# Artisanal Tea Bars Samovar's San Francisco Location Seeks to Elevate the Tea-Drinking Experience By Vasiliki Marapas | Published 2015-02-05 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tea-bar References: [fastcompany](http://www.fastcompany.com/3041152/most-creative-people/giving-tea-the-blue-bottle-treatment) & [samovartea](http://www.samovartea.com/) San Francisco's Samovar [tea bar](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tea-atelier) is attempting to give tea an image overhaul. Unlike its hyper-caffeinated counterpart coffee, tea has been unable to elicit an evangelical-like zeal from the masses. Coffee has been deemed "cool;" it's a beverage that has an artisanal drinking experience to go with it. It's this type of experience that owner Jesse James is attempting to recreate with tea, which explains why he has invested so heavily on the Valencia Street location. Decorated simply, the bar is lined with [white ceramic mugs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/12-matcha-caf) and tall French presses, giving it a similar "reverential air" to upscale coffee houses. Much more than the decor, however, is the process. James is attempting to bring a "[third-wave](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/supertea)" tea movement to America, which requires an emphasis on the ingredients, how they are treated and prepared. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.7/10 - Popularity: 80% | Activity: 54% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Drinking](https://www.trendhunter.com/drinking) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Artisanal Tea Movement:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create unique, high-quality tea blends and offer an elevated tea-drinking experience. - **Third-wave Tea:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Focus on sourcing and treating tea ingredients with care to create unique flavors and promote sustainable practices. - **Elevated Tea Drinking Experience:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Design modern tea bars with tasteful decor and white ceramic mugs to create a sophisticated ambiance. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Tea Manufacturing:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Innovate tea production methods to enhance flavors, quality, and sustainability. - **Hospitality:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrate artisanal tea bars into hotels, resorts, and restaurants to provide guests with unique and upscale tea experiences. - **Beverage Retail:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create specialized tea shops offering a wide selection of high-quality teas and personalized recommendations. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Global Tea Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/world-of-tea-collection.md) - [Refreshing Matcha Options](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/swadesi-caf.md) - [Mocktail Tea Sample Sets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mocktail-tea.md) - [Female-Founded Tea Ateliers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/epicurean-collection-1.md) - [Contemporary Tea Packaging](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chaiboy.md) - [Smart Tea Infusers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-tea-infuser.md) - [Specialty Latte Blends](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/latte-blends.md) - [Ready-to-Pour Tea Shots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kamoti.md) - [Fantastical Brewing Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-cauldron-nyc.md)