Although it underwent over two-dozen years of British mandate rule and a massive wave of Russian immigration, tea in Tel Aviv is often summed up as a glass of steaming hot water with a few sprigs of nana mint leaves. Since opening in 2010, the Israeli branch of Palais de Thais, a globally recognized theophile haven, launched a crusade to win both the hearts and palettes of the traditionally coffee-savouring Tel Avivians. While it is quite the uphill battle, the Dizengof Street boutique has already carved a reassuring niche in the city’s collective consciousness, building brand recognition through sharp aesthetic appeal and superior inventory.

Le Palais Des Thais offers over two hundred kinds of tea, sourced from almost every tea-producing country in the world. The beautifully designed storefront offers a wide selection of apparatuses, ceremonial tools, and every other thinkable object needed to enjoy a cup of tea in the Middle East. And for those still unconvinced, Le Palais Des Thais offers ‘tea workshops’, a two-hour long introductory survey of the culture, history and flavors of the tea world.