Every tea scene needs an anchor — the place that stocks the leaves, knows the steep times, and will talk you out of over-brewing your sencha. For the desert, that role belongs to Merkaba, an hour up Highway 74 in Idyllwild — and worth every switchback.
Classic Chinese and Japanese greens, oolongs with real range, and an herbal wall suited to a town that takes its wellness seriously. Come with questions; the counter conversation is the point.
