According to Chinese mythology the first cup of tea was an accident: In 2737BC, the Emperor Shen Nung insisted that all water was boiled for hygiene reasons. One day leaves from a wild tea tree dropped into a pan of water his servant was preparing. The Emperor was taken with the refreshing flavour of the beverage and its popularity rapidly spread throughout China. During the Tang Dynasty (618 – 906AD), tea became China’s national drink and the word Ch’a was used to describe it. In 780AD the first book on the world’s most popular drink – the Ch’a Ching – was written. The rest, as they say, is history.
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The Teahouse offers the perfect opportunity to contemplate the spirit of the Chinese Garden of Friendship while enjoying one of the most popular traditions of ancient and modern China: a cup of tea.
The Teahouse is open daily from 10.00am to 4.30pm (closed Good Friday and Christmas Day).
A range of traditional pastries, dim sims, gow gees, and steamed pork buns are on the menu in the Teahouse. Naturally, there is also an extensive range of Chinese teas including:
- Jasmine Tea – flower tea with a delicate fresh scent
- Shou Mei (Old man’s eyebrows) – Green tea light in colour and aroma
- Shui Hsen (Water Fairy) – Oolong tea with refreshing qualities
- Tieh-Kuan-Yin (Iron Goddess of Mercy) – Oolong tea with a light fragrance
- Pu-Erh – Black tea with an earthy flavour
In addition, the Teahouse offers a range of ‘western’ beverages and light meals, including coffee, English tea, gourmet sandwiches, soup and salads, and a delectable range of sweet treats.
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