Slow down. That’s what the owner of BrewCHA Tea Lounge wants people to do when they come by her shop.

The new tea spot inside COATI opened earlier this summer, serving teas inspired by Thai, English and Japanese traditions.

The idea isn’t just to hand someone a cup and send them on their way. BrewCHA wants customers to learn a little about what they’re drinking, from how tea is grown and processed to how its flavor changes from one region to another.

I tried one of their rotating seasonal drinks, a mango sticky rice matcha made with tea from Uji, Japan. Owner Fatima Concepcion described this region’s matcha as tasting clean and fresh, while tea from other regions may have more “nutty” or “earthy” notes.

And if you’re hungry for a snack, white chocolate matcha cookies and mochi are also on the menu.

BrewCHA Tea Lounge is open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in COATI, 514 S. Tejon St.

ー Amelia Herman, Springs Scene