London: Tea Time in Wonderland

Google Yumchaa and you’ll quickly learn its Cantonese meaning. You go to a teahouse to yum cha/chaa, to drink tea, but also to revive, to find yourself.

This is neither a tea room nor a tea house like Tea Smith. Soft hues for decoration, a vintage note to it, plenty of light, a very soothing white, a mix of romantic wallpapers. Your body relaxes as soon as you step in.

You look for a card, a menu. You get mesmerized by a collection of scones, muffins, chocolate cakes, urban picnic boxes. You feel a little confused, decide to ask for advice. Until now, you had read your teas, chosen them for the singing description, the poetry in the words. Not here. There is a crowd of small milk jugs in front of you, each containing a sample of loose tea.  Let yourself be seduced by the pigment of the spices, the floral or peppery perfumes, an experience, really. You’ll choose your tea by instinct, because it will make something hum in you, so very satisfying!

No tea bags, here. A real tea ritual, with silvery strainer and elegant movements: the perfume is so much richer, a travel in itself.

Tested and loved, the extraordinary Chilli Chilli Bang Bang: rooibos, cinnamon, ginger, red thistle, red pepper, chilli. Fragrant, a little spicy, energising. A must for a winter day.

As amazing, the Chelsea Chai: sencha green tea, rare for a chai, cardamom (tru it in coffee as well), cloves, red pepper, cinamon and  Egyptian mint. Refreshing, would be splendind iced or even to flavour a cake.

There’s free wifi too, that’s it, there’s no way you’re moving from here!

Yumchaa
45 Berwick Street
Soho
London, W1F 8SF
Another shop in Camdem. You’ll also find them at a stall in Camden market and in Partridge’s market

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