Experiencing the Magic of Tea at Dobra

Dobra is a Czechoslovakian word meaning “good.” So when you walk into the tea house, you know, by definition, you are about to have a (and I would add extremely as an adjective here) Good Tea experience. There are not many true tea houses in the US, yet our eccentric mountain city of Asheville is home to 4 traditional style tea rooms, 3 of which are Dobras.

Although I must make a note here, the tea houses are by far not the only places to experience a traditional Gongfu tea ceremony, Asheville boasts a vibrant and thriving tea community. Many local events feature tea pouring and some shops have weekly tea service. You may even find a couple tea vans driving around to find the perfect nature pull off to set up shop and bring the magic of tea ritual to surprised and delighted passerbys.

Although there are three lovely locations to access from almost any side of town you're on, I will always be a West Asheville Dobra Tea girl at the core. That location stole my heart the moment it opened some 8 or so years ago. The layout provides the perfect space to have your standard table dining experience, or hide yourself in the back corner, cuddled up on the floor seating platforms.

And then there’s that secret back room - you wouldn’t know about until you know about it. When you step through the curtain your swiftly transported to an ancient chinese gypsy den where you can get your fortune read or travel through China’s best tea producing regions with a private group gongfu tea tasting. Pure magic.

Dobra holds a strong reverence for the locals as well, each of their (insanely delicious) pastries and tea snacks are made by local desert artisans. Their savory menu, too, is made from as many locally sourced ingredients as possible and all organic. Even their ghee is sourced locally!

There’s a certain quality to the attention of the staff there as well. There’s such a palpable sense of pride and devotion to the art of tea that the employees carry with them, it almost makes you wonder if tending the tea house is more of a hobby and less of a job to them. Most, if not all, tea people serving at Dobra are incredible vaults of knowledge when it comes to all things Tea - literally ask them ANYTHING.

They’ll explain to you the varying processes of tea curing that creates the flavors and profiles of black, green, white and puer tea. Everything from steep time, each country's differnet tea harvesting process, the pouring and serving methods and even to the type of tea ware used in each tea's culture of origin - Dobra people KNOW TEA.

Speaking of origins - I feel it's worth sharing the Dobra Tea origin story, for its one of the qualities that tend to the parts of my soul that are deeply revolutionary. During the cold war times and Russian’s reign over Checloslavakia, the rulers of Russia determined that fine tea was only fit for the government, and did not allow anything but the cheapest of teas into the country for the common people. During this time, the original creators of Dobra, with a tinge of rebellion and pride, knew that the people deserved better. So, as a spark of a claim to justice, they began secretly importing quality teas from all over the world and gathered discretely to drink fine tea together. After the Berlin wall fell and Czechoslovakia was split in 1993, Dobra opened their first tea house in Prague, the new Czech Republic capital. Today they franchise 36 locations, 6 in the US, 3 in Asheville. The owners still come to every opening, ensuring the tea room is up to standard with their original vision and mission to serve Good Tea.

In this world of constant grind, Dobra Tea West Asheville encourages mindfulness and presence. With it's chinese moroccan vibed atmosphere, it's the ideal place to escape the hustle. Whether you're in the mood for a quiet read, being serenaded by the written word or your seeking community and conversation, Dobra is the perfect place for a reset. Or perhaps you're like me, who revels in those moments of silence and solitude, just you, in colloquial contemplation, with a cup of tea.