Moby opens NY tea shop

Chart star Moby is to open a tea shop in New York amid a surge in popularity for the drink across the city, it emerged today.

The techno musician said he had been planning Teany, which will be ready for business next week, for several years.

But the cafe, which will serve 80 different types of the beverage, is one of hundreds of shops devoted to the cuppa springing up across Manhattan.

One trendy new eatery in Madison Avenue sells special green tea from Japan for up to £15 an ounce.

Brews available in the Wild Lily Tea Market in New York’s Alphabet City include Buddha’s Finger, described as ‘‘a suitable drink for after your yoga class’’.

It also sells everything from teapots to tea shoe insoles.

The Tamarind Tea Room in Midtown offers a range of teas from Asia with recommended Indian influenced snacks and pastries to help them down.

Tomislav Podreka from Long Island based Serendipitea said in New York tea had become the new wine.

‘‘Tea and wine are the only two ‘foods’ that cover 95% of the palate pie,’’ he said.

‘‘A good Darjeeling drinker will know the difference between a spring, summer and autumnal flush.’’

Sebastian Beckwith, from In Pursuit of Tea, said he specialises in ‘‘cuisine level teas’’ for New York diners who like to match specific teas with specific meals.

Miriam Novalle, owner of New York’s T Salon, said the beverage has become so popular among celebrities that she had been asked to cater at VIP events pouring tea instead of Champagne.