About Hide and Steep

Hide and Steep is a Philadelphia teahouse dedicated to sharing the depth and diversity of premium loose-leaf tea. Our goal is simple: create a welcoming space for people to discover exceptional tea, thoughtfully prepared and enjoyed without unnecessary additives.

Tea is the second most-consumed beverage in the world, only after water, yet much of what it has to offer remains unfamiliar to many American drinkers. For some, tea means a bag steeped in boiling water; for others, a sweetened matcha latte or refreshing bubble tea. While each has its place, there is an extraordinary world of tea beyond these familiar experiences.

From aged puer teas with earthy notes of wood and forest floors to delicate oolongs bursting with floral aroma, the variety of flavors found naturally in tea can be remarkable. Different cultivars, growing regions, processing techniques, and aging methods produce teas with distinct characteristics, each offering something new to discover. Therefore, we source our teas from expert small-batch producers from the best tea-growing regions in the world.

At Hide and Steep, we believe these qualities are best appreciated through careful preparation. Our teahouse emphasizes gongfu cha, a Chinese approach to brewing tea using smaller vessels, generous amounts of tea leaves, and multiple short infusions. Rather than producing a single cup, this method allows the tea to unfold gradually, revealing changes in aroma, flavor, and texture with each infusion. We make this accessible to everyone, providing the tools and guidance to practice gongfu brewing regardless of prior experience.

We take the same care in selecting our teas as we do in preparing them. Each tea on our menu is tasted and evaluated to understand its character and the brewing conditions that bring out its best qualities. We serve our teas without milk, sugar, or syrups, allowing the natural flavors of the leaves to speak for themselves.

Above all, Hide and Steep is an invitation to explore. Whether you are discovering loose-leaf tea for the first time or have been drinking it for years, we hope to offer an opportunity to slow down, appreciate the craftsmanship behind each tea, and experience how much a simple cup of leaves and water can offer.