5 spots to get your hot tea fix in Birmingham, including Piper and Leaf

Reading time: 6 minutes

263631 3523256 updates 5 spots to get your hot tea fix in Birmingham, including Piper and Leaf
Hot tea can be found all over Birmingham

The weather has officially turned cool.  What could be better than a hot tea to keep you warm and cozy during the chilly weather? Here are five spots to get your hot tea fix in Birmingham.

Piper & Leaf

Piper & Leaf is a local family-run tea company that creates gourmet blends using as many locally-sourced ingredients as possible. Local? Gourmet? You have my attention!

By working directly with nearby farmers, Piper & Leaf is able to blend amazing flavors using a variety of herbs and produce, such as peaches, apples, beets, figs and strawberries.

Here’s something else you may not know about this company—they can be hired for specific events like weddings or bridal showers. Their specialty: full-service tea bars. How fun and Southern is that?

Birmingham, Piper and Leaf, hot tea, tea, tea companies, local tea companies
Tea blends available from Piper and Leaf. Photo via Piper and Leaf

Products To Try

You can buy Piper & Leaf tea in loose leaf, sachets (tea bags) or in muslin bags or glass jars. Here are some popular blends:

  • Front Porch Special
  • Piper Mint Blues
  • Healing Honeysuckle
  • Orchard Peach

Others that may hit the spot this time of year are:

  • Chocolate-Tea
  • Caramel Apple Pie
  • Pumpkin Moonshine

Where to Purchase

So where can you find all of these tasty tea blends? At local farmers markets, special events and, of course, first-hand at their stores.

Find Piper & Leaf at the Pizitz Food Hall at 1821 2nd Ave N., Birmingham, AL 35203.

ThirsTea Cafe

Tapioca anyone? Wait… isn’t this article about tea? Why, yes it is! Which brings us to ThirsTea Cafe, an Asian/Taiwanese tea spot in Hoover, that serves a huge list of hot teas. One is Boba Tea.

Boba What?

Boba Tea—or “Bubble Tea”—is tea that includes chewy dark pearls of cooked and sweetened tapioca. It is often added to Asian-style slushies, smoothies and milk tea drinks.

Birmingham, ThirsTea Cafe, Bubble Tea, Boba Tea, hot tea, hot beverages, coffee and tea
Enjoying Boba Tea from ThirsTea Cafe in Birmingham. Photo by Patience Itson for Bham Now

Popping Boba

There is regular Boba and there is Popping Boba. The name itself is pretty alluring. I mean, is it like pop rocks or something? No, not exactly. It’s actually closer to a fruit gusher. Instead of being filled with tapioca, Popping Boba are filled with juice, and when bitten, the pearls burst. See, similar to a fruit gusher.

Popping Boba is typically paired with ThirsTea’s fruit-flavored teas like strawberry, kiwi and pomegranate.

Birmingham, ThirsTea Cafe, Jasmine tea, hot tea, coffee and tea, tea
Hot Jasmine tea at ThirsTea Cafe. Photo via ThirsTea Cafe

More Warm Teas

If you aren’t a fan of Boba Tea, no worries. ThirsTea Cafe offers many other warm teas that are worth a try. Along with fruit-flavored tea, there are also many milk teas to choose from, such as:

  • Honey Milk Tea
  • Matcha Milk Tea
  • Peppermint Milk Tea
  • Almond Milk Tea
  • Coconut Milk Tea

Find ThirsTea Cafe at 170 Inverness Plaza, Birmingham, AL 35242.

Seeds Coffee Co.

If you’re seeking a warm drink that offers ultimate coziness then settle in with a tea latte from Seeds Coffee Co.

What Is A Tea Latte?

When you hear the word latte, you probably envision a cup of piping hot coffee. But the term latte is really just code for a drink with steamed milk. Which is basically what a tea latte is—tea that is steeped in steamed milk.

Here are the flavors available at Seeds Coffee Co.

  • Bergamot Fog Tea Latte
  • Chai Tea Latte
  • Peace Green Tea Latte (Home location only)
  • Chocolate Mint Tea Latte
Birmingham, Seeds Coffee Co., tea, hot tea, coffee and tea
It’s all in that pour. Photo via Seeds Coffee Co.

More Hot Tea To Try

While the tea lattes at Seeds Coffee Co. are full of cozy comfort, you can’t go wrong with their other hot tea options. Some to try are:

  • Herbal Citrus Tea
  • Assam Black Tea

Check out Seeds Coffee Co. at 2808 7th Ave S. in Lakeview and 174 Oxmoor Rd. in Homewood.

The Red Cat Coffee House

Since 2008, locals have been flocking to The Red Cat Coffee House. Their motto may be “coffee for everyone”, but I say “tea for everyone”. The REd Cat offers so many, too.

Birmingham, Red Cat Coffee House, local tea, coffee and tea
Photo via Red Cat Coffee House

Here are some blends to try:

Black Teas:

  • English Breakfast
  • Earl Gray
  • Chai
  • Lemon Mango

Green Teas:

  • Green Garden
  • Jasmine Flower

Herbal Teas:

  • Spearmint
  • Chamomile and Fruit
  • Cranberry Orange

Find Red Cat Coffee House at 1701 1st Ave S. across from Railroad Park and at 2901 2nd Ave S. at Pepper Place.

Red Diamond

Sometimes you just don’t want to venture outside in the cold. So what do you do if you’re craving something warm and soothing? Turn on the kettle and steep your own in your very favorite mug! Sounds pretty great, doesn’t it?

This is when local companies like Red Diamond come in oh-so handy.

Birmingham, Red Diamond, Red Diamond Coffee and Tea, Red Diamond tea, hot tea, coffee and tea
Photo by Patience Itson for Bham Now

Hot Tea Choices

You can choose from regular or decaf, even organic. Here are some flavors to check out:

  • Earl Gray
  • Darjeeling
  • English Breakfast
  • Hunan Jasmine
  • Irish Breakfast
Birmingham, Red Diamond, Red Diamond Coffee and Tea, Red Diamond tea, tea, coffee and tea, hot tea, warm drinks, warm beverages
Raspberry Rose tea from Red Diamond. Photo by Patience Itson for Bham Now

Enjoy fruitier blends?  There are several:

  • Strawberry Peach
  • Tropical Blend
  • Raspberry Rose

If you dig green tea then you’re in luck because Red Diamond also makes single serve hot green tea bags.

What’s your favorite tea spot in Birmingham?

Patience Itson
Patience Itson
Articles: 1756