Attention tea lovers. If you think the store-bought blends sitting in your cupboard are the fruitiest, most floral or novel on the market, they don’t even begin to compare to the apothecary of wild flavors you’ll encounter at Exotic Bamboo Teahouse.

Owner Alex Marin has taken the practice of tea drinking to hip new heights since opening his Zen-inspired café in Hillcrest earlier this year. He stocks more than 250 varieties, many of which are stacked so high that he plans to install a library ladder to pluck them off the shelves more easily.

But it isn’t until Marin begins popping open the jars for inquiring noses that his customers fully realize a whole new spectrum of tea awaits their taste buds. Things like Gold Rush, Organic Assam, Cinnamon Ginseng and Blueberry Bang comprise the three major categories – those being black, green and red teas. A plethora of herbal blends are also available in flavors such as Lichee Berry, Lavender Flower and Licorice Root. All of the teas are 100 percent natural and contain no sugar.

“I’ve always loved tea and the Asian disciplines that go with it,” says Marin as he reveals his Latino-Los Angeles roots while reflexively greeting and thanking customers with swift monastic-like bows. “My grandmother used to give us tea remedies for everything. Now, as an adult, I drink about six cups a day. Tea is incredibly healthy. It keeps you young.”

The red teas, he explains, originate from South Africa and contain the most antioxidants. The “blacks” contain the most caffeine. Yet for those seeking relief from niggling ailments, the Coptis Tea helps flush the bowel system; the Eucalyptus combats coughs; and the Dandelion brew supposedly lessens inflammations. Or for bodybuilders plagued by sluggishness, the Yerba Mate from South America “offers an incredible energy boost without the caffeine,” he adds.

Medicinal claims aside, some of the teas pack a brawny, orgasmic flavor punch that commercial brands can’t match. The Zen Apple Pie, for instance, is like biting into a slice of the real deal. The tropical fruit blends are colorfully flavored with orange peels, currants and cornflowers. And the Cream Earl Grey is mysteriously sweet and buttery.

The former antique shop-turned-teahouse matches in design Marin’s penchant for Far-East traditions. An interior 900-gallon water pond stocked with koi dominates the middle of the room, offering visitors a feng shui kind of quietude that trendy coffeehouses don’t totally accomplish. A balance of natural textures such as metal, wood and cement lead into a lazy garden patio. And Marin plans to turn the adjoining storefront into a yoga room by mid October.

The teas are served in heavy pots (small, medium and large) and range in price from $3 to $5 apiece. Premium teas, such as the hand-rolled “greens” cost only 50 cents more. Additionally, a new line of desserts made locally by a private pastry chef are now available, along with an unobtrusive retail line of merchandise such as candles, incense and soaps that Marin buys from the L.A. Market.

Live music is featured from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. And tea classes that resemble wine tastings are held once a month, where guests can sip from three main varieties and learn about their blending secrets and curative properties.

Exotic Bamboo Teahouse is located at 1475 University Ave. It is open from 12:00 noon to 11:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and until 12:00 midnight Fridays and Saturdays. For more information, call (619) 291-8221.