables, high tables with stools, and benches outside on the deck.  It's a nice place to chat with friends or bring your date after dining at the downtown mall - maybe she'll think you're cool.

by cassie t.

One of the first places I ever went to in Charlottesville was the Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar.  It was so awesome back in the day (i.e. four years ago), but since then has changed ownership and shifted furniture and changed food specials.  Still however, to comment on the current state of the Tea Bazaar I would still give it a high rating for being a great place to come and chill.  Going here during lunch hours on a weekday is one of the most relaxing things you can do on the downtown mall.  The lunch specials have gone up in price ($6.50) but they are still a great deal!  The mezza platter has dates, hummus, pita, cashews, olives, cheese, and stuffed grape leaves, and the sandwiches come with big salads that have delicious candied walnuts and golden raisins on top.  Even with the new seating arrangements (and the loss of the big huge comfy couch area! : ( ) you can enjoy fun low tables to sit on near the front, an awesome outdoor porch in the back, and if you're lucky that private table that's in the nook spot. You can also get hookahs here that are fun to smoke with a bunch of friends and the teas are good ($5-6 a pot).They still have shows there which is awesome, since all the venues in Cville are closing!! So, overall, even though it used to be better, the Tea House is still a really great place to eat and hang out.