• James Buck
• Dobrá Tea

Dobrá Tea — At Dobrá Tea in Burlington, tea isn’t just “that hot drink that offers a mellower buzz than coffee.” It’s a way of life, with its own relics and rituals and new worlds to explore. Part of a group of tearooms that was founded in Prague just after the fall of communism, Dobrá combines old-world ambience with green consciousness: The tea vessels are handmade ceramics; the seats are cushions and rattan chairs; the lighting is atmospheric. And the tea varieties are mind-bending, ranging from smoky Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong (lapsang souchong) to a silvery-coated green tea from China’s Anhui Province to herbal tisanes such as spicy rooibos masala. Whether you’re relaxing over a cold matcha shake and a mezze plate or picking up a pound to brew at home, this is the place to nurture your tea obsession.

Other Finalists

• The North Branch Café
• Stone Leaf Teahouse