It’s the new hipster thing to do — meet for tea — rather than coffee or even a cocktail. But until recently, locations for such a meeting have been limited, and not exactly “hipster approved.”

That’s all changed with the opening of Townshend’s Park City Teahouse. Located in the Newpark Town Center at Kimball Junction, Townshend’s offers a wide variety of teas in a cozy, community-oriented space (think Central Perk on Friends).

“I wanted to create more than a place to sell tea,” explains owner Polly Rihm. “My goal was to create a special place in the community where people of all ages can get together, catch up and hangout while enjoying a tea, chai, bubble tea or pint of kombucha.”

Utah is the third state where Polly has opened a teahouse — Townshend’s is headquartered in Oregon and there’s a shop in Montana as well. Polly believes Park City is an ideal location because the teahouses tend to succeed in communities where connection is important. “We love handcraft ing delicious tea drinks and being part of someone’s day that is looked forward to — either for the beverage itself or the people it is shared with.”

Townshend’s offers a wide variety of teas and tea products; in fact, there are over 100 loose leaf teas. White, green, oolong, black, chai and herbal teas are available, as well as beverages made from tea like boba, a bubble tea made with real fruit concentrate and slow-cooked tapioca pearls, fruit or aloe tidbits. Townshend’s also brews and serves its own brand of kombucha — Brew Dr. Kombucha. Th ere will be nine different flavors on tap to enjoy by the ounce, pint or even a growler.

And, after a long day of mountain biking or an evening celebration, Townshend’s offers more than a place to relax — it’s also a drinkable mini-spa of sorts!

“A number of our teas off er herbal remedies for sore muscles, headaches and detoxing aft er a night out. We’ve also got teas to boost immune systems, relieve allergies and even clear up skin. We love that our teas are not only delicious but also have healthy kickbacks too!”

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