A new tea house and café is now up and running in downtown Buffalo, located at 392 Pearl Street, close to Chippewa. The business is owned and operated by Ibrahim Nor and Siddiqur Sadat, who set up a sizeable shop inside the Cedarland-owned building complex.
Last week, I was in the mood for an afternoon latte, so I strolled down Pearl Street in search of the aptly named The Original Tea House and Café. At first I didn’t see the overhead sign, due to wearing a baseball cap, but after peering through a darkened glass door I discovered the business.
On the inside, there’s an impressive-looking tea and coffee bar-island, tended by a barista. Two illuminated flat-screen signs broadcast the menu, which includes items such as Japanese matcha, Kashmiri Kahwa, Darjeeling First Flush, Earl Grey Supreme, South African Rooibos Chai, Orthodox Desi Chai, Oolong Alishan, Assam TGFOP, Green Delight, and Chamomile Lemongrass. For boba enthusiasts, there are a variety of flavored fruit teas and milk teas, which can be ‘upgraded’ to bubble teas. With teas from around the world, and everyday café standbys such as Americanos, espressos, cappuccinos, macchiatos, and lattes, there are a lot of delicious reasons to stop into this internationally-inspired, Muslim-owned tea shop.
During my visit, I noticed that there was an empty case for baked goods, which, I’m assuming was filled earlier in the day. Their menu board noted that they are serving up pastries and authentic homemade desserts such as Sabaya, shamai, and Khaliat Al-nahl (beehive). I might have paid a visit too late in the afternoon to see what sort of sweets they typically have on-hand, so I will have to try again some morning.
Checking out their Instagram page, I noticed that they have very popular game nights, with customers playing Uno, Sorry!, Monopoly, Incohearent, Taboo, Connect Four, Chess, Checkers, and Mafia. There are some plush beanbags and other seating arrangements where people can play whenever The Original Tea House and Café is open.
The featured artist at the café, on the day of my visit, was LipFace – a painter that uses discarded paints from people and businesses to create works of art.
Whatever your reason for visiting – playing a game of Uno, sipping a South African Rooibos Chai, relaxing on one of the comfy couches, or munchy-wunching lomticks of toast, or in this case, Khaliat Al-nahl, The Original Tea House and Café eagerly awaits your arrival.
The Original Tea House and Café | 392 Pearl Street | Buffalo, NY 14202 | Instagram
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