Raiding local trees and throwing their leaves in boiling water cuts down on aphid infestations, but it won't make a good cup of tea. Enjoy leaf-water made from ingestion-appropriate plants with today's Groupon: for $3 you get $6 worth of refreshments at The Tea Lounge.

With a menu boasting more than 100 beverage combinations, The Tea Lounge employs master tea artisans to whip up unique and refreshing drinks in a variety of flavors. Customers can mix and match smoothies, coffees, and teas with "sinkers" (different varieties of tapioca, pudding, and gelatin) to create artistic and delicious potions with bottom-dwelling flavor balls. Sample a multifarious selection of beverages that includes almond-cream tea ($3.25), mocha coffee with tapioca ($4), passion-fruit juice ($2.25), honey black tea ($3.25), peach-cream blend ($3), and yellow-mango ice blend ($3.25). The skilled staff prepares tapioca with brown sugar and caramel to craft a more robust flavor, darker color, and the sinking qualities of a raft made out of swiss cheese. Flavor masters create cream tea by blending jasmine green or black tea with non-dairy creamer for a lactose-tolerant treat. A variety of milks are also available upon request.

The cozy, colorful atmosphere featuring multihued walls and earthy colors makes The Tea Lounge an inviting destination for enjoying afternoon refreshments or just hanging out with fellow Abraham Lincoln lookalikes. Free WiFi allows patrons to surf the net and to find out how to properly put out a mattress fire before going back home to do so.

Reviews

Fourteen Yelpers give The Tea Lounge a four-star average:

• The Tea Lounge does boba right by providing a cozy, hip/trendy atmosphere. – Bernard N., 2/1/11
• Their fruit juice flavors cannot be beat. – Melissa D. J., 1/28/11