It’s five o’clock in NYC. You ask yourself: time for tea or wine? We say both. Inside the tasting room of Manhattan‘s Tokyo-style teabar, 29 B Teahouse, customers can sample fine and rare teas from across the world alongside seasonal chef-crafted snacks and some of the prettiest ceramics on the island. It’s the ultimate experience both for the modern tea connoisseur and the straight-up curious alike. Food writer, Kat Odell, is giving us the scoop on a libation that’s perfect for the undecided: a strangely delicious matcha-infused wine cocktail…
What I Drank: Matcha Pét-Nat.
Why I Drank It: 29 B Teahouse is a new tea-focused establishment in New York’s Alphabet City. Owner Stefen Ramirez carefully sources rare teas from parts of the world like Japan and Korea, and he serves those brews within his new cafe and showroom adorned with stunning handmade Japanese ceramics. Beyond steeping leaves, he’s also crafting a slew of unique tea-tinged beverages, including matcha beer and his newest effort, matcha pét-nat, made from fizzy pétillant-naturel wine.
Why You Need It: Basically you’re getting a two-for-one alcohol-plus-caffeine buzz with a healthful boost, thanks to antioxidant-rich matcha. After whisking the matcha with a splash of bubbly, Ramirex carefully pours the grassy green mixture into a flute and slowly adds the pét-nat to finish. The result is a sweet, creamy but acidic drink that’s surprisingly addictive.
Discover more cool spots in NYC for healthy food and drinks with our ‘Bite of the Month’ series here.
