If the cold weather is beginning to get you down, stop into Dobrà ¡ Tea at 449 State St. This new State Street locale, taking the place of Real Chili, offers a wide variety of loose-leaf teas from all different parts of the world served up in a warm, Zen atmosphere.
Dobrà ¡ Tea, a franchised restaurant, started in Prague with only two locations in the United States - one in Vermont and one here in Madison.
The interior is incomparable to anything else on State Street. The décor is very earthy and simple. There are plenty of places to sit, including cushions and chairs. An eclectic and interesting mix of music is always playing, adding to Dobrà ¡ Tea's intrigue.
Upon walking in, a server hands each customer a menu and they then seat themselves. When they're ready to order, they ring a bell and the preparation gets underway. Everything is very relaxed, so if you're in a rush, you might want to hit up Starbucks instead.
The tea room's staff is very knowledgeable and is always willing to make suggestions for the indecisive.
The Huang Shan Mao Feng, a Chinese green tea from the province of Anhui, was light and a solid start to a tasting. Since it is brewed from large green leaves, some did end up in the cup, but that aside, it had a subtly nice flavor.
A favorite was the plum tea from China. This flavored black tea had a more complex flavor than the first and was delicious. At first it seemed similar to a traditional English tea, but the plum extract gave it something extra.
The third tea tasted was the Masala tea. Served with milk and honey on the side, it is meant to be sweetened and mixed to the drinker's liking. Similar to the taste of a Chai tea, it had a very strong and distinct flavor not everyone could tolerate.
Dobrà ¡ Tea also offers some light fare, both sweet and savory. The Pita Jerusalem - warm buttered pita topped with cinnamon sugar - was in need of a little more butter to balance out the cinnamon but was still tasty. The hummus plate, a favorite, comes with assorted vegetables and warmed pita, all sprinkled with zatar.
The staff says night time is the busiest time. Be prepared to wait for a table, especially as the temperature drops.
In addition to the plethora of hot teas, Dobrà ¡ has chilled tea drinks, too. Since tea is supposed to be enjoyed, Dobrà ¡ Tea does not offer take out. However, you can buy their loose teas and brew them at home.
Overall, Dobrà ¡ Tea is a nice retreat from the stress of classes and bustle of State Street. According to the manager, daily tea drinking improves body and mind. Dobrà ¡ Tea would make a great destination for some studying, catching up with friends or relaxing with a warm cup of tea.
