Boutique coffeehouses take iced coffee very seriously, and now T Salon does the same for iced tea.

The new Melrose tea shop and lounge offers 20 different varieties of iced tea, all perfectly chilled (you don't even need ice) and served via a pressurized tap system, the kind you'd see at your favorite beer bar.

Sample as many as you like before deciding on one: For something earthy, there's Red Palm, a rooibos blend with subtle coconut flavor ($3 to $5, depending on the size). Want something richer? Try the White Chelsea Chai, which tastes creamy even without milk.

T Salon sells hundreds of proprietary loose-leaf green, red, black, white and herbal teas and blends. If choosing one seems overwhelming, the helpful staff will happily open the canisters along the wall so you can smell the leaves.

With free Wi-Fi and a spa-like vibe, you could easily linger in the sunlit, breezy lounge for hours. And a small menu of soups, salads and sandwiches means you don't need to head to M Café de Chaya or All About the Bread next door.

Your best bet: Get a slice of buttery orange pound cake ($6) and a pot of Tibetan Tiger, a Ceylon tea with hints of caramel, chocolate, butterscotch and vanilla ($6.50).

T Salon, 7111 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles; (323) 954-8327 or tsalon.com