Looking for a good cup of tea? This suburban Denver teashop has more than 150 different blends

Editor’s note: This is part of The Know’s series, Staff Favorites. Each week, we offer our opinions on the best that Colorado has to offer for dining, shopping, entertainment, outdoor activities and more. (We’ll also let you in on some hidden gems).

There’s something magical about finding a business that gives you exactly what you’re looking for. One Littleton teashop did that for me.

Before I moved to Denver, I lived in Phoenix and was a regular at a teahouse and coffee shop called Songbird. That was my happy place. But when I moved here, I was disappointed to find a lack of tea shops. It took me a few years but I finally found a new home at In-Tea in Littleton.

It’s a 20-minute drive for me from Denver but, oh, is it worth it. This magical little shop on Main Street offers more than 170 different teas and blends, including iced, hot, boba, tea-infused cocktails and more.

The smell when you walk in feels like a hug as all the different herbal scents commingle. And then you’re greeted with a literal wall of tea. It’s like a library but with tea! Employees climb sliding ladders to reach the top drawers, bringing down jars of leaves for patrons to smell as they decide which of the many options to try. If you’re not an avid drinker, don’t fret. The employees are great at recommendations.

The options are limitless. You can have an iced peach blend to beat the heat. Or cozy up with a book and pot of hot oolong. Spice it up with a chai latte or infuse your drink with CBD. Add boba or customize any drink with milk, honey or flavored syrup.

As a bonus, the shop offers a few snack options and baked goods from La Belle French Bakery.

If you’re lucky enough to nab one of the cozy window seats, you can sip your tea while people-watching in downtown Littleton or take advantage of the natural light to read a book.

There is plenty of seating and tables both inside and out, where you can often spot a couple of people working remotely during the day. Soft music gives the space that typical coffee-shop ambience.

Whether you love tea or know someone who does, check out the In-Tea merchandise, too. It has a selection of the cutest teapots, steeping mugs and more that would make perfect gifts and will definitely end up on my Christmas list. Plus, you can buy any of their teas to take home.