Best Tea to Try First in Miami, Based on What You Drink

If you're standing in front of a tea menu with 60+ loose leaf options and no idea where to start, you're not alone. The best tea to try first in Miami isn't one magic leaf. It's the one that's closest to what you already like drinking. Start there, and the rest of the list stops feeling like homework. Here's how to pick your first order at specialTEA Lounge on Coral Way, based on your current habits.

The best tea to try first in Miami, matched to your usual drink

Think about what you reach for on a normal day. That's your shortcut.

You drink coffee every morning

Go with a London fog. It's Earl Grey with vanilla and steamed milk, so it has the body and the creaminess of a latte, but the bergamot in the Earl Grey gives it a bright, almost floral smell you won't get from espresso. A lot of people searching for an earl grey latte in Miami are really looking for this drink, and it's the easiest bridge from coffee to tea we know of. If you want something with more spice, the Indian spiced chai latte is the other safe bet for coffee people. And if you're not ready to fully switch, that's fine too: all the coffee here is USDA organic, fair trade and locally roasted, so nobody's judging a half-and-half visit.

You love sweet drinks or soda

Start with boba. The bubble tea menu runs 10+ flavors, and thai tea, taro and honeydew are the friendliest entry points because they taste familiar right away. You can get them as milk teas, slushies or cremes, with classic tapioca, popping pearls or fruit jellies. For anyone hunting for bubble tea in Westchester, this is the low-risk way to find out whether tea is your thing, since the tea is there but it isn't the whole show yet.

You mostly drink water, juice or iced drinks

Order an iced tea brewed from loose leaf. Miami heat makes a cold glass an easy yes, and iced tea lets you taste the actual leaf without milk or sugar getting in the way. Ask the staff which teas they like iced that day and tell them whether you lean fruity or earthy.

You want something calm for a late night

Skip the black teas and look at the herbal side of the list. South African rooibos and Egyptian chamomile are both on the menu, and they're good picks when you want a warm cup in the evening without the jolt. Since the lounge is open until 11 PM six days a week, a late pot of rooibos with a book is a pretty great way to end the day.

You're tea-curious and want the real thing

Order a hot pot of Earl Grey or a Taiwanese oolong. Earl Grey is familiar and forgiving. Oolong sits somewhere between green and black tea, so it's a good first step past the basics without throwing you into the deep end. Once those click, Chinese green tea, Darjeeling and the smoky Lapsang Souchong are all waiting for round two. You can browse the full lineup on the menu before you come in.

Turn your first visit into a tea tasting

The fastest way to learn what you like is to try two or three things side by side. Come with a friend or two, each order something from a different section (say, a London fog, a hot pot of oolong and a thai tea boba), and pass them around. You'll figure out in one afternoon if you're a milky tea person, a straight leaf person or a boba person. That's basically a tea tasting in Miami without needing to book anything.

A few things make this easier:

• Tell the staff what you normally drink. The team is trained to guide people through the tea menu, and "I usually get an iced latte" is a perfectly good starting point.
• Pick a milk if you want one. Organic soy, almond and oat milk are available on every drink, so a dairy-free London fog is no problem.
• Get a snack. Vegan cookies are baked daily in six flavors, and a pastry next to a pot of tea is never a bad call.

Make it a night: tea, boba and a board game

Here's the thing about trying tea for the first time: it goes better when you're not rushing. specialTEA has a full board game library, so grab a game off the shelf, order a round of drinks and settle in. If you've been looking for a low-key game night in Westchester that doesn't revolve around a loud bar, this is it. There's free WiFi with no password and no time limit, a colorful outdoor patio, and plenty of cozy corners. If you're planning to work or study instead, our WiFi and study guide covers the best spots in the room.

The lounge is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM, Saturday from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM, and Sunday from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and there's free parking in the Columbia Shopping Plaza lot right out front.

Come find your first cup

specialTEA has been Miami's Original Tea Lounge since 2009, at 10766 SW 24th St on Coral Way, about two minutes from FIU. Whether your first order ends up being a London fog, a taro boba or a quiet pot of rooibos, the whole point is to find the one that makes you want a second. Check the visit page for directions, then come for the tea and stay for the vibes.