My rating is solely based on the bubble tea. I stumbled across this shop on my search for bubble tea around my area. They said they make bubble tea, but this is not their specialty. I tried their jasmine milk tea and their tapioca was hardened and their milk tea was average. However, they actually specialize in traditional and herbal teas. This place was not what I expected but it was definitely interesting! They had different teas labeled in different jars and they allow you to smell(and maybe even taste) some of the teas. They also indicate what each of the teas help with — whether it be joint pain, digestion, nausea, whatever… They sell their teas by weight. I do plan to come back some time to check out what else they have to offer. It’s a really cool place and their very knowledgeable about the different remedies their teas have to offer, but this is NOT one of those bubble tea joints you see teenagers walking into for some bubble tea and to hang out and leech off of free wi-fi. Next time I’ll know what to expect!
Erika A.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Kent, WA
Love love love Mako! I’ve been coming here since about 2008 and I still go! She will whip up some tea for ANYTHING! Sick, overweight, tired, whatever! Mako will do it for you! Great organic tea and loose leaf tea if you have a tea cup with a strainer. Most def recommend!
Cathy H.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Kent, WA
Love this shop– such a good selection of tea! and well set-up, too. I always get a bubble tea while I am there, too! Mako is so nice– she’s the main reason I go to this shop. I can buy tea anywhere, but to have someone so nice welcome me into her shop and help me find what I need– I can’t get that many places! Will be going here for years to come!
Harman D.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Auburn, WA
Best. Tea. Shop. Period. Try the Da Hong Pao(Big Red Robe) oolong tea. It’s grown from clones made from the original Wuyi rock tea bush. I must admit I haven’t tried Da Hong Pao from any other source, but the quality that I have received from Mako vs. green teas from, say, Teavana, is no comparison. Mako’s quality is superior in the cup when it blossoms. Recently I purchased some Monkey Picked Oolong from Teavana and noticed the leaves, when unfurled, had been eaten by bugs! That has never happened with any tea I have received from Xiu Xien Tea. I’m an avid tea drinker and this is the spot to go when I need something of good quality. You can purchase with confidence from this shop!
Jovelyn W.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Charleston, SC
I visited my brother in Kent for a couple weeks and we both decided to check out this place as we were coming out of Safeway. I actually thought it was just gonna be a regular bubble tea place, but boy was I wrong-and I’m glad I was. Upon entering, the owner, Mako, was tending to some people at her counter but was very polite and accommodated my brother and I when she had the chance. Instead of grabbing a bubble tea or a tea latte like I intended, I decided to just have a hot cup of organic green jasmine and it was one of the best decisions I’ve made upon arriving in Kent! I have only seen one other employee at Xiu Xian, I believe her name is Jewel. Like Mako, she is VERY helpful and accommodating, and she has a great laid-back vibe. A couple weeks later before I left to go back home, we did a tea tasting session, as Mako had been politely urging us to do during our last few visits. This lady is so nice and informative, she taught us the history of green tea and we tasted 3 of her best selections. Although tea tastings are free, you are required to pay $ 10 worth of tea or any other drinks and it was only right that we left with at least $ 40 worth of stuff! I definitely recommend this place for tea lovers, even if you are new to tea. The owner is a down-to-earth, genuine person and her tea is divine! This is definitely the place I will always look forward to coming to when I visit.
John Z.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Pacific, WA
Great service, friendly and helped me with my Christmas gifts. I got the blossom Tea and a tea pot. Learned about the chineese culture and I’m sure I’ll be back.
Jeff N.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Seattle, WA
So I knew I was going down to the area and I gave myself some extra time so I could visit Mako at Xiu Xian Tea and get a taste of some of the best teas available in the Pacific Northwest. I’m not just saying that, if you look through my reviews I am always searching for a good cup of tea. The great thing about Xiu Xian is that your not just going to get one good cup of tea… I have never had any tea here that I did not enjoy. The selection here is both amazing and can be overwhelming but Mako is there to help you out. She hadn’t seen me in months but remembered me and the tea I was looking for! I don’t know how she did it! The tea I like is so amazing and is more expensive but I think it is worth it. The taste is like green tea gold! You have to try the Organic Green Xin Yang Mao Jian. It is just wonderful! I also like that Mako knew that I wanted a little less leaves in my cup of tea and obliged me! When you come here you’re in the kind of place where you not only can wonder around for a long time smelling the samples but you can also have an intelligent conversation about teas. Now for people who are not so well versed don’t be intimidated because Mako will treat you with respect and help you out. What I like about her is her ability to use the teas you like to help her recommend other teas. I have been to tea houses in China, Japan, Korea and India where people knew me and recommended teas to me but no one was as good as Mako is. She is both a treasure and a great person to just talk to, even if it’s not about tea. If you have the chance you really should take some time and try a tea tasting! I wish I had the time today but I had an appointment and was cutting it close. If you find a tea you like you can purchase some to take home! I think if you are in the area or even if you need to go out of your way, give Xiu Xian Tea a try. You won’t be disappointed! Do something nice for yourself and treat yourself to some of the best teas in the Pacific Northwest. Thank you for a wonderful experience Mako and some great tea!
Candida A.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Kent, WA
I’ve seen this place by Safeway for so many years but have only stopped in once with my cousin. Since I’ve been getting into drinking loose leaf tea I decided to check it out. When my sister and I walked in we were greeted warmly even though she was helping other customers. Since she was busy, I browsed the teas and had no difficulty in finding what I was looking for, milk oolong. When I checked out the cashier let me know about their reward program and I quickly signed up. As far as prices, it is a little pricier than what I found online, but I’m glad I can go in and smell the tea and learn a little about it before buying. I like how close it is to home too.
Rykiel E.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Seattle, WA
Skip the bubble tea or be very cautious about what you order! Come for tea tasting and for purchasing loose leaf teas! I’ve been here a few times since kicking coffee to the curb and I enjoy every visit because of the owners shining personality. She is so friendly, has a beautiful smile that she uses all the time, and treats each customer like her friend. Her tea leaves come straight from China and she personally knows the people who are involved with the tea leaves process. She stores them in cool, dark, dry places in their own individual pouches. Makes purchases quick and keeps the product fresh! She has a lot of teas to choose from that can ease any ailment: if you can’t sleep she has delicious sleepy-time blends, some black tea or ginseng to keep you awake if you’re tired of coffee crashes, hibiscus if you’re bloated and can’t poop, teas for bad breath, stomach aches, colds, white tea. one tea, two tea, red tea,(blue tea), etc! If you’re not the most knowledgeable about tea, fear not! She has a very informative website that tells you all the different teas and their benefits, you can come in for a tea tasting and spend some time with her, or you can simply ask her. She’s very genuinely passionate about her product and that’s something I love about any business owner. She KNOWS her products and her products are gooood. Fun fact: one time she had me – a complete stranger customer! – hold her baby for like… Half an hour while she tended to her swarm of customers. Random, right? She treats each customer like her friends and that’s something unforgettable about her. This is a great local business to support especially if you brew your own tea leaves at home!
Jose M.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Kent, WA
Really enjoyed my experience here. Found it through good ol’ Unilocal.Mako is very knowledgeable and helpful. Huge variety of teas and her own blends sorted by the effect they have on you or I should say the desired effect. More of the jared on the walls with the main type of teas like greens, oolong and such. I didn’t get over to the seating area but it looks really cool. To top things off she is friends with my acupuncturist Yim whom I really trust. So an added bonus! I’m bringing my wife here in the very near future.
Brenna T.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Renton, WA
As soon as I walked in, I noticed how calming the atmosphere was. Mako is easily one of the most delightful people I’ve ever met! She’s funny and so passionate about what she does. Small businesses are wonderful that way — you’re their friend, not just a patron. She taught me how to properly make tea, and I am utilizing that knowledge already. I will definitely be back more in the future!
Carol H.
Évaluation du lieu : 4 Auburn, WA
I haven’t been in for a while, the owner always makes me feel welcome. The shop is small but it’s packed with many types of tea. There’s a tea to help you sleep or boost your energy or whatever you need. They even have a tea that blooms into flowers! For a small fee, you can enjoy a tea tasting. The lights are dim inside but I suspect that’s the best way to storage the tea. They also have espresso and a few snack items. I had a jasmine bubble tea and it was just right.
Henry C.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 San Jose, CA
This is the best tea store I’ve been in Washington. I’m so happy that I found this store when I moved up here. She has a huge selection of authentic loose leaf teas. The atmosphere is very relaxing and calm. She also offers a service where you can try her teas before you purchase them. With such a huge selection of teas, it’s so hard to choose, but since we can try them, it makes it a lot easier!
Lauren P.
Évaluation du lieu : 4 Kent, WA
I visited Xiu Xian today as a result of a bubble tea craving, in addition to this being a place I’ve wanted to try out! I walked into the shop(which was a lot smaller than I expected) and walked right into a tea tasting. The owner was very engaged with the group that she had and was so genuine and excited… About tasting tea! It’s nice to know there’s somebody out there who just really loves what they’re doing. I was amazed at the loose leaf collection that this place has. I feel that I’ll come back here in the future for loose leaf instead of opting for Teavana. Xiu Xian has quite a number of bubble tea flavors and there’s an option for tapioca or jello on the menu. When I read«jello» I assumed that it was like the JELLY you get at most phở restaurants… Kind of chewy, and small. Nooo. It’s literally just jello, cubed, cut and put into the bottom of your bubble tea. It wasn’t bad, but the chunks of jello were so big that it was overwhelming. I ended up choosing the taro flavor, and it wasn’t as sweet as I normally get it. It kind of threw me off, but it wasn’t bad. All in all, the only reason I’m giving this place 4 stars was because of my slight disappointment in my bubble tea. In the future, I know not to get the jello and maybe ask for a little bit more sweetness/flavor? Despite all of that, Xiu Xian is an adorable little shop with a passionate owner that everybody in the area should stop by! I signed up for the punch card, as should you. :)
Quisha H.
Évaluation du lieu : 3 Federal Way, WA
Bubble tea was so good flavor wise, but was the consistency of water. But flavor was on point Not to syrupy like some place. I came here specifically for bubba tea, but to my surprise they have all sorts of teas available for purchase. Loose leaf teas and the sorts. Will definitely come back to check them out. Customer service not the best but was cordial, my first time having been there & all the options they have I was looking for a little more help on what«mixture» I should choose & little to no help was provided.
Amie B.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Kent, WA
Mako, the owner is a whole host of knowledge and is willing to answer any questions you may have regarding teas. I advise going on a Sunday if you want to do some tea tasting as they aren’t as busy. You can get Mako’s undivided attention then. She has a wonderful sense of humor and can tell you details about the varying teas she carries. She also explains where the tea came from, elevation, etc. and why it’s better for the teas. I love talking to her. She does have a $ 10 price for tea tasting with a minimum of tasting 3 teas. She provides a paper where you can list the teas you want to taste. I’m a regular here and always end up spending quite a bit. I’m so spoiled with Mako’s teas. It’s a small but cozy tea shop and I regularly come in for my fill of loose leaf teas. Mako also has a wild selection of Asian tea sets and tea equipment. I’ve already purchased several from her. They also have varying drinks. I come in from time to time for bubble tea as well or just some hot tea. You’ll always feel welcome as soon as you walk in the door.
Ira P.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Kent, WA
If you’re big into teas, you will feel like Willy Wonka in this place. I’m not a big tea drinker(coffee fanatic over here) but I wanted to try this place out for their bubble tea. I ordered their honeydew bubble tea and had it served slushy instead of milkey. It was really good! I liked how it wasn’t too sweet like some others that I’ve had before and not as artifical tasting. It was really refreshing. The owner was very nice as well.
Mercedes R.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Seattle, WA
I spent a pretty penny here and it was worth it. Walking in, I didn’t require too much supervision because I already knew what I was coming for. But, the owner is really chill and cool to talk with so I ended up asking her for help regardless. It turned out to be a good choice because I had the wrong product in my hand– which she noticed as I was checking out! I recommend this spot to tea drinks and coffee drinkers looking for somethin’ different.
Ty M.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Kent, WA
^=^ Monoko is a wonderful Tea Master! Her store is warm and welcoming. With this wonderful invite, provides an exciting tea journey that includes amazing stories/conversation and knowledge. You want to learn about your tea, watch the Tea Master at work!