If you consider tea a ho-hum alternative to coffee, 14-year-old Ku Cha House of Tea is here to change your mind. Husband-and-wife owners Rong Pan and Qin Liu opened their Cherry Creek location—the brand’s third, after Boulder and Fort Collins—in May, and the bright new emporium showcases more than 170 varieties from across the globe. The shop’s loose-leaf lineup is second in impressiveness only to the expertise of Pan, Liu, and their staffers, who will lead you to the products that will benefit you most. For example: To sooth migraines, Pan recommends a balancing tea combo with coriander and rose. Or, build a custom mixture at Ku Cha’s blend-your-own-tea station ($4.45 per ounce) and take home treats, flavored with Ku Cha’s wares, made by Fort Collins’ I d’Eclair Pastry. Soon, you’ll be turning down that cup of joe—or, at the very least, dipping a lemon blossom oolong cookie into it. 2445 E. Third Ave., 303-322-0183


$15

The cost of an annual membership to Ku Cha House of Tea. Members receive a 10 percent discount on items in the store and a variety of teas online as well as access to special tea-centric events.