Coupon Book Feature: Algebra Tea House

We are so happy to present our refugee- and immigrant-owned business coupon books as part of our holiday fundraiser this year! Each Wednesday and Friday we will be featuring a business that has generously donated a coupon to our fundraiser! If you are interested in purchasing a coupon book, you can simply go to our donation page, donate $25 or more, and we will send you a book with some amazing businesses for you to support in Cleveland! If you donate $10, we will send you an US Together bracelet to show our appreciation. Today we are featuring Algebra Tea House located at 2136 Murray Hill Rd, Cleveland, right in the heart of Little Italy.

Ayman Alkayali, Palestinian immigrant and owner of Algebra Tea House.

Algebra Tea House opened its doors to Cleveland in 2001 by Palestinian immigrant, Ayman Alkayali. Ayman’s was the first major tea house in the city and the first non-Italian business in the neighborhood. You can find 36 different teas and an array of Middle Eastern dishes such as falafel, hummus, shawarma and more. Some of the beautiful teas include Assam Jorhat Blend Black Tea, Raspberry Black Tea, Dragonwell Green Tea and White Pekoe Tea.

Inside Ayman’s tea house, you can drink your tea from handmade ceramic mugs created by Ayman himself, while enjoying a fire on custom made furniture. However, Algebra Tea House is more than just somewhere to go and seclude yourself from the rest of the community; it is where you go to meet new people and have thoughtful discussions with your neighbors.

In a 2016 Al-Jazeera article, Ayman describes his tea house as the following:

“Algebra is really two things. It is us, the help, and then the customers, and this is what makes Algebra, Algebra. Without the customers we don’t exist: the thinkers and the photographers; and the sculptors and the writers; the poets and the civil rights activists. You hear different languages here, and people are not afraid of discussion.

I’ve been to many weddings where the couple met here. There are areas in Algebra where you have to sit next to somebody that you don’t know. The counter is curved so it forces you to interact with the person next to you. There is a couch and when the place is full people sit next to each other; we don’t even tell them any more. Sometimes they talk; sometimes they just do their work. This is a place where people are supposed to interact and discuss religion and politics and art and very sentimental and private matters.”

There is so much to gain by visiting Algebra Tea House, and being surrounded by the beautiful art and furniture. We hope you are inspired to support Algebra Tea House, US Together, and the other businesses featured in our holiday coupon book by donating to our holiday fundraising campaign! Your donation will directly help us continue serving the Cleveland refugee community.