InsaniTea

RIP :(loved this place.

Just drove all the way there from Bernardsville for some bubble tea. The place is closed for business.

I’m sure others have had better experiences but ours did not go well. Me and the boyfriend were walking around decided to grab something to warm us up. When walking in the place looked cluttered and messy.
There were 2 people working there. A guy who was super slow and looking for any excuse not to do his job and lady who was being super lazy and just hanging out with her boyfriend.
We waited a good 5 min before anyone even recognized we were there even though we were standing right at the register. We then ordered 2 hot chocolates for $ 4 dollars each. We were told to give it 5 minutes (who knows why since there was no one ahead of us who ordered). We tried to find a seat which was hard since the couches and seats were covered in random peoples hats and laptops or the seats were covered in food (nothing looked clean).
While we were sitting and waiting for what was definitely more then 5 minutes we got to witness the other girl who worked there act nasty to a group of girls who were trying to help by cleaning up themselves and got bitched at by the girl that she would do it herself (though sitting on her computer she obviously did not have intentions of doing so). The girl continued to be unprofessional by sitting near her boyfriend and asking him to tie her shoes because she was too lazy to even do that, mind you she could have gone to check on why our orders were taking so long, but truthfully I don’t think she even noticed we walked in or were sitting there waiting.
To end it all the probably 10 min we waited for our hot chocolate I expected it to at least be some bistro chocolate syrupy or good cocoa got chocolate ended up just being some nesquick mix with water (not even milk).
I love small mom and pop shops including little coffee shops and bookstores but this was awful and I won’t be going back.

InsaniTea could be the place for you, but it’s not the place for me. An effort in mix and match, shabby chic décor, it turns out to be more of a yard sale in every way. There is no rhyme or reason to the seating options and when you sit on them you understand why. The couches and comfortable-​looking chairs are old and you feel it when you sit in them. This feel applies to the whole place as there is just stuff everywhere — extra chairs, posters, tvs with people playing video games, tapestries. You actually feel more like you have walked into their living room than a business. For some this may be hippie perfection, but it just isn’t clean enough or organized enough for me to feel comfortable just sitting around there drinking tea.
I get the impression after more than a few visits that this place was made to have a place to hang out with their friends. I often felt like I was interrupting someone or putting someone out just to get a tea. The service is occasionally friendly, distracted, fairly uninterested and not what one would call quick. They are trusting however, allowing you to pay on your way out. Truthfully, I’m not sure they would even notice if you didn’t pay. The tea is average and I wouldn’t bet the house that they are tea connoisseurs. The prices are certainly too high for what you get.
They have many events here — jazz nights, drum circles, writer’s groups — that are great if you are in them, but very distracting and loud if you are not. Many times, multiple groups are there at the same time causing mayhem or what could be described as mayhem inside a tea shop.
I really want (ed) to like InsaniTea because independent businesses are truly the life blood of any town, however, it just seems that somewhere along the way this tea shop became a club and it’s not my kind of club.

I really enjoyed this place. It felt just like a small business should– cozy and well kept– while maintaining the charm.
The prices are a bit high, but you pay a little extra to support small businesses. I’d recommend it to a friend.

The owner runs the place by herself and does a great job. I was there during open mic and loved it. Open mic is just one of the many events that Insanitea hosts. I arrived before the open mc started to find people reading, studying, and making small talk amongst themselves. I was accompanied by a friend and we had no problem keeping ourselves busy with one of the many interesting books placed near our table. We ordered 5 baked treats, a green apple tea for my friend, and a hot chocolate with marshmallows and whipped cream for me. We chose our own mugs! Everything was good. I definatetly plan on going back. I didn’t give five stars because I believe no place is perfect. Overall, great place with great vibes and great tea!

Very cute place that offers tea, desserts games, live music, drum circles, and tarot card reading. It is not just a place to drink tea, it’s a place to hang.

My friend and I both got bubble tea. The pearls were prepared incorrectly and had a mealy texture (I don’t make bubble tea myself but I’d assume they were undercooked).
I can’t imagine that my server or anyone working there would actually be willing to drink what they served me.

Went here to meet a friend for tea. Found the place to be a bit grimy. They do have a ton of board games none of which you have any interest in touching. I ordered a peach tea and it mostly tasted of syrup. Thanks but no thanks. Montclair has some great little coffee shops and I think I’ll stick to those when I want tea.

This is a quaint, interesting place. Although I’m a coffee fiend, I like how InsaniTea is a refreshing alternative to ubiquitous coffee shops. It sells a variety of green, white, black and herbal teas by the cup, pot or bulk. You can purchase the tea of your choice and settle into the shop’s relaxing, inviting atmosphere.
But InsaniTea is more than a tea place. It’s like a home to the musicians, artists, authors and other creative souls who need or want a venue to showcase their talents. The shop constantly hosts events including poetry workshops and music. InsaniTea also sells items by local artisans and crafters including artwork, all-​natural handmade pet treats, hand-​knitted and crocheted stuff, and jewelry.

Dusty and boba hard and tea bland in bubble tea. Unapologetic server.

I have been to Insanitea a few times, when I «discovered» Montclair several months ago. I had a groupon to redeem at a cupcake place nearby. Unfortunately it’s too far for me to return often, but I do like it. It’s a shabby chic kind of style. Not sure how to describe it. Like Tea Lounge in Bk but not so smart or polished. Tea Lounge is not polished in the sense of modern, but its run down look is better done. There isn’t merchandise all over the place. Insanitea is fine, however. It is Tea Lounge if it were in Montclair, NJ.
It’s too bad there are not more people to populate this large café. The Montclair Art Museum is nearby; that is worth a visit. The people who go there might like this café.

This place is so bizarre. That’s probably what drove me and two friends to check it out one night when we were walking down Bloomfield Ave. The décor was interesting… There were couches and chairs that looked quite old scattered throughout, board games all over the place (apparently there’s a board game night), and a shelf filled with all types of interesting mugs that you can choose to have your tea made.
The inside was quite comfortable and had a homey feel, but for the price and quality of the tea, I wasn’t impressed. I probably won’t go back here, but it’s definitely an interesting place to check out once.

I came here because I enjoyed the crazy décor. Very cozy with ample room throughout the store. There are board games and books that you can check out as you are enjoying your drink.
The teas are OK. The lady who works the front is very sweet and helpful.
Tables should be cleaned better in between customers.

Going to InsaniTea in Montclair NJ was probably the worst experience I’ve had in a coffee/​tea shop to date and I have been frequenting coffee shops since the late 70’s.
I went to InsaniTea for a writer’s group that was 20 minutes late so I had a choice of seats. It was a Sunday and the place was pretty much empty yet many tables had placemats with chunks/​crumbs of food on them, empty sugar packets, dirty napkins and previous customer’s water bottles still on the tables.
The décor is cool, hip, retro whatever you want to call it. It is a cross between Bohemian and «That 70’s Show.» There are many miss matched pieces of furniture, accessories, cups and artwork. It appears to blend well when you first arrive.
This isn’t a bad thing except that when the owner was picking out the seating they should have thought of the patrons comfort instead of using the seating just because someone was throwing it out.
I sat on a couch and sunk into it so low I thought I was on a half-​filled water bed. I then went to an occasional chair and needed to find a pillow for the back of the chair. It was so wildly uncomfortable that I thought had I stayed I would have needed acupuncture for my sciatic nerve.
But now sitting there I got a chance to look around. The place hasn’t been swept for quite some time. There were thick layers of dust and debris from outside under cabinets and table and on shelves displaying items for sale. The garbage pail (which didn’t have a lid on it) was overflowing. And behind the counter there was a bus bin also overflowing with dirty tea cups etc, needing to be washed or at least put out of sight of the patrons while the owner or employee sat behind the counter playing games on the computer.
There is a very thin line between trying to achieve a Bohemian/​Eclectic laid back kind of atmosphere and just a filthy unkempt mess. The longer I was there the more I felt like I was a hostage in someone’s attic.
LET ME GET TO THE TEA. It’s a place that sells pretty much nothing but tea. They offer many varieties. If you want it iced there is only one size and it costs $ 3.49. Not going to complain but for $ 3.49 I can buy a box of 20 or so tea bags so I wanted this tea to be something special.
I ordered the chocolate tea. I thought that sounded intriguing. She steeped my tea in my plastic tumbler for about one minute and then put in about 16 ounces of water and ice. I have to say that water from a garden hose had more taste. I told her politely that it was very weak and could she make it again and please let it steep longer.
Her response was,
«It’s a new tea so I don’t really know how long to steep it. There are some teas that steep in 1 minute while others take longer.»
She made it again, this time steeping what appeared to be the same tea bag in the same tumbler for 2 minutes. She then gave it back to me without ice and it was no better.
FAIL – InsaniTea, you sell only tea! It is your ultimate responsibility to preview a new tea and get a standard for how long it takes to steep. Plus, you can’t expect to steep about 1.5 tea bags full of tea for 2 minutes and then add 16 ounces of water and ice and believe it will have any flavor at all.
Needless to say with the discomfort of the seating provided, the obvious filth, the carelessness to detail for food safety and sanitation, I paid my bill and left.
Save yourself a trip and visit any other establishment in Montclair – there are many other shops that will offer comfort, a good product and cleanliness.

Will not be returning here for any of their teas. The people are nice and they’ve done what they can to create a cozy and relaxing environment, but the teas are just too bland or taste really bad (the Oolong tea tasted heavily of soap).
It is quite expensive ($ 5 for a bubble tea) and it just isn’t worth it.

This is a really cool shop with tons of space to do work, read, etc. I went on a weekday afternoon and it wasn’t too crowded but I wonder if it is more busy on the weekends. It is a HUGE store though with couches, tables, board games, etc.
They have a pretty decent tea selection as well as a few pastries and cakes. The tea is all loose leaf and is put in a tea bag when you order it.
I docked a star just because I would like the menu to have a few more options. Tea lattes or something else would be nice (I didn’t ask so maybe they can make them but I didn’t see a milk frother). They do have bubbles for bubble tea (though not listed on their wall menu) but I didn’t try them.
I had the vanilla (black) tea and added some milk. My tea was good but not mind blowing. For a spot that serves tea and only tea, I kind of expected the best tea I have had.
I think this is a place that is good to spend time in and study, hang out, etc. I wouldn’t come her just to get the tea but it is a nice
space to spend some time in.

EDIT: I’ve visited again in March 2012, and I want to edit my post. Three things were different on my second trip, and they’re worth noting.
– First, the music was groovy and interesting, and at a good comfortable volume.
– Second, though I brought my own mug, the selection this time was more appealing.
– And most important: the water this time was PIPING HOT!
If we could give half stars, I’d be updating my rating to 3.5 stars right now. But I’ll hold off for another trip to see if I feel comfortable updating to 4 stars. I really think they’re working the kinks out, and making this into a positive, supportive, and comfortable hang out spot. Which is awesome.
ORIGINAL REVIEW BELOW.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — -
I love the mission statements on Insanitea’s website. I love what they’re aiming for. And I want to love this place. Especially with Café Eclectic closing, and because there is a knitting group I want to join that meets here. But my first visit was not promising.
THE GOOD STUFF:
–They seem to have a decent selection of teas. Nothing mind-​blowing, but decent.
–They seem to really want to be a social hangout place, and not just a profitable store. This is probably the best thing of all about the place. :)
–They have all sorts of stuff you can play with: board games, musical instruments, video games, books. That kind of atmosphere really invites you to stay and enjoy yourself!
–The couches and chairs are set up in little cozy groupings. So you can go with five friends and hang out together and be comfortable and happy, rather than cramped into little wobbly chairs.
–They have donated ceramic mugs of all different sizes and shapes, and you get to select your own.
–The woman who served us was kind and helpful.
THE NOT SO GOOD STUFF:
–While we were there, the music they had on was loud, aggressive, and jarring. It did NOT encourage us to stay!
–There are notes on all of the games and instruments reminding people to be responsible. But the tone of the notes is very condescending. «Thank you for not smoking”-type stuff I can handle. «Your mother doesn’t work here”-type stuff is insulting.
–Almost all of the available mugs were chipped, broken, oddly-​shaped (like hand-​thrown pieces with ½» thick square rims) or stained. I love the idea of using recycled mugs. But I absolutely demand that they be safe, sound, unstained, and easy to drink out of. I’ll be bringing a cup in from now on.
–Worst of all, the tea was lukewarm and therefore didn’t taste like anything. I know that it is healthier to drink room-​temperature drinks. But most tea requires very hot water to steep correctly. I would rather get my hot water along with a gentle reminder in the menu that my drink is healthiest when I let it cool first. (And that would be a lovely way to remind folks to slow down and enjoy their stay!)
I love what this place is aiming to be: a community-​minded gathering place for responsible, good-​hearted people. Our visit didn’t quite live up to that image. But I will definitely be going back, and hoping that they find the ways to tweak the atmosphere so it turns into that.

Haven’t been to Montclair in ages, and apparently this place has been open for two years.
Parking was pretty easy… I parked off of Portland Place… by the police station:)
VERY cozy atmosphere… love the mismatched tables, couches, seat coverings, etc.
I was here with a writer’s group for two hours, and the woman at the front register wasn’t pushy about having us leave, etc. It was even fine that we paid for our purchases at the end of the night.
The tea was a bit on the warm side, rather than HOT side. I prefer that though. Good tea selections, although, yes, the prices are a bit on the high side. They have some snacks for sale, but the place would be improved by having some more items on the menu (it’s mostly unhealthy snacks like Rice Krispie treats and muffins).
I like that there are local artists who have their pieces showcased here. There is a WIDE variety of things for sale though: silkscreened shirts and prints, gourmet dog treats, jewelry, and soaps. I understand though… the business is still getting off its feet and any extra walk-​in business IS business.
They also have «Tea Pong» night, music night, etc.
I bought some tea to bring home and the selection was way better than Teavana. Coconut Island tea rocks!
Great selection of 90s music playing too.
Overall, I’d go back here again. So many tea and coffeehouses are going out of business because of Starbucks and other chains. I’ll gladly go to this place again. It may be 3 bucks or so for tea, but at least it is going to a locally run business and not some corporate headquarters. I feel like you’re paying for the atmosphere too.

What a cozy little hangout! I love what they have done to this place since it first came to Montclair. There are now comfy couches and a relaxed hipster feel that permeates throughout this quaint tea house.
I had the Iced Strawberry Long Island tea and really enjoyed it. But I will say that it is a bit expensive so expect to pay Starbucks prices. A small tea ran me almost $ 4 (they charge an extra $.75 to get your tea iced). That hurt considering that the tea gets watered down easily. But it was tasty and the flavors are unique and it is a local business trying to get off the ground so with those factors in mind, it seems to be worth it. I just can’t make it a habit.