Steep N' Clay — Restaurant in Elgin

Friendly and attentive owners. Due to the small business nature of Steep n Clay, I recommend bringing cash to offset the debit/credit surcharge they need to recover from their point of sale provider.

I first read an article online about this store. My wife is a tea fanatic, and the big box stores don't sell her favorite tea any more. For her upcoming birthday, I contacted the store to see if they could duplicate that tea with an ingredients list. They said it would take a few days due to the dried fruit. Tim asked if it is a decaffeinated tea, something that I hadn't thought of, and showed an attentiveness to their customer. Earlier than expected, they emailed me that my custom order was ready. My wife was thrilled that I made an attempt to have her favorite tea recreated, and she says it's pretty close to the original. She thinks the difference is the lack of sugar and caffeine. Nothing wrong with that, though.

A week later, my wife wanted to know what else they had. Let's go for a visit. The smell of their shop is great, even for a non-aficionado. When my wife found out they have decaf Earl Gray tea, she was thrilled. She absolutely loves it, I think more than the custom tea I ordered. The only drawback is the infusers I ordered (not from Steep n Clay) have large holes, and much of the Earl Gray seeped through into the mug. She strained out the mug with our kitchen strainer and finished her drink.

I highly recommend Steep n Clay for their friendly staff, wide selection, knowledge and attention to detail. My wife is an...

I guess I'll be the only bummer of the bunch lol.

But 3 stars isn't "bad" it just means I think this place is OK. More about my experience than the products.

It's a very quaint and aesthetic shop with lots of teas and other related items for sale. They are helpful with information about the teas.

But I didn't get the best "welcome vibe" here. My friend said he feels the same way.

There was a huge unoccupied table in the store with 6 - 8 chairs IIRC. I was in quite a bit of pain and asked if I could sit down while my friend finished shopping. She said "no".

We were the only people in the shop and I just didn't understand why I wasn't allowed to sit for a few minutes. I had just spent $60 on tea, so I wasn't just a random person walking in to plop down. And there was nobody at the table. It was not full of work papers or anything - it actually looked cozy and inviting.

Anyway that's my experience. Cheers.

A friend of mine frequents this place and...

We live almost 400 miles away, and I’ve already been here twice — that should tell you something!

A friend first introduced me to Steep ‘N Clay a couple of months ago and asked if I’d be up for a tea tasting. I had no idea there were so many kinds of tea. What a neat shop! Tom and the crew are down-to-earth, genuinely kind, and incredibly knowledgeable about everything they sell.

That first visit actually got me into drinking tea. I made the mistake of not buying any while I was there, but once I got back home to the Twin Cities, I reached out online for recommendations. They replied quickly with several great suggestions, and I ended up ordering six varieties — all shipped fast and now proudly part of my growing tea collection.

I’ve since been back for another tasting and learn something new every time. Whether you’re a tea expert or just curious, stop in and check them out. It’s one of those rare places that instantly makes you...