Had a really great experience last weekend with the private tea tasting at PARU. Our tasting was led by Amy the owner who is so knowledgeable and explained all the important details about each tea while getting to know us and making it a very personable experience. She has a very calming demeanor and is so passionate about the tea leaves and serving the tea in a traditional manner. The tasting is for up to 4 people and includes 4 different teas, each prepared in a different vessel. Every tea tasted wonderful, my favorite was the blue chamomile. Our tasting started at 10am, but they don't open the shop until 11 so it was nice to have the place to ourselves for the hour. As other reviewers mentioned, they no longer serve single drinks, but you can buy tea leaves and pots/other tea accessories here. Parking actually wasn't too bad. The store has a very clean and organized front, with really fun pictures in the tea room in the back of the staff traveling to various Asian countries in search for the right tea leaves. Everyone has a great time and we all left feeling very relaxed. Highly recommend

I came here hoping to get a matcha latte but found out that they don't serve drinks anymore, so I was a little bummed by that. They are a store front that sells ceramics and teas, but they offer a "matcha experience" where we can go to a private area to learn about the matcha, how to prepare it, and to drink it. It was $10 per person. The matcha experience was okay, I thought $10 was a little expensive for what it was since you only get one bowl of matcha. But the staff who was conducting the experience seems knowledgable in the matcha process and explained everything she was doing when preparing our bowls of matcha. My friend ended up buying some teas from here, and the owner of the shop was really friendly. The store is nicely designed and they had a variety of teas and tools to offer. Definitely check it out if you are in the area!

Sad that they don't sell drinks anymore, however, they still have teas and earthenware available. I liked that they showed and explained the process of making the beverages. I loved their matcha, it was so good, made with oat milk and sweetened with agave. We also had the blue chamomile latte, it was a pretty, floral drink.

Even though they don't service drinks here anymore, they still sell matcha, teas, and other various things. The matcha was very high quality, smooth, and vibrant. The workers were very nice and friendly as well. Street parking may be difficult to find especially if there's the farmers market held that day.

Sometimes you come across a small business that is so infused with passion and intentionality, it feels like you've stepped into an extension of the creators. And paru is so lovely because you can feel the effort and love put into this place. The teas are carefully handpicked and of great quality. Same can be said for everything else they stock, including their teaware. Since the first time I stumbled into Paru at their old Point Loma location, I've felt so grateful each time I've came to visit. While their to go drinks are missed, there's so many other gems to be found within Paru.

wanted to share a few cafes i love that already utilize paru teas on their menu! 1. flour atelier (kearny mesa) & provecho coffee (logan heights) are the only ones off the top of my head that serve drinks made with their matcha & loose leaf teas. 2. an's dry cleaning utilizes their blue chamomile (my personal favorite tea of theirs!) in their ice cream flavor "Sandals" whenever it's on the menu. paru has been one of my absolute favorite places to go since 2022. the workers are passionate, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic to help. you can tell the interior is well-thought out and it's always so comforting to come in and browse. i even bought paru tea's for all of my friends last christmas! every transition comes with hardships, but over everything i'm happy to hear that the paru team is doing what's best for them and their mission. i hope others in the community can share the same sentiment and enjoy this lovely lovely place!

Paru is a beautiful and unique store run by people who are obviously passionate about high quality tea. This is not a boba shop or cafe. Paru is for people who want to experience tea in an elevated and nuanced way. The space is absolutely stunning and it's such a pleasure to read and smell their rotating selection of teas before purchasing. I learn more about tea with each visit. There's something for everyone here and the staff is very helpful in guiding each customer through the selection. I love walking away with a bag of their matcha, which is milled on-site or my favorite loose leaf tea blend that tastes just like a pandan waffle. You won't find that unique blend anywhere else! Every so often they host pop up events so check out their Instagram page, too. Paru is absolutely worth a visit, even if you wouldn't consider yourself a "tea person" as it's truly a special space. Who knows, maybe you'll find something you love!

They don't make takeout teas now :(! I will miss getting the drinks here but the tea bags are available though.

As of August 2, 2024, PARU will no longer be serving takeout drinks. As a college student who frequents PARU, I find this news saddening for the San Diego community. However, I'm genuinely excited to see the new direction PARU will take, and they will continue to have my support! I've been a regular visitor for the past two years, drawn by their exceptional matcha and the warm hospitality of the staff (special shoutout to Danielle!). PARU is truly a unique gem, offering a wide assortment of teas, samples, and more. Their house-milled matcha is unparalleled, and I highly recommend the pandan waffle tea. Overall, this is definitely a place worth visiting in San Diego. I am confident that the new directions PARU is heading towards will uphold its reputation for being passionate, innovative, and dedicated to quality.