Kick back and enjoy an island getaway in the heart of Edmonton. Cha Island, just off of Whyte Avenue, serves as a tropical vacation destination all year long and doesn’t operate along the lines of conventional tea shops. “We do whatever we want. That’s what’s so fun about setting ourselves up as being an island,” says owner Jake Raynard. “We’re not pegged as a tea shop or as a bar or as a coffee shop. We can be whatever we want.”
After travelling the world, Jake knew when he came to Edmonton in 2009 that he wanted to open an iced tea shop with a different vibe. He had most recently been living with his wife Mia in Taiwan and saw how popular the true fresh-brewed drink was with westerners who had grown up on the powdered variety. “I knew I wasn’t in the right tropical climate for an all-year iced tea shop, so I thought I would build a shop that felt like you were on a tropical island somewhere. It sort of grew into what it is now.”
Ambiance is great, drink selection is good. I'm only giving it 2 stars though because there is only one vegan menu option, and it's 'so so'. If there was more available for vegans to eat, I would visit more often.
The owner of Cha Island Tea Co is obsessed with iced tea. He once said the only reason he bothers to serve hot tea is because it is cold in Edmonton for so much of the year. Still, iced teas are his specialty. He mixes flowers, herbs spices and leaves into a hot brew, then pours them over ice. These mixtures, made with all natural ingredients, are sweetened with agave syrup. The café also serves more traditional iced tea, but made from freshly brewed hot black, green or rooibos teas.
They serve up both iced and hot teas, both equally delicious. Choose from green or black real iced teas, as well as rooibos and Chai. You can also choose from their wide variety of loose leaf teas. They're open seven days a week from 4:30 p.m. till late, so it's a good spot for a post brunch or pre-dinner tea on Mother's Day.
This summery café serves more than 100 loose leaf and herbal teas, including green, black and rooibos. They also make real iced tea from scratch, using natural syrups to add sweetness. The types of iced tea on offer change regularly, keeping customers intrigued. Loose leaf tea is available in small or large presses, and is also available for sale to bring home – so you never have to be without your favourite brew again.