Broken Cup Teahouse, a beloved name among Boston’s tea enthusiasts, is set to open its first brick-and-mortar location in Cambridge this spring. After three years of acclaimed pop-up events across the Boston area, Broken Cup Teahouse will transform a space inside the Cambridge Innovation Center at Kendall Square into Cambridge’s first traditional Asian-style teahouse—a cozy sanctuary for tea lovers and newcomers alike.
About Broken Cup Teahouse
Founded in 2022 by Yin, a first-generation Asian woman entrepreneur, Broken Cup Teahouse has built its reputation on curating vintage, single-origin teas sourced directly from artisanal tea makers in East Asia. Their approach is uncompromising: every tea is handpicked for its exceptional cultivar, terroir, and craftsmanship, focusing on vintage oolong teas that exemplify masterful processing. The teahouse’s vintage selection is a testament to tea as an agricultural product, each batch tied to a specific time and place. Once a vintage is gone, it’s gone for good—making every cup a rare experience.
Steep into the past with vintage tea tastings to come
The unique highlight at Broken Cup Teahouse is its collection of aged oolong teas, some over a decade old. These teas, carefully stored and occasionally re-roasted, offer complex flavors that evolve with time—plummy notes in lighter oolongs, chocolate and herbal medicine in darker ones. The team is passionate about transparency and education, inviting guests to compare genuine aged teas with “fake” examples to cultivate their own palate. The tea tastings are long and intimate, allowing for an omakase-style experience where visitors will enjoy a guided tasting experience.
Setting down roots in Cambridge
BCT hosted three years of successful pop-ups throughout the area at Cicada, Rite, The Mushroom Shop, The Herb Lyceum, Boston public libraries, and many more spots! The new Cambridge teahouse is being funded through a community-driven NuMarket campaign, giving supporters 120% back as credits to enjoy future tea experiences, classes, and tea ware.
With its thoughtful sourcing, vintage focus, and welcoming spirit, Broken Cup Teahouse promises to become a cherished gathering spot for anyone seeking the true, good, and beautiful in a cup of tea.