Imbibe 75 Place to Watch: Bardo Tea

PHOTOS: NASHCO Photography

January 03, 2025

Bardo Tea co-owners Veronika Vogler and Ravi Kroesen

A display of Bardo's carefully sourced tea ware

Bardo Tea Imbibe 75 — Bardo offers an array of global teas.

Proof that quality tea doesn’t have to be self-serious, Bardo Tea prioritized inclusivity when it opened its first brick-and-mortar teahouse in Portland, Oregon’s Killingsworth neighborhood last February. “We make sure to honor the culture and the history and the craft of tea, but we’re also really trying to make it an accessible beverage for people—no matter where they’re coming from,” says Ravi Kroesen, Bardo’s co-owner and former head teamaker and vice president of Smith Teamaker.

In addition to selecting an array of carefully sourced tea ware and global teas, some of which have already become favorites of area chefs and bartenders like Jim Meehan, Kroesen hosts hour-long tasting sessions. Co-owner Veronika Vogler, a meditation teacher and art world alum, leads weekly silent tea meditations. “It’s a nice way for people to sit in community and learn about tea on their own,” Vogler says. “We’re trying to bring a sense of fun and sophistication to tea.”

Click here to read more about some of 2025’s other Imbibe 75 People and Places to Watch.

Emily Saladino

Contributing Editor Emily Saladino is a New York-based journalist and recipe developer. Previously the managing editor of Wine Enthusiast and editor-in-chief of VinePair, her work has appeared in The Washington Post, Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, Food Network, and many others. A former professional cook and bartender, she holds a Culinary Arts degree from The French Culinary Institute and Level II Certification from The Wine & Spirit Education Trust. She has a poorly behaved cattle dog named Arby.