Reviews : Restaurant
Teahouse brews beverages for Fresno community
Teazer World Tea Market offers customers decadent drinks, loose atmosphere


By Julianne King,
Writer
January 13, 2012

I will admit that I have an undeniable obsession for Teazer World Tea Market. The close proximity of the River Park location to school allows spontaneous tea runs on my way home or homework sessions with my friends. Each visit to Teazer never fails to impress me, even if I take my tea on the go.

Teazer opened its first location in Fresno's Tower District in August of 2004, but quickly had to expand due to the popularity of the first shop. The second location opened in March of 2010 in the Galleria Civic Center and the River Park location opened soon after.

The River Park location is most convenient to me and is the one I visit most often. The atmosphere inside is very relaxed and appeals to all ages. The lighting is dimmed with large light fixtures. Wicker chairs line the windows and in a small alcove in the back room, where four additional lounging chairs sit, surrounding a low table.

When a customer walks in, a waterfall sitting by the door is the first thing they see. Music plays in the speakers placed on the ceiling, and usually ranges from indie bands to acoustic tones. These sounds never reach a high pitch, and the soothing combination of all three elements add to the calming effect.

The restaurant is pretty small overall, but the location uses its facilities to the best of their ability. If you wanted to chat with friends and mingle with the tea-goers, then the front is the place to sit. But, if you were looking for a quieter place, the back alcove with its comfotable lounging chairs is the right spot for privacy.

Teazer is popular, but the wait for your tea is never very long, at least when comparing it to the work put into their drinks. The line normally consists of three or four people at the one cash register, but this allows time to look over their extensive menu and the goodies under the counter. For one drink, the wait can last between 5-10 minutes.


The prices for a drink are a little high -- around $3.50-5 -- but completely worth it. Only one time has occurred where I did not care for my tea, but that was because I was unaware of the ingredients inside the drink. There are no descriptions underneath the drink titles, but, luckily, all employees have the ingredients memorized.

Teazer's menu offers an extensive list of options for those who like tea, but also for those who do not care for the flavor. There are cold or hot options in to-go cups or a full teapot for those who want to sit down and savor their tea.

Some cold drink options are the fruit teas, cream teas and the normal black or green teas. The larger, loose-leaf tea like the artesian hand tied, loose oolong and herbal tisane come in teapots. If a customer has a personal preference for a tea or flavor, Teazer is willing to alter a drink for you.

Most of the teas offered are really appealing to the senses. The artesian hand-tied teas bloom right before your eyes in a clear teapot. The scents that waft off of the hot drinks make you feel as if you are biting into a fresh fruit or sniffing a flower.

One of the hot teas I enjoyed very much was the orange blossom one. The first sip was very sweet, like honey, and then tasted like was eating an orange blossom. The scent that came from the tea was so strong it was like eating a handful of the flowers. Now, this tasted delicious but for the person who does not care for strong tea, this is not the choice for them.

All of the times I visit, either alone or with friends, one of us gets either a fruit tea or a cream tea. The amount of flavor and deliciousness packed into one cup exceeds expectations.

A consistent flavor among my friends and I is the Cherry Lemon Teazer. It is a fruit tea consisting of a bright red color that comes from the peach, passion fruit, lemon and lime flavors that mix in for the perfect burst of freshness. All the sweetener in the tea is added by the employees so customers know quality is going into their drinks.

Along with the tea, Teazer provides a small selection of sweets. These desserts are not made by Teazer Tea World Market, but come from an outside source. Despite this, they pair nicely with either a hot or cold tea. These desserts range from cake slices and cupcakes to cheesecakes and croissants.

A personal favorite dessert of mine is the Pina Colada cake slice. The white cake has a coconut frosting, a crushed pineapple center and shaved coconut. This cake slice is so moist and delightful with every flavor and texture standing out. It pairs nicely with a cold tea for the extra sense of fruit.

Occasionally, Teazer will feature local artists or comedians in the downtown area. I have never personally been, but they occur often enough to attend. The locations stay open until 11 p.m. for performances, but also to allow students an opportunity to study late at night.

Each visit to Teazer World Tea Market never fails to impress. It is my go-to drink stop for a cold refreshment when it is hot, and a warm drink when the weather has turned. I strongly recommend this location for everyone from expert tea-goers to coffee drinkers looking for a change.

For more food reviews, read the Dec. 16 article, Family recipes highlight Armenian restaurant.





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