RIVERVIEW, Fla.—Custom tea blends, savory food bowls and decadent tea-infused desserts—all in one place. Tea, Bowls and Desserts (TBD) is a spot for tea drinkers and newbies alike.
This Filipino-owned café aims to teach people about tea, provide healthy alternatives and introduce their customers to unique tea blends, like Banana Bread and Honeydew Melon Green Tea.
“We have our own in-house mixologist who actually makes those flavors, so you can’t get any of those flavors outside of the brand,” said co-founder and managing director of TBD, Isabella Rosal.
“[It’s] a lot of the trial and error, but once you get your masterpiece done, it definitely is wonderful to see the reaction from people,” said Dylan Chadwell, general manager and teaologist.
The teas are customizable, from the type of milk to the kind of sweetener. Boba or a shot of matcha can also be added and there is even a Keto-friendly option.
People can check out the shelves in the back of the shop if they want to purchase their favorite blends and tea accessories to take home. TBD also provides a tea wall, where customers can compare the caffeine levels of the different kinds of tea and sniff-out each of the flavors before ordering.
“Our whole goal for the tea wall is to really educate people,” said Rosal.
The café offers Filipino-style meal bowls and other daily dishes, such as Chicken Adobo and Beef Kaldereta. Desserts range from macarons to tea-infused matcha and ube blondies to edible cookie dough (including a vegan flavor).
“Favorite dessert is a matcha cheesecake,” said Rosal. “A lot of people get scared when I say matcha, but man—matcha cheesecake, it has an Oreo base. So if you don’t want to taste matcha but still want to get that energy boost—all the health benefits of a matcha—go with the cheesecake!”
TBD also gives back to the community. For every cup sold, 5 cents goes to G3, a non-profit mentoring program for youth and young adults in Tampa Bay. The café provides a free tea station for USO Central Florida and gives a portion of proceeds from selling Echo of Brandon water bottles back to the company.
And to top it all off, TBD gives customers a 20-cent discount every time they bring in a reusable cup!
TBD is open Monday-Saturday starting at 8 a.m. and closed on Sundays. During the summer, you can make your own custom tea blend during a Saturday tea class. The one-hour class is $35 per person and includes a kit that is comprised of your tea (2 oz), mixing kit, manual/instructions and tea bags. Prior knowledge of tea blending is not required to take the class.
If you want to have your own private class, you can email letstalk@tbdcafe.com or call 813-420-0013 to schedule a session.
Tea, Bowls and Desserts is located at 3840 US HWY 301 S, Riverview, FL 33578. To learn more about the café, click here.
