Every student at Oak Park and River Forest High School has probably wondered this at least once: Where can I find high quality, creative, and delicious tea with reasonable prices around here? To you, students, I bring the answer – in a trailer. 

Run by local entrepreneur Maxwell Blessen, Joy Tea is the best tea I’ve ever had in Oak Park by far. Joy Tea is a small, beautiful mobile trailer attached to Blessen’s Cadillac SUV. Though unassuming, it packs a pleasant surprise. 

I first discovered Joy Tea after a Saturday ACT test when I was out with my friends. Our brains were running on fumes, and we all needed a small pick-me-up in order to enjoy the rest of that beautiful Saturday, and Joy Tea sure delivered. The quaint trailer immediately caught my attention with its eye pleasing advertisements and inviting wood details. Though the menu is small, the way the drinks are presented are enticing and informational. 

That day, I had ordered the iced white peach oolong tea, and it was genuinely mind blowing in every aspect. The tea itself was full of complexities, refreshing and clearly high quality. The fresh peaches added a floral, sweet fragrance along with that perfect spring feeling that I needed. 

Needless to say, ever since that first encounter, I have become a regular at Joy Tea. Though I have changed my order (mango jasmine iced tea), Joy Tea continues to impress me with every visit. All tea on the regular menu is imported from Fujian, China, which is the birthplace of jasmine tea. Blessen orders a special seven-times scented jasmine green tea especially for his drinks. 

Joy Tea also has a rotating menu, of which the tea is also imported. This season’s drink is a raw vanilla pu’erh, which is imported from France and has a nutty taste with notes of toffee (in my personal opinion). 

Though this all sounds fancy, I have found that every tea I order at Joy Tea comes down to under $8! I find that even though the products served at Joy Tea are still wallet-friendly, despite being better quality by multitudes than most beverages in Oak Park, speaks to Blessen’s love for tea and mission to spread that love while also educating the modern population about the ancient tradition that is Asian tea. 

I encourage you to indulge in his mission, bring your friends, and have some of the best tradition you’ve ever tasted. You can find Joy Tea’s daily schedule on Instagram at @JoyTea !