Coral Gables, FL – January 28, 2015 – Now-a-days there aren’t many quiet places in this city where one can go to have some of that much needed “me” time, connect with friends, or simply enjoy a delicious cup of tea. Going to Starbucks is usually a mission and overcrowded, and ceremonial tea houses can be a bit stuffy and not a great place to catch up with friends. Thankfully that void has been filled as Coral Gables’ latest shop, Small Tea, is creating quite the buzz amongst tea drinkers all over South Florida.

Co-owner Daniel Benoudiz has always been a foodie as well as a tea fanatic. Throughout his worldly travels he made it a point to seek out various tea house everywhere he went. After visiting quite a few he began to find that most of the places were either too pretentious, too ceremonial, or just not presenting a welcoming vibe. He wanted a place where he could relax and spend as much time hanging out as he pleased. Eventually he realized there was something lacking from Miami’s market. Referring to it as a “modern sanctuary,” Benoudiz created Small Tea as a place where anyone who simply enjoys tea to feel comfortable and at home all while being able to enjoy a variety of different flavors and aromas.

As you enter Small Tea you may notice that the decor is meant to be simple and quaint, yet welcoming and comfortable. It is evident that every square inch of the shop was considered, from the sultry sounds playing in the background, to the clean and modern decor eluding a relaxing vibe, it is truly a place anyone would want to escape to.

Although Small Tea is known as a “store,” it  can be considered more of a modern sanctuary. When you visit, you will experience that immediately. When you leave, you’re going to want to take some of that with you.

Small Tea not only offers tea, they also offer other types of infusions; Ayurvedic Blends, Black Teas, Chai Blends, Green Teas, Herbal Blends, Yerba Mate, Oolong Tea, Rooibos blends, and White teas. Within the nine categories Small Tea offers a variety of 84 different kinds, and that’s just the beginning as they plan to continue to up their fine collection.

In most tea houses it can be hard to really smell and take all the various aromas when you have to keep asking the barista to show you a new blend. Small Tea finds it important to make sure their customers have the option to test out and smell any one in which one they choose to experience. With help from their Scent Station guests are able to do just that, all without the pressure of a line behind them getting annoyed or feeling uncomfortable because they’ve asked to try one too many.

Small tea is also constantly on the look out for new flavors and blends, selecting the best of the best for their customers to enjoy.

Although most tea houses produce their teas using conventional ways, co-owner Daniel Benoudiz made it a point to begin researching new brewing methods that could improve the brewing of the teas, making them more consistent and better tasting.   On one of his trips to Salt Lake City he found a company that had a specific machine to brew coffee and tea, and after trying multiple brews using this method, he realized it was one of the best he had ever tasted. By utilizing this method for his own use, he was soon able to control every aspect that is necessary to make a perfect tea brew.

Agustin Silva Diaz

Daniel Benoudiz & Agustin Silva-Diaz

Every square inch of Small Tea was considered with one over-arching criteria: to help facilitate and foster transcendent moments of real human connection.

Daniel Benoudiz, Co-owner of Small Tea

Cameron Shasteen & Ardan Chan

Cameron Shasteen

The Steampunk is a revolutionary tea brewing system that unlocks flavor profiles that can be hidden by other machines. This system offers unprecedented extraction, temperature control and thermal stability for each cup with unique brew parameters. The brew process allows baristas to serve teas with precisely balanced and concentrated flavors that surpass brews made from existing methods. In short, the Steampunk will blow your mind.

Once the water is heated to the set temperature, the piston is inserted to the top crucible and loose-leaf tea is added

Helen Arce

Gentle Pulses of steam are used to dose water over the tea, allowing for various programmable pre-infusions. Additional steam pulses are used to agitate the slurry during the brew process, resulting in an accelerated extraction and distribution of dissolved solids.

Once the brew process is complete a valve is opened between the two chambers. The low pressure created by the condensed steam draws the liquid down into the lower chamber. Once all of the liquid has filtered into the lower chamber, the tap handle can be opened and the craft beverage can be served and ready to savor.

Aside from offering a variety of tea brews, Small Tea also takes their food just as seriously. With an array of sandwiches, salads, and a full on bakery filled with endless deserts you will have plenty of bites to enjoy with your choice of tea. Everything is made in house daily, fresh to order.

Criselda Breene

Criselda Breene & Silvia Cubina

Susanne Birbragher & Silvia Cubina

Silvia Cubina, Daisy Olivera, & Criselda Breene

GALLERY SLIDER