The city guide · Canada
The city guide · CanadaTea shops inCourtenay.
Courtenay, the market town of the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island, has two tea merchants of very different kinds. Downtown, on 5th Street, a small shop sells Taiwanese high-mountain oolongs, Indian estate blacks and Japanese greens by the 50 g, most of them between CA$5 and CA$12. On Kilpatrick Avenue, the retail counter of a tea blender founded in 2011 sells the teas it packs for cafés across Western Canada, in 75 g bags from CA$17, with free shipping across Canada over CA$100.
Illustrative tea photograph
2 places we’d send a friend to.
Our Courtenay shortlist
Good tea is worth knowing where to look.
Places to explore, each with a different reason to stop by. See what to bring home before you go.
Showing 2 of 2 places
- 01Loose-leaf specialist
Tea Centre
Downtown (5th Street)
38 prices listedTea Centre
267 5th Street, Courtenay, BC V9N 1J5
A small downtown Courtenay shop that sells Taiwan by the mountain: Ali Shan, Dong Ding, Li Shan and Wen Shan oolongs by the 50 g, next to Indian estate blacks.
In storeShips onlineMon–Sat 10:00–17:00 · Sun closed
Read the full shop note
A downtown shop at 267 5th Street whose shelf leans Taiwanese: A-Li-Shan, Dong-Ding and a Wen-Shan Bao-Zhong at CA$9 for 50 g, a Sun Moon Lake black at CA$15 and a hand-made Bai Hao oolong at CA$18. The Indian side is sold by estate, Dejoo Assam at CA$6 and Castleton Darjeeling at CA$7, and the Japanese drawer runs from Genmai Cha at CA$5 to Gyokuro at CA$20. Everything comes in 50 g, 100 g, 250 g and up to the kilo; orders can be picked up free at the shop, and shipping within BC is free over CA$100.
What to bring home
Website: teacentre.ca 
02Loose-leaf specialistThe Denman Island Tea Company
Kilpatrick Avenue
34 prices listedThe Denman Island Tea Company
#13 – 2998 Kilpatrick Ave, Courtenay, BC V9N 8P1
The retail counter of a Vancouver Island tea blender founded in 2011: the teas it packs for cafés across Western Canada, sold by the 75 g on Kilpatrick Avenue.
In storeShips onlineSince 2011Mon–Fri 10:00–16:00 · Sat 11:00–16:00 · Sun closed
Read the full shop note
The retail counter and warehouse of a blender founded in 2011, at #13 – 2998 Kilpatrick Ave, in the plaza next to the Salvation Army. The base size is 75 g at CA$17 for Conventional Assam TGFOP, Irish Breakfast, Ceylon Idalgashinna OP1, China Gunpowder and Cederberg Rooibos, with the finer leaves in small packs: a Soom Estate first-flush Darjeeling at CA$15 for 24 g, Gyokuro Okumidori at CA$21 for 24 g and an Eastern Beauty oolong at CA$10 for 12 g. Refillable tins, free shipping on Canadian retail orders over CA$100.
What to bring home
Website: denmantea.ca
Prices keep each product’s listed currency and pack size. Check current prices and hours with the shop.
A good cup, closer than you think
Find your tea in Courtenay.
These teas have an exact or close match in the local catalogue. Open a tea to see who sells it and at what price.
Matcha
Matcha
See local availability
Green tea
Sencha
See local availability
Herbal infusion
Chamomile
See local availability
Black tea
Assam
See local availability
Browse 45 teas you can find in Courtenay
Also worth a visit
Edible Island Whole Foods Market
Downtown (6th Street) · 477 6th Street, Courtenay, BC V9N 1M4
Website: edibleisland.caThe valley's whole-foods grocer since 1980, with a bulk section that includes loose teas and herbs alongside the packaged brands; open seven days, with parking beside the building.
Ask for prices in storeA little local knowledge
Before you head out.
Currency, grams & tea bags
Each price keeps its original pack size. A box of bags and a pouch of loose leaf aren’t a like-for-like comparison.
Check the right location
Hours and visiting conditions can differ between branches. Use the address and details for the location you plan to visit.
Pickup and appointments
Some sellers operate pickup offices or showrooms. Read the shop note and check its visiting conditions before setting out.
A guide with a point of view
Tea specialists lead the discovery. Other retailers keep their own category, for familiar blends and everyday essentials.
Keep following the tea
Where to next?
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Photography & credits
Tea photographs are illustrative unless identified as a photograph of the shop. Images are cropped or framed to fit the layout.
- 五玄土 ORIENTO · Original photograph · Unsplash License