Homegrown Herb & Tea

Before I go any further, I want to agree with many prior reviews. Homegrown has extremely limited hours and even when they are open, you might wait 45 minutes with only one person ahead of you in line. This is not a place to frequent on a day you have limited time or if you are a person who hates to wait. Oh, and they are CASH ONLY!
When I was a child, I loved to walk the labyrinth of NYC’s Chinatown. There were certain places my family would always go for dinner and a few specific shops in the vicinity I was allowed to explore. I was never allowed to go inside the apothecaries, places where herbal blends were created just for what ailed you. I would watch from the outside, waiting for enough time to pass so that I could come back on my own.
I stumbled into Homegrown the week before Christmas. It was really cold and wet and walking in to the shop felt like being embraced in a warm hug. Inside is a quiet sanctuary, a space for rest and contemplation. I stopped in for a «Rooibos to go» and within seconds realized I had entered into an herbal apothecary and that the lovely woman behind the counter (Sarah) was a healer. I may have taken a long and circuitous path, but dammit, I finally got inside!
There are so many blends for so many purposes from anxiety to headaches to the flu. After looking over the tea menu, I decided to buy some inflamma-​tea to take home.
After a conversation with Sarah, I left with 2 ounces and went home to brew some tea. I noticed an improvement within a day. I started feeling better. I continue to drink inflamma-​tea every day and am experiencing an overall improvement in wellness from it.
If you are not feeling well, looking to boost your immune system, help calm a cranky baby or get better sleep at night, do yourself a favor and plan a visit to Homegrown Herb and Tea in Portland. But before you go, make sure to call ahead to check that they are open, make sure that you have plenty of time and make sure to bring cash!

My wife and I stumbled into the shop by happenstance. We were visiting from out of town and Sarah, the shop owner, made us feel right at home. She has a fantastic shop with a creative and tasty selection of teas. Going to see Sarah and grab a tea became our daily routine. It was the best way to start the day! I miss my White Gypsy Sunrise! THE. BEST.

Visiting from LA, and stumbled in on a whim. I LOVE THIS PLACE.
The welcoming owner Sarah is serving up far more than tea. She understands how to combine ingredients in a healthful and palliative way.
The tea is delicious. Have her brew you a pot in one of her big chunky teapots. It is a treat.
I am glad that we can order from her shop online. Wish she was in LA.
Terrific establishment with a soothing vibe.

Excellent venue for a cup of joe and a min to myself. Went on vacation with the fam and got a quick escape to this place. Was very pleased with the Milky Way Tea I got. As a lactating mom t is hard to find places that have specialty drinks just for me. Would go back if I visited Portland, ME again. Just a side note it is cash only. So are a few other places I visited so have plenty of cash on you or you might miss out on little gems like this one.

Great place to get some herbal drink and tasty homemade eats. The friendly owner talks you through the intense menu to find what you’re searching for.
The star missing is for the uncomfortable seating and hours of operation (seldom open) but otherwise I love this place.

A little out of the way, I had to be told about Homegrown a few times before I actually sought it out, and even then I had trouble because of the limited hours. Once I actually made it, I was impressed by the interior setup: a small bar, some benches that look as though they would be awkward but actually aren’t, a booth in the window, a chair near the other window, and two larger spaces in the back, one a small room behind a beaded curtain offering a sense of privacy. The menu is printed on cloth and rolled up with a star anise and string to hold it closed. Overall this is a very relaxing environment.
The tea menu is mostly custom herbal blends, so if that’s your preference you have hit the jackpot here. There is also a good selection of traditional teas and a number of custom tea blends. Teas are served in a large cup rather than a pot, so drink with some speed or else use the saucer as a cover to keep them hot. You will get the cup with the contents still steeping, so pay attention if you’re getting tea rather than a more forgiving herbal blend.
The menu is all homemade, but not friendly to vegans or folks with gluten allergies.
The biggest single issue and what most often keeps me away are the hours. Homegrown’s posted hours are slightly seasonal, but all in the afternoon and not in the morning or evening. If you work regular hours, the only day you can come here is Saturday, and again the only hours are in the afternoon.

Fantastic local tea shop! The owner, Sarah, was amazingly helpful. The combination of herbs I took home was delicious and helped me sleep!
Thank you, Sarah:)

Absolutely love this place. Every cup of tea is made with love, its such a great place to spend some time. Sarah is a great host — check it out!

Stopped in here for a cup of tea while walking around and sightseeing with my cousin. It looked like it was about to rain, so this was the perfect place to duck in for a bit.
We were immediately greeted by the owner of the shop. We were going to sit by the window, and she explained that she has a praying mantis that she keeps there so she wanted us to be aware so she didn’t scare us. She actually put the praying mantis on top of the heat lamp so show her to us, which was pretty cool.
As we drank our tea we talked with the owner. My cousin is from Brooklyn, so she told us about her trip to Brooklyn and her experience with owning the tea shop.
I had the guns ‘n roses green tea. It was refreshing, tasty, and exactly what I needed. I ended up buying some loose tea of yoga tea and aphrodi-​tea.

A wonderful hidden gem — relaxing place to pop in if you’ve had a stressful day. Sarah is so knowledgeable and can recommend any number of calming aryuvedic teas.

Such an unassuming little location, you probably have driven by it a number of times and not realized it was sitting right there quietly inviting you in to enjoy a little respite for your weary soul and an opportunity to disconnect from a technologically over-​saturated existence in a city where businesses shout louder than the businesses next to them (but in real life and online) as they all vie for your attention (really, it’s just for your money — most of them forget about you the moment you’ve paid your bill). Homegrown is a breath of clean, fresh air in this food and drink rich city.
The first time I checked out the little tea shop it was raining. I couldn’t think of a more appropriate time to drink a mug of tea, really. Now, if I could materialize my soul into a physical location, Homegrown Herb & Tea might be it… it was so warm and inviting, I could have stayed there for hours. There was art on the walls, holiday lights strewn in a window, plants absolutely everywhere, an abundance of herbs, a guitar available for anyone to use, high ceilings, a tall bar with seats that beg you to slip onto one and stay awhile, and an owner that smiles at you like you’re old friends. There isn’t necessarily a planned «décor»; it just looks and feels and smells and sounds like you’ve walked into someone’s beloved and very much lived-​in apartment.
The menu isn’t daunting — the (organic and natural) ingredients and purpose of each tea (know this: there are no superfluous ingredients used here… each tea is very much thought out and created to leave a person feeling better about fill-​in-​the-​blank than when they first entered) are very clearly explained (as is the taste and energy points). If you have questions, the owner is well-​versed in what she’s doing — so, just ask! Whether it’s a headache or nausea, or you need calming or to be stimulated… you’ll find a tea for it here.
I had The Wake Up Call (a sweet and spicy blend of organic yerba mate, cinnamon, clove, anise, ginseng and peppermint) because I was going running immediately after visiting Homegrown. It was exactly as the owner said… it pepped me right up, without over-​caffeinating my poor heart. The enormous cup was only $ 3 (CASH ONLY), and after finishing, the owner asked if I needed a complimentary refill of hot water on top of the now once-​used tea bag she had personally created for me. There’s nothing about this place that isn’t lovely.
However, you should know that (from what I’ve heard) Homegrown actually opens and closes on a whim (despite their listed hours of operation). So if you go at 1pm on a Thursday one week… you may not be able to replicate that the following week. For people who like routine, this could be a frustrating. It’s not something that necessarily bothers me, but heads up!

Found this amazing tea shop on my adventure walk through portland. I’m originally from NY but fell in love with this cute town. Anyone who loves tea and good energy must come here! Sarah the owner made me ‘the flu shot’ which cured my cold! Thanks sarah! I will be ordering from you… oh yea she ships her fabulous blends. I bought two of the ayuverdic blends. A must visit!!!

I also had a similar experience of ordering a lovely tea at the Green Elephant restaurant. Upon asking my waiter he sent me to Homegrown Herb and Tea where I purchased the camomile, St. John’s wort and dried lemon peel blend. The owner was very gracious and super knowledgeable about tea in general. I love to support small local businesses who have great products and friendly staff — will most certainly be back here soon.

Lovely vibe here. Teas all prepared in house by the knowledgable owner/​operator. She has tea blends that may help some with various ailments and conditions — I purchased «the nightcap» a preparation to aid with insomnia. Her other tea blends are quite refreshing. A nice relaxing spot — I’d recommend it especially for tea lovers.

What a lovely experience. Truly unique!

This owner-​operated tea house is one of Portland best kept secrets. I would recommend a visit any time, but going when you are in need of some healing is particularly wise. Inside you’ll find a small, cozy space with a bar, some tables and chairs, and padded benches. Three dollars will get you a huge cup of tea hand concocted and prepared by the owner. This woman is friendly and very knowledgeable about
Ayurvedic medicine, offering herbal tea combinations geared towards problematic symptoms or creating something unique to meet your needs. There is a room off to the side where you can get a facial and chill out with some tea.
Also available is a selection of light foods, including tea sandwiches and sweets, as well as herbs, honey, homemade lip gloss, jelly, and gorgeous pottery for sale and displayed around the shop.
I just wish they were open later than 7pm. Oh, and they only take cash/​checks, so hit the ATM.