Dobra Tea Black Mountain

We stopped in Dobra while driving through downtown Black Mountain. We were headed to a brewery and since in pregnant and cannot drink I wanted something yummy to sip on. I saw Dobra and thought I’d give it a try. What a neat place! It smelled phenomenal right when we walked in; teas, herbs, meals, desserts, etc. I was instantly disappointed we were just getting something to go and couldn’t stay for food. Some tables were short and close to the ground and the seats were round pillow top stools. It was a quite peaceful and welcoming environment and the menu was vast! It was hard to choose just one iced tea but I went with the New Moon as it was compared to that of a wheat beer like Blue Moon (how fitting, right?). It was very good, not too sweet yet not at all bland. I will most definitely be back the next time we are in the area, I am a big fan :)

Wow. Who knew such a legit tea shop existed in Black Mountain?
Dobra Tea has three locations in the Asheville metro: Downtown Asheville, West Asheville, and Black Mountain. You know Dobra’s tea is good if Curate has it on their menu.
Dobra’s Black Mountain shop is cozy and peaceful. It’s Asian-​inspired with a simple, mostly wooden interior featuring seating areas separated by Japanese shoji dividers (translucent paper over wooden grid frames) and classic torii gates above the counters. There are a handful of tables situated on elevated platforms where you sit on cushions like you’re sitting on the floor. Remember to take your shoes off if you sit at one of these tables.
The variety of teas here is staggering. The tea menu is literally a book containing over 100 teas, many with detailed descriptions. Tea connoisseurs will love this place. I personally thought the sheer size of their tea list was overwhelming, but I did appreciate the time they took in writing descriptions for many of the teas to help with my decision-​making process.
In a lot of ways, Dobra reminded me of Aroma Tea Shop in San Francisco (
), a tea shop which really impressed me last year. Not only do both businesses stock a ton of different teas from around the world, but the owners go overseas direct to the sources to sample and buy their tea leaves. They are truly tea masters.
In addition to tea, Dobra serves healthy vegetarian and gluten-​free foods like soups, salads, bowls, biscuits, teacakes, and cookies. Their ingredients are high quality and local.
After we were seated and handed menus, we were given a small bell to ring when we were ready to order. Here’s what we went with:
Tea:
* Hojicha Kyoto (small, $ 3.75) — Japanese, roasted leaves and stalks
* Chrysanthemum (pot, $ 4) — locally grown
* Kyoto Kinen ($ 4.25) — powdered Japanese matcha green tea, milk, local honey
* The Forest Dragon ($ 5) — powdered Japanese matcha green tea, Chinese jasmine green tea, organic rice milk, fresh mint, cardamom, local honey
* Matcha Green bubble tea ($ 5)
* Tulsi bubble tea ($ 5)
Food:
* Mochi Daifuku ($ 3.50) — vegan sweet rice cake filled with red bean paste
* Black sesame and ginger teacake ($ 3.50)
Everything was presented beautifully. The Hojicha Kyoto and chrysanthemum teas were hot teas served with their own little tea pots, tea cups, and trays. The Hojicha Kyoto tea had a vented tray made of light wood. The chrysanthemum tea had a standard indented tray made of dark wood. Additionally, the Hojicha Kyoto came with a glass pot containing hot water (good for a few pours) and a separate tea infuser/​pourer (which I think was made of porcelain). Neat.
Our server helped with the first pour of the Hojicha Kyoto. We ordered this tea because the menu described it as «a particularly good drink after a substantial meal.» (We’d just come from a rather filling lunch at nearby Louise’s Kitchen.) Also according to the menu, «hojicha» is Japanese meaning lightly roasted tea. This was a warm, light brown tea, somewhat nutty in flavor, and very good.
The chrysanthemum tea pot looked more like a black kettle. My sister ordered this one. Chrysanthemum is the type of tea we grew up drinking. Our mom would make it fresh by boiling water on the stove with a bunch of chrysanthemum leaves in a filter. She’d sweeten it up with sugar. Dobra’s version is more pure (of course), but just as comforting.
The Kyoto Kinen and Forest Dragon teas were cold teas, similar in taste because they both contained matcha, milk, and honey. I really liked both of them. They were refreshing. The Kinen was served on ice and I thought it was slightly sweeter than the Forest Dragon. The Forest Dragon did not come with any ice and I thought it had a more robust flavor. I could really taste its mintiness.
The bubble teas were surprisingly good! For a tea shop as sophisticated as Dobra, I thought bubble tea might’ve been «beneath» them, but it isn’t and they seem to take their bubble tea seriously because it’s delicious. The tapioca pearls are fresh, sweet, and appetizingly chewy. If you like bubble tea, this is the spot to get it in Black Mountain. Previously, they only served bubble tea on Saturday, but as of May 5, 2016, it’s available everyday!
The sweet treats we ordered were tasty too. They had already been made, presumably earlier the same day, and were on display inside glass cases near the tea counter. They look like they are self-​serve, but our server grabbed our orders for us. The Mochi Daifuku was soft and delicate, just terrific. The teacake had real bits of ginger in it for a sharp flavor. Yum.
All of the staff was kind and attentive. The space was clean and inviting and they really made us feel welcome and comfortable. Before we left, they gave us to-​go cups to pour our leftover teas in so we could walk around town still enjoying our drinks.

With as many times as I’ve been to Asheville, I’ve never been to one of the Dobra tea houses.
The Black Mountain location is in a small, free standing building across from Berliner Kindl restaurant.
When you enter, the aromas will transport you. You just have to imagine the location!
We chose to take our shoes off and sit on pillows. Ahhh comfy!
The menu of teas can be overwhelming. Just ask for help/​recommendations and let them know a little bit of your likes.
The Matcha Green Latte was solid and the Pearl Tea was smooth, soothing and relaxing.
The Raspberry Brown Butter tea cakes are addictive and just melt in your mouth. Get one!!!
Dobra is a great place to break out of your comfort zone and try something new!

This is my go-​to place for some quiet study and peace when I’m visiting Black Mountain. I am by no means an experienced tea drinker, but because the staff there is so kind and helpful I learn a little bit about a new tea each time, and always enjoy it. Their snacks are also incredible– I love the rose cardamom cookies (and the matcha ones too). All in all, a great alternative to the hustle and over-​caffeinated bustle of a coffee shop. I always leave feeling rested and re-​energized!

An absolute delight.
A place to enjoy solitude or a friendly gathering.
If you like tea, this is your spot, in fact, even if you don’t like tea, this could still be your spot. It is a jewel of a place that matches it serene location, with an assortment of teas and delicacies that you will enjoy. There are so many choices, they have a book that explains the regions and type of service that you get. Still u sure? Your Tea-​rista will guide you through the process.
Seating varies from European booths, to Asian floor seats to North Carolina patio chairs. So don’t be intimidated, just go and enjoy.

Dobra is a great tea-​house.
Gently close your eyes and imagine you are sipping tea and biting into delicate pastries in Kyoto or in a Ryokin near a Buddhist temple or Zen garden.
Wide selection of tea offerings, cookies and savory treats.
Also a super location to meditate, write a Haiku, or to take someone special for an intimate (albeit not necessarily erotic) encounter.

Dobra Tea is a great place to go for a relaxing afternoon pick-​me-​up. The tea cakes and cookies are outstanding and the tea experience as it is served is really wonderful. I hope it stays in Black Mountain a long time.

Amazing selection of teas. Really creative tea mixed drinks. Kind and considerate service. My daughter was having a mini-​meltdown while we waited for our drinks, and the gentleman working the counter quietly walked over and handed me a chocolate chip cookie for her (not our typical parenting to manage a «moment», but gracious of the tea shop none the less). Not over priced in my opinion. Worth stopping in Black Mountain!

I was so ecstatic to find that Dobra was opening a place in downtown Black Mountain. Such a treat! On warmer days, I fancy a matcha green tea or bubble tea. When the weather is colder, they have a delicious Turkish tea with the cutest tea set. I have never been disappointed with my choices here and workers are open to help you decide. They also offer tasty teatime snacks, perfect for munching on while you take time to yourself.

This is the second Dobra Tea I have been to, the first being in Asheville. This one is definitely smaller than its Asheville sister, but it’s just as cozy and welcoming.
If you’ve never been here and you are a tea lover, what are you waiting for? Their menu isn’t a menu, it’s a freaking book. It’s takes you a minute, or ten, to figure out what region of the world you want to explore and then what kind of tea you want to try. This is a bit of a process, so they give you a bell to ring for a server when you’re ready. The good thing is, if your indecisive like me, the servers are specifically trained to know each of the teas pretty intimately. So, they will easily answer whatever questions you may have about their offerings.
The atmosphere itself is lovely. There’s also a range of seating options, from chairs to a couple booths to lower tables and cushions.
Try the Memories of Prague! It’s my favorite so far — black Assam leaf tea mixed with bitter chocolate served with warm milk and honey.

Dobra opened in Black Mountain the same month we moved to BMT and we went there for Wi-Fi…and it seems we have never left! I’ll just say read the rest of the reviews because I echo echo echo! GF treats are out of this world! If today you feel happy, blue, upset stomach, need caffeine, want something to calm… you name it, just express it and let them suggest something… LOVE Andrew, Lindsay, Dana, Jen who will make your visit welcomed.

Peaceful atmosphere, wide selection of tea and snacks. Modeled on Japanese tea house. Delightful experience
One note: we had somebody with a walker and there were no problems once inside

I absolutely LOVE Dobra. Quiet and peaceful atmosphere, with wonderful service. They know their teas! The list is impressively long, and one day I’ll try them all. The Yerba Mate is my most favorite, and a must try. For me, a trip to Black Mountain or Asheville would not be the same without a visit to Dobra.

Great experience with my teens. Everything was fresh and an entirely new experience for us. I would give a higher star rating if just for food and service, but my primary focus is also on the disability access. The parking lot is completely large gravel covered, which makes operating a wheelchair impossible I was in a sundress all fresh for the day but once I got to the front door I was a hot mess. It would be greatly appreciated if this issue could be taken into consideration. Perhaps a pathway to the entry. Otherwise, if you are able-​bodied, this is truly a darling alternative to the usual coffee shop. It has character and very well-​run.

As a frequent customer of Dobra Tea in Downtown Asheville, I was excited to visit their new location in downtown Black Mountain. Dobra is ineffably good, like hella good, like I would pack my things and move in if it were socially acceptable and not totally weird. And now there are two of them in the area. For a gluten-​free, introverted, studious, beverage and eastern-​culture enthusiast, this place is absolute paradise. The owner is well-​traveled, bringing the best-​quality teas all to one destination. The employees take the time to sit and connect with customers, translating foreign tea names into simple explanations of where the teas come from, how they are processed, and how variations in processing affect taste. If you are still unsure, the menu is nearly a hundred pages long and serves as a sort of tea bible. Oh, also, all of the treats are gluten-​free. I REPEAT: ALL OF THE TREATS ARE GLUTEN FREE AND DELICIOUS. (I’m obsessed with their Daifuku.) Furthermore, the Black Mountain location has a nice porch area with outdoor seating. Altogether the atmosphere is calm, welcoming, and conducive to both introspective and socially vibrant activities.