The city guide · United States
The city guide · United StatesTea shops inIndianapolis.
Indianapolis does not have a tea district, so the three counters worth the trip sit far apart: a cafe with two shops, one on the IU Indianapolis campus downtown and one at Tarkington Park, that weighs loose leaf from one ounce up to a pound; a herb-and-tea shop out in Pike Township with more than eighty loose products and a tea room you can book; and a matcha bar on the near-north side that grinds Japanese leaf to order. Between them the city covers black, green, oolong, white, matcha, chai and pu-erh, with prices from 3,95 US$ for half an ounce to 35,00 US$ for 30 g of ceremonial matcha. All three ship, and two of them also pour at the counter.
Illustrative tea photograph
3 places we’d send a friend to.
Our Indianapolis 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 3 of 3 places
- 01Loose-leaf specialist
Tea's Me Cafe
IU Indianapolis Campus Center + Tarkington Park
6 prices listedTea's Me Cafe
420 University Blvd Ste 157, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Two Indianapolis counters where loose leaf is weighed from one ounce to a pound, on campus and at Tarkington Park.
In storeShips onlineCampus Center: Mon–Thu 8:00–19:00 · Fri 8:00–17:00 · Sat–Sun closed. Tarkington Park: Mon–Fri 8:00–15:00
Read the full shop note
The widest loose-leaf counter in the city, with two Indianapolis shops: one inside the IU Indianapolis Campus Center on University Boulevard and one at Tarkington Park on North Illinois Street, which the cafe says opened in 2021. Tea is weighed from 1 oz up to a pound, with 4 oz tins in between: an English Breakfast and an Assam at 10,00 US$ the ounce, a Lung Ching (Dragon Well) and a Sencha at 12,00 US$, a Fujian jasmine oolong at 10,00 US$ and a Masala Chai at the same price. The site says the business was bought in 2017 by Tamika Catchings and describes itself as Black-owned; it also does catering, space rental and delivery through DoorDash and Uber Eats.
What to bring home
Website: teasmeindy.com 
02Loose-leaf specialistNature's Tea Company
Pike Township, La Pas Trail
6 prices listedNature's Tea Company
6210 La Pas Trail, Indianapolis, IN 46268
A Pike Township herb shop where half an ounce costs under four dollars and the tea room is rented by the hour.
In storeShips onlineMon, Tue, Thu, Fri 10:00–18:00 · Sat 10:00–16:00 · Wed & Sun closed
Read the full shop note
A herb and tea shop on La Pas Trail in Pike Township, northwest of the centre, that sells more than eighty loose products by weight alongside single herbs and spices, bottled iced tea by the six- and twelve-pack, and teaware. Half-ounce packets keep the entry price low: an Assam and a Zesty Pu-erh at 3,95 US$, a Sencha, a Formosa Oolong and a White Peony at 4,95 US$, and matcha at 9,95 US$ the ounce. The shop sells its own tastings and high teas on the same site and rents its tea room by the hour; orders ship in two to ten business days.
What to bring home
Website: naturesteacompany.com
03Loose-leaf specialistRecess
Kennedy-King, E 17th Street
4 prices listedRecess
902 E 17th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202
A matcha bar on East 17th Street, north of downtown, open Wednesday to Sunday. The whole list is Japanese green tea: the house Recess Blend at 35,00 US$ for 30 g or 110,00 US$ for 100 g, and a roasted hojicha at 28,00 US$ for 30 g that also comes in a 500 g catering bag at 280,00 US$. The shop says the leaf is stone-milled and ground to order, names Uji, Ujitawara and Kagoshima as its growing areas and gives a six-month shelf life; there is a monthly subscription and a wholesale programme for other cafes. No black or oolong here — this is the matcha stop.
In storeShips onlineWed–Sun 8:00–17:00
What to bring home
Website: recess.love
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 Indianapolis.
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
Black tea
English Breakfast
See local availability
Black tea
Assam
See local availability
Browse 8 teas you can find in Indianapolis
Also worth a visit
HoiTEA ToiTEA
Keystone at the Crossing · 8702 Keystone Crossing, Indianapolis, IN 46240
Website: hoiteatoitea.comA tea cafe in the Fashion Mall that pours the loose leaf blended by Nelson's Tea, the same owners. Its own ordering site publishes no readable prices and the tea is sold on a second, separate web shop, so no price of theirs appears in our table.
Ask for prices in storeSnakeroot Botanicals
Fountain Square · 1052 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203
Website: snakerootbotanicals.comA Fountain Square herb shop whose online catalogue lists infusers, plants and books but no tea: the bulk herbs and blends are sold over the counter only, so there is nothing for us to price.
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
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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