Tea has come a long way.

Gone are the days of sad-looking teabags made from dreary black tea leaves. Here to stay is a cornucopia of different loose-leafed teas and mouth-watering flavors.

Steep into Herbal Infusions Tea in downtown Toronto and you’ll be immediately swept into a visual and aromatic tea experience.

Their assortment of teas alone will leave you in a state of confusion. There’s Herbal Tea, White Tea, Green Tea, Matcha Green tea, Argentinian Yerba Mate tea, Rooibos Tea, Cocoa Tea and of course Black Tea.  Then there’s Assam, Darjeeling, Lapsang Suchong  and Oolong. And those are just the ones we can pronounce.

Coupled with this plethora of teas are unusual flavors like coconut custard rooibos and apple smoked bacon black tea. Just taste ‘em - you’ll be hooked.

Then there are the different ways of preparing the tea: we’re talking hot, iced, lattes and even tea cocktails.

Dan Johanis opened Herbal Infusions Tea about a year and a half ago and hasn’t looked back.  With only five stools at the bar, it may not be your ideal spot for chatting and sipping tea in-house but know Dan makes an amazing cup to-go.

He also makes a novel teabag. Take a teaspoon of your favourite tea – perhaps the Eucalyptus Grapefruit tea – and slip it into a little, unbleached, skinny paper bag. Fold the top down. Then pour scalding water over. Tea leaves stay put and taste to die for.

Tea Heaven.