Crook your pinky: it's always teatime at Red Blossom, featuring 100-plus specialty teas imported by second-generation tea merchants Alice and Peter Luong. Sniff shiny canisters lining wooden shelves and ask about seasonal offerings. For gourmet gifts, go with the namesake blossoms – tea-leaf balls that unfurl into flowers in hot water. To get fully immersed in the subject, book a premium tea flight ($35; 30–40 minutes).
Red Blossom Tea Company
North Beach & Chinatown
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
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