Relaxed, stylish teahouse serving many types of loose-leaf tea, plus a store with accessories.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 414 E 6th St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone: (515) 288-3388
Website: https://www.gongfu-tea.com/
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Gong Fu Tea – Des Moines
The Gong Fu Tea online teahouse is your source for everything essential to the sublime art of tea. We are a purveyor of fine teas and quality teaware, …
Fine Teas – Gong Fu Tea
White tea, yellow tea, green tea, oolong tea, black tea, puerh tea and herbal tea from the finest tea gardens around the world.
Gong Fu Tea
The Gong Fu Tea online teahouse is your source for everything essential to the sublime art of tea. We are a purveyor of fine teas and quality teaware, …
Reviews
Tyler Ripperger
The tea selection here is immense, and of very good quality. I’ve been getting tea from here for well over a decade and can say it’s always been great. Service is always provided with care, and they’re more than happy to answer questions. Having been to other tea shops, even some very well known ones, I can say the tea at this business is selected with care. Recently placed an online order and it was quick, being delivered the next business day. Recommend this tea shop to locals and travelers alike, you will not leave disappointed.
… moreKathi Boyle
Very helpful choosing teas, advised as to what are lower caffeine choices & common flavors, good options for tea making supplies, very knowledgeable staff – even over the phone questions are answered quickly & confidently! Unfortunately, I don’t go to The East Village very often, so find the actual store location rather inconvenient. But now you can order the teas online for shipping! Great idea whoever came up with that – probably due to the pandemic.
… moreThomas A.
One of the best tea shops in the country, and I’ve been everywhere. Also must have the biggest selection of bulk tea in the Midwest, even more that the shops I’ve checked out in Chicago. Over 20 yrs in business according to the staff. Make sure to get their free catalog of available teas and join their tea club! Super helpful with selecting which teas to purchase and always comes with personalized instructions on the bag!
… morep s
Gong Fu Tea in Des Moines is a unique and treasured small business. The owners started over 25 years ago in an area of the city that was under- developed at that time. They have a deep and varied selection of teas, many unique to their business. They regularly go to Asia to source their teas. There is a lovely tea room in the shop.
I lived in Des Moines area until 2013 and continue to purchase regularly all of our teas on line. Their service is fantastic and the teas are shipped promptly. I’ve given away many bags of tea to our friends. Our favorites include Irish Breakfast, English Breakfast ( both black teas),Ancient Happiness( green),Winter Wellness( herbal),Mediterranean Chamomile( herbal), Serenity Now(herbal), and Organic Ginger Puerh and Green Loose Leaf Puerh.
… moreI lived in Des Moines area until 2013 and continue to purchase regularly all of our teas on line. Their service is fantastic and the teas are shipped promptly. I’ve given away many bags of tea to our friends. Our favorites include Irish Breakfast, English Breakfast ( both black teas),Ancient Happiness( green),Winter Wellness( herbal),Mediterranean Chamomile( herbal), Serenity Now(herbal), and Organic Ginger Puerh and Green Loose Leaf Puerh.
Greg Johnson
Gong Fu Tea has a really nice selection of bulk loose leaf teas, and also many wonderful tea supplies. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. There are a few tables for talking time for a tea break.
… moreMelinda
This is my favorite tea spot in Des Moines! I don’t usually sit for the full experience but in the short time I’m in the shop the awesome staff is able to help me find a new favorite! They introduced me to Ancient Happiness recently which is one that continues to dance with all of my senses.
My friends love getting their Chai Lattés with a nut milk or London Fogs, but I prefer the Golden Assam. It’s my go-to, straight up, with very little manipulation. I tend to drink my tea without sweetener. I’ll do cream on occasion. But, I’m honestly the weirdo that wants to taste the ground the tea grow on. If you’re the same type of weird, or a tea-enthusiast then I highly suggest you make your way to Gong Fu! They have lots of cool tea-related merchandise for sale as well as a periodic table of teas for your every need! One of my friends brought me a lemongrass tea when I was sick and it may have eased my suffering. Who knows? Tea is kind of a versatile remedy, in my opinion. Have a cold? Drink some tea. Bad day? Mull over the solutions over hot tea. Bed time? Have a cuppa!
… moreMy friends love getting their Chai Lattés with a nut milk or London Fogs, but I prefer the Golden Assam. It’s my go-to, straight up, with very little manipulation. I tend to drink my tea without sweetener. I’ll do cream on occasion. But, I’m honestly the weirdo that wants to taste the ground the tea grow on. If you’re the same type of weird, or a tea-enthusiast then I highly suggest you make your way to Gong Fu! They have lots of cool tea-related merchandise for sale as well as a periodic table of teas for your every need! One of my friends brought me a lemongrass tea when I was sick and it may have eased my suffering. Who knows? Tea is kind of a versatile remedy, in my opinion. Have a cold? Drink some tea. Bad day? Mull over the solutions over hot tea. Bed time? Have a cuppa!
Lillia Lepak
I enjoy getting loose leaf tea here. They don’t seem to advertise it, but I love that they will fill a container for me if I bring one in! Big selection, too.
… moreEK
Great tea shop!! The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, providing you with a booklet describing all their bulk loose leaf teas as well as personalized recommendations. They can brew you a cup hot or iced or sell you packages for home. I got some Jasmine Dragon Pearls and Serenity Now (a minty herbal tea) for home, and an iced cup of Ancient Happiness. I’ve never had such a good cup of iced tea! I wish I had a tea shop like this near me. Would recommend!
… moreCoatney Cunningham
I have been practicing Gongfu tea for about a year.. I do not claim to know all the ways tea can be prepared.. I am very Disappointed after coming here today…
When I saw a place called gongfu tea.. I was excited, because I thought it would be a place that followed the same values I did.. short steep times, sharing glass, the whole nine yards.. nope.. its a regular western tea shop.. that sells regular tea supplies.. they get one star because they actually sell loose tea.. but.. they still want you to steep it for 5 mins… 5 mins… are you frikin kidding me…
Want to know what real gongfu tea life is.. you tube it.. dont get drawn in by these Charlatans….
Charlatans with Paper Cups
They call it “Gongfu Tea,”
but there’s no Gong. No Fu. No skill. No effort.
Just scorched leaves in a wax-lined paper cup,
served with the subtlety of a microwave dinner.
No clay pot.
No short steeps.
No reverence for the dance between leaf and water.
Only a name borrowed from masters they’ve never studied,
printed in gold above an electric kettle set too high.
Loose leaf? Sure.
But when the water hisses like wrath,
even the finest Darjeeling weeps bitter.
This isn’t Gongfu.
It’s cosplay.
It’s fast food in a silk robe.
For those who know the craft—
the ones who cradle each steep,
who drink with discipline,
who waste nothing, not even the first drop—
this place is a hollow temple,
built for profit, not practice.
… moreWhen I saw a place called gongfu tea.. I was excited, because I thought it would be a place that followed the same values I did.. short steep times, sharing glass, the whole nine yards.. nope.. its a regular western tea shop.. that sells regular tea supplies.. they get one star because they actually sell loose tea.. but.. they still want you to steep it for 5 mins… 5 mins… are you frikin kidding me…
Want to know what real gongfu tea life is.. you tube it.. dont get drawn in by these Charlatans….
Charlatans with Paper Cups
They call it “Gongfu Tea,”
but there’s no Gong. No Fu. No skill. No effort.
Just scorched leaves in a wax-lined paper cup,
served with the subtlety of a microwave dinner.
No clay pot.
No short steeps.
No reverence for the dance between leaf and water.
Only a name borrowed from masters they’ve never studied,
printed in gold above an electric kettle set too high.
Loose leaf? Sure.
But when the water hisses like wrath,
even the finest Darjeeling weeps bitter.
This isn’t Gongfu.
It’s cosplay.
It’s fast food in a silk robe.
For those who know the craft—
the ones who cradle each steep,
who drink with discipline,
who waste nothing, not even the first drop—
this place is a hollow temple,
built for profit, not practice.
Patty Connelly
This is such a cute shop in the East Village. They have a wide selection of teas and the staff are clearly knowledgeable about their products. It has a very cozy feel. In addition to loose leaf tea, they also sell tea making/drinking supplies. There are areas to sit and visit with friends. While I’ve never had an issue finding a parking space, it is in the EV so parking could be a concern. The prices are very reasonable and the tea is superb. When buying loose leaf tea, they include instructions on the bag with the amount of tea to use, temp to heat water, and time to steep.
… more