I love the “Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar” , it is one of those hard-to-find-in-cville-unpretentious establishments. If that description weren’t oxymoronic enough, everything about it is somewhat contradictory -from its diverse clientele to the odd decor-
There is no other place in town where the drama kids, the goth high schoolers, the emo crew, the frat stars and the young executives coexist in the same locale. These aren’t pure breeds though… only here you will find the selfless commies sport their $2000+ Apple laptops; you will see the eventual executive roll his sleeves up, take his shoes off and drink a pot of tea on the floor and you will see the frat/srat all stars attempt to be earthy.
This freak show could only happen in a place with a decoration as diverse as its actors: teapots from around the world, surrounded by saint candles; figurines of buddha, shiva and ganesha; arabic and voodoo-like art work, origami ropes and mirrors. My favorite component, however, is no longer in place: a shrine of junk where people would get inspired to write and leave poetry, metro stubs, artifacts and all sorts of other mementos.
I love the Tea Bazzar, although I avoid it whenever they have live shows (the ones I’ve been to have always freaked me out); but when the coast is clear from the overly artsy shows (I swear, they once had a puppet show about cicadas and country music) I love to sit on the mats by the window while I clear my thoughts, disconnect from the world outside, people watch and read a book over a pot of tea. If you make it out, don’t miss my favorites: the hummus, the Moroccan mint, the five star and my new favorite: The Bloodbath
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Tagged as: Branch, Charlottesville, Drink, Hippies, Pot, Relax, Tea, Tea House, Twisted
Apparently they have orgy fests there too.
Orgy fests? Can you elaborate?
/don’t forget to bring a towel.
I am also in love with the Moroccan Mint tea, the hummus wrap (PMT) and the salad (the goatherder) are nice, and the dal is pretty damn good for not being an Indian restaurant. In the summer I’m a big fan of the ice tea special of the day.
Fun fact - the owner (or at least the guy who used to own the place) is one of the most amazing yogis I’ve ever seen in terms of sheer strength/flexibility. While laying on his stomach, the man can basically turn himself into a perfect circle such that his feet touch the top of his head. Incredible (although very intimidating to practice next to)!
Both of my kids, the drama kid and the prep love this place.
If I can’t round them up DT, I know where to look!
Very cool!
I adore their chai. I can sip on a pot of it in mellow ginger bliss, seemingly far removed from daily stresses while the black tea attempts to blast me out into the stratosphere. A well balanced experience.
Another thing to note is that it is, as far as i know, the only hookah bar in town. If you have never smoked a hookah, and are not against all things smoke related, you should really get a couple of people together and give it a try. It is much smoother and more social then any other legal smoke out there.
Hookah is so good. My favorite flavor is called Five Star, and I think it’s just a combination of different fruits. The apple one is great too
And people actually go to shows there
http://cvillemuse.com/2008/03/31/review-the-dodos-tea-bazaar/
If you’re not going to Tea Bazaar shows because they’re artsy or freaked out - you are missing some good good shit. Not to badmouth other venues but when the Tea Bazaar has shows I can say with reasonable accuracy that 90% of them will blow you away. And thats for $3 in the most intimate setting in town. And unless you’re going to see a noise-rock band the volume is reasonable.
There was the one time where one of the members of the band playing (Captain Ahab) was running through the crowd rubbing his sweaty body against everyone. It was actually pretty funny
It took me an embarrassingly long time to discover the back porch area, but I love it back there on warm days/evenings. And I agree with Street, that chai is so tasty.
/I be kidding
//took me a while too
So that is where my daughter learned about a hookah. She has one.
I just figured she’d seen Alice in Wonderland too many times! Isn’t there a big worm smoking on one of those?
First time I saw it thought is was a fancy bong, I am so cool that way, kidding!
It IS a fancy bong. I found a hookah in my attic when I was a kid. I stole it when I went to college. It was a nice carved wooden one with a brass bowl and four woven tubes. When I tried to give it back to my parents years later, they denied knowing where it came from.
gobbler, you just gave me a sweet little chuckle. do you still have the hookah, then?
Actually, no. They made me take it out of storage because they were afraid my little brother would find it and become a pot head. I gave it to him as a house warming present when I moved him into his college dorm. I’m not sure what happened to it after that. Chances are he hocked it for beer money.
I have some amazing memories from Twisted Branch! That front seat, awwwwwwww.
beer money, schmeer money.
back to topic- today is a perfect day to go to the bazaar!
mmm, chai…(their chai milkshakes are also pretty spectacular!)
/may have to go there in an hour
They have a chai milkshake?!?!
Indeed. It’s superb.
They used to have this great drink (maté-based, I think?) called “zoom-a-zoom” or something like that. Last time I was in there, I described it to the tea-ista, who set about mixing up a concoction that came damn close to the original. Such service! The Tea Haus rocks.
I love Yerba Mate’! I drank it instead of coffee when I lived in Austin. I haven’t been able to find it here in bulk, like I could there, though I haven’t really looked too hard.
Street, they gots it at Whole foods and IY I think.
Chai Milkshake brings all the boys to the yard…
/wait. is this a “joking thread”?
Thank you, Shen!
I’ll hit IY this afternoon and check. Hopefully they have it in bulk, and not just in tea bags.
Yer a tea bag.
I’ll tea bag you if you don’t watch out.
I make it a regular habbit to watch out for tea bags.
When I first read that, I thought you said hobbit.
/you’re a hobbit
How funny. Hobbits love tea and smoking. Here’s your topic back.
@ 8: Awesome review however the date is wrong. They are playing April 4th at Black Cat.
Where is this said place? I must go….
30: Downtown Mall; across from the Nook and next to Eppie’s. Second floor.
don’t forget to bring a towel.
My friend wants to come from buffalo and play a small quaint gig…would this place work anyone know?
What does your friend’s gig entail? Does he/she play the spoons or thrash out retro-punk rasta-billy electronica on a banjo made out of a horses pelvis ?
Helps to know… last time Festering Smeghead played there they had a frosty reception.
Festering Smeghead? Are they like Throbbing Gristle?
Festering Smeghead was supposed to open for Van Halen. Least thats what I heard.
I heard Van Halen was opening for Van Halen, with Van Halen making a guest appearance.
Oh, yea she mainly plays acoustic soft 70’s style rock I guess you call it. She has a demo cd. At home she plays the quaint college bars and sells out very often if that helps.
I correct myself, the correct term for her music is folk music and I think this place would love her, what do ya’ll think?
oh yes they DO have a backporch… and it can be oh so naughty… or has been…..
there is definitely a market here for folk music - she should come - tea bizaar would probably be perfect.
also, maybe a sunday morning brunch venue?
Awesome, thanks I will send her the website and tell her to book there then! :0) Also, I am all about naughty on the back porch eduardo….