Tea and Whisk is at 6288 Spring Mountain Rd, Ste 110, in the Chinatown strip that holds most of the tea in Las Vegas, well away from the Strip. It belongs to Leo Lukidi, who says most first-time customers arrive knowing nothing about tea and that the shop is built for them: events and activities aimed at beginners rather than a certification course. The buying policy is stated plainly on the site — the teas come from small family farms.
The catalogue is filed by family and by origin: Chinese and Japanese greens and matcha, Wuyi, Phoenix and Taiwanese oolong, Chinese, Japanese, Taiwanese and Indian blacks, classic and aged whites, shou and sheng pu-erh, heicha, yellow tea, and a rooibos and herbal section. Most teas start at a 2 oz pouch, with 3, 4 and 8 oz steps above it and a few lots sold by the pound or the kilo. A Royal Grade Milk Oolong is US$ 15.30 for 2 oz, a dark-roast Iron Goddess US$ 18, an organic Imperial Matcha US$ 25.50 for 2 oz and the English Everyday blend US$ 20 for 4 oz.
The teaware side is unusually deep for a shop this size: Yixing, Jianshui, Jingdezhen, Nixing, Taiwanese and Japanese teapots, gaiwan and hohin, cups, matcha tools, tea pets and travel sets. Tea events, tasting experiences and gift cards run alongside the retail. Opening is split — Monday and Thursday to Saturday from 11:00 to 17:00, with Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday by appointment — and United States orders over US$ 95 ship free.