One of my favorite places for coffee and tea is McNulty’s. Located on 109 Christopher Street, between Bleecker and Hudson, McNulty’s Tea & Coffee Co. offers one of the largest selections of loose leaf teas and coffee beans I’ve ever encountered. They’re one of the few places in the city that sells rooibois, and probably the only place that sells such a wide variety of flavored teas, from mainstays like ginger and lemon to the more eclectic orange spice or chocolate mint. Listing out just a few of their offerings doesn’t do the place justice, because the cozily sized shop is stocked to the ceiling with so many more. I’m more of a tea person, and so I can’t say much about their coffee selection, other than it’s size and variety.
And don’t be intimidated by the selection – McNulty’s staff are really friendly, and very knowledgeable. I’ve gone there a few times, with only an idea of what I wanted – a full bodied coffee, a light, fragrant herbal tea – and they’ve always pointed me to several choices that fit the bill. These are definitely people that know what they’re talking about, and love what they’re selling. And all of their loose leaf teas are available for customers to browse and smell.
If you’ve never tried loose leaf teas before, or never tried different kinds of teas before, there a couple of things to know about them. Teas are classed into four broad categories, depending on the amount of oxidation and processing – green and white are the least oxidized, then oolong, and then black. The less processed teas require a longer steeping, or brewing time, at a temperature below boiling. Black tea should have a shorter steep time (too long, and it becomes bitter), and should be brewed with boiling water. Whatever tea you’re brewing, unless you want to drink the tea leaves, should be contained in a mesh infuser, which you can buy with your tea if you don’t have one. And many loose leaf teas can be used to brew several pots of tea.
I personally prefer light to medium body teas, and my favorites so far, after trying only a handful, are the Rooibois – a naturally caffeine free, herbal tea that I like to drink in the evening; their Magic Spice Blend herbal tea, which they mix themselves, and has a perfect balance of spicy and sweet aromatics; and the Ceylon Silvertips. If you’re ever in the mood for tea – real tea, not the stuff in Lipton tea bags, or served at Starbucks in green or black variants – check out McNulty’s. I doubt you’ll be disappointed.
A little more about me: I like beverages – I appreciate well made mojitos, and cafe mochas, and fruit smoothies, probably more than I appreciate well prepared food. I’m going to be a little different from the other writers, and focus on what I’m most interested in – finding the best places to get the best drinks. More to come!
