First time in Des Moines and what a great tea place.
Hamish Burggraaf
Friendly and knowledgeable staff, fair prices, and comfortable atmosphere
Carlos Ruz
Awesome service
jereme schulz
Gong Fu is still to this day one of my favorite tea shops. Years and many states later, and I still can not find a tea shop that matches their atmosphere, customer service, or tea quality. They will mail directly if you're unable to get to the shop, and each order comes with a handwritten thank you from the owner. If you're able to visit, the staff are exceedingly knowledgeable and more than happy to help you figure out even your own likes and dislikes. They welcomed me to the world of tea almost 10 years ago and it's truly changed my life. So thank you Gong Fu!
Thomas A.
One of the best tea shops in the country, and I've been everywhere. Also must have the biggest selection of bulk tea in the Midwest, even more that the shops I've checked out in Chicago. Over 20 yrs in business according to the staff. Make sure to get their free catalog of available teas and join their tea club! Super helpful with selecting which teas to purchase and always comes with personalized instructions on the bag!
kam akazi
Excellent selection of teas
Mark Haverland
Great place for delicious teas. They have an enormous selection. And nifty snacks too. M
Coatney Cunningham
I have been practicing Gongfu tea for about a year.. I do not claim to know all the ways tea can be prepared.. I am very Disappointed after coming here today...
When I saw a place called gongfu tea.. I was excited, because I thought it would be a place that followed the same values I did.. short steep times, sharing glass, the whole nine yards.. nope.. its a regular western tea shop.. that sells regular tea supplies.. they get one star because they actually sell loose tea.. but.. they still want you to steep it for 5 mins... 5 mins... are you frikin kidding me...
Want to know what real gongfu tea life is.. you tube it.. dont get drawn in by these Charlatans....
Charlatans with Paper Cups
They call it “Gongfu Tea,” but there’s no Gong. No Fu. No skill. No effort. Just scorched leaves in a wax-lined paper cup, served with the subtlety of a microwave dinner.
No clay pot. No short steeps. No reverence for the dance between leaf and water. Only a name borrowed from masters they’ve never studied, printed in gold above an electric kettle set too high.
Loose leaf? Sure. But when the water hisses like wrath, even the finest Darjeeling weeps bitter.
This isn’t Gongfu. It’s cosplay. It’s fast food in a silk robe.
For those who know the craft— the ones who cradle each steep, who drink with discipline, who waste nothing, not even the first drop— this place is a hollow temple, built for profit, not practice.
CHUNG HUN LYOO
With amazing staff and environment there are plethora of quality tea selection to make. Wish I have found this place more earlier.
Many tea options. You can get a cup of any flavor they have or buy tea leaves for home. I tried 3 types and they were all great. Had a sweet matcha latte, imperial green tea, and a green tea fruit blend tea. Staff was also very nice and shop was clean and very cute. Was excited to see this city had a real tea shop and not just boba. Thank you!
Hung Tran
Visited during RAGBRAI L- You'll find they can pick a drink to suit your interests, even if you're unintentionally being vague. They can make a tea lover out of you. Their online service has been excellent as well.
Jamie Johnson
Their tea is top notch. I’ve tried other brands and haven’t found anything that compares to tea. My favorites are the Earl Grey Supreme and Starry Night. Great, knowledgable staff too.
Jenn
I am not much of a tea drinker, but this place is great when I want tea. The prepared chai tea is amazing. I recommend the fruit fantasia as a good herbal option and gateway to get into drinking tea. The fruit fantasia is beautiful as far as tea goes. Also, the customer service is usually great.
First time in Des Moines and what a great tea place.
Friendly and knowledgeable staff, fair prices, and comfortable atmosphere
Awesome service
Gong Fu is still to this day one of my favorite tea shops. Years and many states later, and I still can not find a tea shop that matches their atmosphere, customer service, or tea quality. They will mail directly if you're unable to get to the shop, and each order comes with a handwritten thank you from the owner. If you're able to visit, the staff are exceedingly knowledgeable and more than happy to help you figure out even your own likes and dislikes. They welcomed me to the world of tea almost 10 years ago and it's truly changed my life. So thank you Gong Fu!
One of the best tea shops in the country, and I've been everywhere. Also must have the biggest selection of bulk tea in the Midwest, even more that the shops I've checked out in Chicago. Over 20 yrs in business according to the staff. Make sure to get their free catalog of available teas and join their tea club! Super helpful with selecting which teas to purchase and always comes with personalized instructions on the bag!
Excellent selection of teas
Great place for delicious teas. They have an enormous selection. And nifty snacks too.
M
I have been practicing Gongfu tea for about a year.. I do not claim to know all the ways tea can be prepared.. I am very Disappointed after coming here today...
When I saw a place called gongfu tea.. I was excited, because I thought it would be a place that followed the same values I did.. short steep times, sharing glass, the whole nine yards.. nope.. its a regular western tea shop.. that sells regular tea supplies.. they get one star because they actually sell loose tea.. but.. they still want you to steep it for 5 mins... 5 mins... are you frikin kidding me...
Want to know what real gongfu tea life is.. you tube it.. dont get drawn in by these Charlatans....
Charlatans with Paper Cups
They call it “Gongfu Tea,”
but there’s no Gong. No Fu. No skill. No effort.
Just scorched leaves in a wax-lined paper cup,
served with the subtlety of a microwave dinner.
No clay pot.
No short steeps.
No reverence for the dance between leaf and water.
Only a name borrowed from masters they’ve never studied,
printed in gold above an electric kettle set too high.
Loose leaf? Sure.
But when the water hisses like wrath,
even the finest Darjeeling weeps bitter.
This isn’t Gongfu.
It’s cosplay.
It’s fast food in a silk robe.
For those who know the craft—
the ones who cradle each steep,
who drink with discipline,
who waste nothing, not even the first drop—
this place is a hollow temple,
built for profit, not practice.
With amazing staff and environment there are plethora of quality tea selection to make. Wish I have found this place more earlier.
Best tea in the midwest.
Restaurantji Recommends
Always a great experience.
Many tea options. You can get a cup of any flavor they have or buy tea leaves for home. I tried 3 types and they were all great. Had a sweet matcha latte, imperial green tea, and a green tea fruit blend tea. Staff was also very nice and shop was clean and very cute. Was excited to see this city had a real tea shop and not just boba. Thank you!
Visited during RAGBRAI L-
You'll find they can pick a drink to suit your interests, even if you're unintentionally being vague.
They can make a tea lover out of you.
Their online service has been excellent as well.
Their tea is top notch. I’ve tried other brands and haven’t found anything that compares to tea. My favorites are the Earl Grey Supreme and Starry Night. Great, knowledgable staff too.
I am not much of a tea drinker, but this place is great when I want tea. The prepared chai tea is amazing. I recommend the fruit fantasia as a good herbal option and gateway to get into drinking tea. The fruit fantasia is beautiful as far as tea goes. Also, the customer service is usually great.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
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