This is one of the smallest tea cafes around and definiteily the best! Head to the Arndale market in Manchester!

I was able to find comfort when I was new to Manchester, with Parched and its hospitality and friendliness…felt at home. Marcy, the owner, is unbelievable with her knowledge of tea, her service and she always has a smile on her face. I love the choice of tea as there are over 60 kinds but even if you like to keep it simple with tea, Parched undoubtedly has the most divine 'everyday’ black tea there is…its fair trade and a huge mug is only one pound..just try it! Not to mention all the snacks and treats to choose from…my favourite is the 'Piggy went to market’ (ham & humous) bagel…mmm. I also love the iced teas/energizing drinks on offer. You’ll never run out of choices…

I have never experienced a tea bar like it…new innovative concept focused on healthy and happy products while still keeping good 'ol fashioned tea drinking simple…lovely!

I love Parched! Very reasonably priced and a huge variety of teas. I’m also quite partial to their bagels and the occasional cream tea…

A friend took me to this tea bar a while ago on a trip into Manchester, we are both tea lovers so we are trying to work our way through the menu with a different tea each visit, theres plenty to choose from and the food menu is quite nice too. I only get to see my friend once in a while so its a good place to relax and chat. The staff are always friendly and the prices are quite cheap for what you get.

Me and my wife go to The Arndale every week. We are tea drinkers and it is so hard to find a decent tea shop. Then we found this place. Very good.

Parched Tea Bar- one Tea - Mad Pundit’s Impression

Well it was a good day for a jaunt to the famous Arndale shopping centre in Manchester and in search of that elusive tea Mecca I came across a quirky Tea bar in the food market area called “Parched”, and was intrigued, and decided to investigate….

I introduced myself as a trainee wannabe pundit interested in sampling some of the goodies especially the teas and was suitable impressed… and the tea was good “ the best in The Arndale, so they tell me” explained Marcy Hazell, the proprietor.

In the conversation which ensued, I learned a lot about tea and also Parched Tea Bar.
England as we know is the home of tea and whenever I am abroad in Germany or Spain and gasping for a cuppa, they just don’t seem to have the “tea magic” that us Brits enjoy. Parched was tea heaven.

Marcy explained that she entered the world of exotic teas as the coffee market was saturated and Manchester really did lack any type of specialized tea shop, as she wittily put it, Parched was “putting the tea back into the communitea”
After careful research she now vends over 60 varieties of teas and tisanes (which are herb and flower drinks). I tried some licorice tea which was novel and very refreshing, and as we chatted more I opted for the Fairtrade tea which is the favourite beverage served… Japanese green tea was also popular and one of the teas that I found quite interesting was chrysanthemum flower tea…

“But its not just about tea” Marcy quipped and went on to explain the diverse range of products on offer, ranging from scones and “New Yorker” bagels made with gherkin, mayo and pastrami; to Milkshakes made with fresh fruit; carrot cake; to “Elvis” toasties; to homemade ginger ale… all in all a hearty selection of healthy refreshments and snacks. The cream tea/afternoon tea is a customer’s favourite and reasonably priced at £3.25. To be honest it’s rare to find somewhere that does a cream tea in Manchester, but that’s another story.

Marcy enjoys a good solid clientele from all walks of life and age groups. The service is personal and friendly and she knows many of her customers by name and tipple, whether they be business men popping out for a tea break, or students testing out the different exotic blends, or OAP’s and families who want to sit down and relax after a bit of heavy shopping and chat over a hearty brew….
Who said shopping was boring…

Parched Tea Bar is open from 9-6pm Monday to Saturday and from 11am-5pm on a Sunday