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I have been routinely impressed by superb service and quality diverse products in this great store. Sure, it's a little off the beaten path but I promise there's no better place for high grade, carefully selected Chinese teas in the Puget Sound (trust me, I've looked). And at teh same time, it's extremely down to earth and accessible - no silly tea rituals (some of which can be quite fun...) While they do have a few choice Pu-erhs and herbal tissanes (a category you can enjoy.. as long as I don't have to), the reason to come to Xiu Xian, in my mind, is for excellent green, white, and oolong teas. No one has a selection like they do around here.\r
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I've been there several times now and each has been a treat. The owners, Mako and Robert, love to talk about tea nearly as much as they love to drink it. They have a beautiful wooden tea table in the back where tasting happens - an integral part of any tea-buying experience, if you ask me. I came in today looking for some specific oolongs and walked out two hours later, having tasted many wonderful oolongs a couple of white teas and with a big smile on my face.\r
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Tea is a growing industry in the US, but Xiu Xian will continue to be a favorite as long as they keep things as good as they are. They have a profound commitment to a quality product at a reasonable price, coupled with a genuine desire for happy, informed customers that makes this a tea merchant worth coming back to, again and again.
Pros: Superb selection, excellent service, attention to detail, knowledgeable and current
Cons: This isn't really a restaurant. They do a brisk takeout of tea, bubble teas, tea lattes, and some snacks, but for me, it's a tea store, straight and simple
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