by Aude Camus
In Hong Kong, the brewing coffee culture – fueled by the love of Millennials and Gen Z for their latte, seems to have taken over the ancestral art of tea appreciation. But tea drinkers know best. And the connoisseurs among them wouldn’t be estranged to Nana Chan’s name. Following the closure of teakha, her iconic tea café on Tai Ping Shan Street, Nana is back with a new concept in Sai Ying Pun.
Having opened its doors mid-April 2023, Plantation Tea Bar is a tasting and retail space where one can pop buy for a simple cup or seat at the central stone counter to enjoy a tea appreciation experience led by a tea master.
The Design
In Hong Kong, the brewing coffee culture – fueled by the love of Millennials and Gen Z for their latte, seems to have taken over the ancestral art of tea appreciation. But tea drinkers know best. And the connoisseurs among them wouldn’t be estranged to Nana Chan’s name. Following the closure of teakha, her iconic tea café on Tai Ping Shan Street, Nana is back with a new concept in Sai Ying Pun.
Having opened its doors mid-April 2023, Plantation Tea Bar is a tasting and retail space where one can pop buy for a simple cup or seat at the central stone counter to enjoy a tea appreciation experience led by a tea master.
The Design
Adopting a coffee-shop-inspired approach, the contemporary space is welcoming and aesthetically pleasing. The large window display is a clear invitation to passersby, shifting away from the traditional concept of tea appreciation ceremonies held in hidden location known by a handful of insiders only.
The tatami area at the back is the perfect spot to seat with a friend and catch up over a pot of tea from the à-la-carte selection. However, the main draw is the 12-seat stone counter sitting at the center of the rather spacious shop. Here is where you’re invited to take a seat and enjoy a monthly-changing tea tasting menu.
Nana Chan
The tatami area at the back is the perfect spot to seat with a friend and catch up over a pot of tea from the à-la-carte selection. However, the main draw is the 12-seat stone counter sitting at the center of the rather spacious shop. Here is where you’re invited to take a seat and enjoy a monthly-changing tea tasting menu.
Nana Chan
Born in Taiwan and raised in Hong Kong since the age of 10, Nana first started her career has a corporate lower before a hiking trip to Darjeeling set her up on a different path. Having run the acclaimed teakha tea shop for the past 10 years, she has contributed to create a strong community of tea (and homemade cakes) lovers.
Over the past few years, her tea adventures have taken her all around the world. Having deepened her knowledge and understanding of the traditions and cultures associated with tea and formed closed relationship with tea farmers and family-owned plantations, she felt she was ready to brew a new experience for Hong Kong tea drinkers.
The Tea Tasting experience
Over the past few years, her tea adventures have taken her all around the world. Having deepened her knowledge and understanding of the traditions and cultures associated with tea and formed closed relationship with tea farmers and family-owned plantations, she felt she was ready to brew a new experience for Hong Kong tea drinkers.
The Tea Tasting experience
Whether you’re a tea connoisseur or a tea curious, this four-course tea tasting is a relaxing break to treat yourself to. Led by a tea master, the experience is intimate but not intimidating. You’ll have the opportunity to ask as many questions as you want (or not to ask any if you don’t feel the need) and you’ll get to experience how water temperature, the choice of tea ware, the way of infusing and serving the tea, snacks pairing, and more can change the flavours of the tea. You’ll find quite a few similarities with a wine tasting.
Plantation Tea Bar
https://plantation.hk
18 Po Tuck Street – Sai Ying Pun
Plantation Tea Bar
https://plantation.hk
18 Po Tuck Street – Sai Ying Pun
This article is based on a complimentary tea tasting experience hosted by Plantation Tea Bar. No money has been paid for publishing this write-up which is only based on the genuine opinion of its author.
