Wild Tea Leaf Organic Teahouse — Restaurant in Santa Barbara

Matcha enthusiast here! I have been travelling a lot and chose to check out Wild Tea Leaf Organic Teahouse in Santa Barbara! I came in for the matcha latte they have, but they sell a huge variety of desserts, different types of teas, elixir, tonics, smoothies and also some food! Walking in, the decorations and ambience they establish here is very pleasant. I can tell they really try to make it feel like a "teahouse" while keeping it casual at the same time.

Note: Me and my mom came about 15 minutes earlier before they opened, but they owner was so so kind to welcome us in early!

I ended up ordering 2 items: Their organic ceremonial grade matcha latte and the teamisu.

Organic ceremonial grade matcha latte: The owner, Michael, was very kind and explained that they source their matcha directly from Japan in the Uji region! They work with small tea farms to produce their quality matcha! While I usually order an iced matcha latte, I decided to order it hot, and equally enjoyed it! If you order it for here, they serve their matcha (both iced and hot) in a traditional chawan (chawan means tea bowl) versus a regular mug like other cafes. I actually really recommend ordering it for here because it adds so much to the experience! The owner, Michael, was so nice to show me how to hold the chawan in order to drink from it! As an experienced matcha drinker, the matcha flavor was great! Savory and rich :)

Teamisu: This was essentially a tiramisu, but instead of using espresso, they use hojicha! (Hojicha is roasted green tea). My mom ordered this and we were LOVING it! The balance between the cream and the cake part was absolutely perfect, and it wasn't too sweet at all!

I highly highly recommend checking out this place! Great service, quality tea, delicious desserts! They are a newer business, I believe, so definitely stop by Wild Leaf Organic Teahouse the next time you're in Santa Barbara!!

My social media handles: @em.matchaa on TikTok...

Unlike other shops that use baking-grade matcha and serve it burning hot, this local tea house I discovered while was looking for best matcha near me in Santa Barbara offers a delicious ceremonial-grade organic matcha, sourced directly from a small tea farm in Japan.

My matcha was served in a full, hand-crafted ceramic cup—not a plastic one.

The owner, Michael, personally knows the farm where the matcha comes from, which speaks volumes about the quality and care behind their products. If you're looking for the best matcha in Santa Barbara, I highly recommend visiting Wild Tea Leaf for a top-quality, healthy, and organic drink. They also offer a variety of other teas, smoothies, deserts , and more.

And if you're in the mood for a game, you can even play chess while you sip!

The atmosphere is incredibly relaxing, thanks to the calming music and the...

The concept of this teahouse can not be expressed in ways that words could capture. The atmosphere is exquisite. The music is rich and ethereal. The energy of this place is steeped in love and the sincere want for any individual to walk through the door and taste of the tea to find a moment of tranquility and peace within the bustle and rush of mundane life. The tea itself is picked with the utmost care, and the edible treats are not only beautifully plated but delicious, too, and both the food and beverages are of a quality that is rare to find. No matter what you choose, you will be delighted by either the elixirs or a simple pot of Puerh. Highly recommend, and would visit Santa Barbara again just to sit and enjoy the company of Michael, Savannah, and the rest of the wanderers come to...