Located near the Minquan West Road MRT station, Ten Ren's Tea always has quite a few people waiting in line around noon, so I tend to avoid that time.
The 913 Tea King at Ten Ren's has always been quite delicious. It tastes smooth without any astringency, but I do feel the price is a bit high; a large cup costs $70. Fortunately, they are currently running a promotion where the second cup is half price, and you can also get a take-out cup (they provide a small voucher for redemption), and there’s no expiration date. This is the perfect opportunity to buy one to enjoy 😊.
If you arrive a bit earlier while they are still preparing, you can see them brewing the tea. Being able to witness their production process live gives you a greater sense of reassurance while drinking.
Summer Tea House is located at the intersection of Section 1, Nangang Road and Zhongnan Street, near the Nangang Exhibition Center Station, right in front of the basement of the World Trade Center Hall 2. This is a place I always make a special trip to for tea drinks whenever I pass by Nangang.
Today, I enjoyed aged Tie Guan Yin and Dongding Oolong, totaling 100 TWD.
Aged Tie Guan Yin:
The tea aroma is very rich, and the tea color is deep, with a clearly noticeable charcoal roasting flavor. After drinking, the tea fragrance wafts through the nose, providing a satisfying aftertaste.
Dongding Oolong:
In contrast to the richness of Tie Guan Yin, it is relatively refreshing. The flavor is fragrant and sweet, with slight grain and floral fruit notes, very delicious.
I always order my drinks unsweetened and with little ice at Summer Tea House, fully trusting the quality of their tea. In fact, it has almost never disappointed me. (There are many disappointing chain stores, however.)
The shop has a small seating area for resting, styled like an old house. Although there is no air conditioning, it is still quite comfortable to relax in.
Overall, if I were to name my most satisfying beverage shop in Nangang, my only choice would be Summer Tea House. Unfortunately, due to the owner's plans, Summer Tea House will be closing in September. While the owner does not rule out returning after a sufficient break, that's still uncertain.
After hearing this news, I almost make a special trip there every day whenever I have the chance, hoping to deeply remember the beauty of this tea.
I strongly recommend it to everyone! Although it hasn't been long... 😭
Every time I come to Chunshuitang, I must order the Kung Fu noodles, Golden Crispy Chicken, signature braised tofu and rice blood cake, and most importantly, the bubble tea!
Golden Crispy Chicken: hot and crispy on the outside, tender chicken on the inside.
Signature braised tofu and rice blood cake: slightly spicy, with ginger strips and scallions, very aromatic and flavorful.
Kung Fu noodles: I really like the meat sauce and mushroom sauce; the noodles are very flavorful after mixing.
Bubble tea: a must-order, with less sugar it isn’t too sweet, the taste is just right.
It's really suitable for gathering and chatting with friends here; the atmosphere is great and makes you feel very comfortable!
📍Daan District, Taipei City (near Dadaocheng Commercial Circle)
A "Taiwan Tea" specialty store that embodies a modern aesthetic 🍵👩🏻🎨
This is my third visit to Wangtea Lab, and as someone who doesn't drink coffee much, the fact that this place "focuses solely on tea" is exactly what I love 🏹
The entire shop is a renovated old residence, very artsy and exquisite; the space on the second floor is quite comfortable and quiet, perfect for relaxing while having some tea in the afternoon.
The tea-making methods combine innovative and unique elements, incorporating nitrogen and carbonation, allowing for some very special tea varieties. The menu has a plethora of options, making it a tough choice 🫶🏻
Interestingly, this shop originates from "You Ji Tea," an old tea factory, and the century-old tea house is right next door. If you finish your drink at Wangtea Lab and want to buy some classic Taiwanese tea, you can simply walk next door 😆
🫖
Ordered items:
🫧 Xianhong Grass ($160):
This time I chose a draft item, attracted by the black tea base. It's a carbonated tea drink.
What’s special about this drink is it includes "Xian Grass." When ordering, the staff mentioned that it's just for aroma, but for me, the flavor of Xian Grass was a bit strong, somewhat overshadowing the tea base.
🍂 Golden Oolong (Hot $120):
Lightly fermented and deeply roasted, the tea has an amber color and a rich flavor with a slightly bitter aftertaste, representing traditional Taiwanese tea with a memorable flavor profile.
🍮 Hidden Special - Iron Goddess of Mercy Sichuan Pepper Pudding ($150):
The staff didn't specifically introduce the flavor when I ordered, but I was pleasantly surprised when the dish arrived!
Although the Sichuan pepper flavor isn't very pronounced, the predominant taste is still that of the tea, and overall, it's a very delicious tea pudding!
✏️ More introductions will be explained along with the pictures ~
🧋 Kaohsiung Zuoying ▫️ Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Zuoying Store
🧋 An Irreplaceable Classic Taste That Cannot Be Returned To
As the founding store of Taiwanese bubble tea,
Chun Shui Tang has nearly 40 years of history since its establishment in 1986.
(Originally written as "over 40 years," thanks for the correction in the comments.)
It is famous for its quality tea drinks and insistence on handmade production.
Each cup of tea is infused with the traditional art of brewing,
followed by hand-made chewy pearls,
creating the world-renowned Taiwanese gem—bubble milk tea,
bringing customers a unique and irreplaceable taste experience.✨
Last weekend, I had an appointment, so I went to the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Zuoying Store.
Since there was a lively event at the department store that day,
the food court was crowded with participants and shoppers.
Worried about a long wait in line and wanting a drink,
I suddenly longed for Chun Shui Tang's classic bubble milk tea,
so I decided to visit the branch located at the sky bridge connecting to the Rainbow Market
to buy a cup and reminisce.❤️
When ordering, the staff informed me to wait for 20 minutes.
Although I hesitated a bit, I chose to wait.
The price at checkout seemed unexpectedly discounted,
with the large cup reduced from the original price of 170 NTD to 144 NTD.😳
Surprisingly, about 10 minutes later, the drink was ready.
This should have been a pleasant surprise,
but without a calling system,
it was slightly inconvenient to keep track of the time on my own.
Holding this cup of bubble milk tea🧋,
I looked forward to a sip that would bring back the beautiful flavors of my memories.
However, it seemed due to the lack of sugar,
the drink was missing a bit of the familiar sweetness.
Even though the pearls still had a chewy texture and the tea aroma was still rich,
this time, it couldn't reignite the passion in my taste buds.
Compared to other hand-shaken beverages on the market, it felt rather bland...
I can only say that Chun Shui Tang's bubble milk tea
used to be a classic in my heart,
but this experience was somewhat disappointing.
In the future, unless there’s an outing with friends or no other choice like this time,
I probably won’t return for this bubble milk tea at this price point.🥹
Walking into the shop, you can hear the welcoming phrase: "Welcome home." The little shop has a mini space but is rich in cultural atmosphere. During lunchtime, it is full of customers visiting the old street. Coming here to enjoy the air conditioning in the hot summer is truly a great choice. 👍
The shop offers simple meals, hot pot, traditional dishes, noodles, and snacks, as well as many beverages. However, the most special item is the sesame milk smoothie, which amazed us the most. 😳 We were drawn in by this. ✌️
Sesame Milk Smoothie:
It has a strong bitter flavor with a hint of grassiness. The shop adds milk, creating an illusion of drinking matcha. 😆 The mildly sweet taste is very smooth, instantly cooling down the summer heat. 😊
Pineapple Green Tea:
The sweet and sour taste is very nice. 👍 The homemade pineapple sauce has sufficient acidity, pairing perfectly with the fragrant green tea. It’s really delicious. 😘
Taro Balls:
The shop claims this is homemade. It’s crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. When you bite into the flaky crust, the mochi texture combined with the sweet taro filling makes it great to enjoy with tea. 😋
To summarize:
On a scorching summer day, visiting the Nantun Market and the old street for some delicious food is perfect. It’s very hot, and you can cool off inside. The meals and drinks are not expensive, and resting here is truly a wonderful choice. 🙌🏻
Located on the 3rd floor of the Banqiao Big Yanshan, 🔸Chun Shui Tang🔸
On Saturday nights, there's about a 15-minute wait for seating.
✅ Kung Fu Noodles $110
Portion is a bit small
Delicious, non-greasy meat sauce noodles
Later saw other reviews saying adding special spicy sauce makes it even better
✅ Spicy Sesame Soy Milk Dan Dan Noodles $120
🌶️ Spiciness is about mild
Can't really taste the soy milk flavor
But the broth has a rich consistency
An average bowl of noodles
✅ Fresh Meat Red Oil Dumplings 🥟 $115
🌶️ Spiciness is about slightly spicy (even those who don't eat spicy can enjoy)
Small dumpling size
The red oil and sesame are fragrant
Tastes pretty good
✅ Golden Crispy Chicken $115
Absolutely non-greasy salt and pepper chicken
But the meat juice is a bit lacking
Compared to street food vendors, this one feels less satisfying
✅ Golden Condensed Milk Steamed Buns $105
Steamed buns are fried just right
Surface is slightly crispy, not too hard
The sauce is unique - it's mustard condensed milk sauce
It doesn't taste as cloyingly sweet as plain condensed milk
Pairs well with mustard and is quite tasty
✅ Guanyin Pearl Milk Tea 🧋 $100
The cream flavor is stronger than the tea flavor in this milk tea
The pearls are average, not particularly chewy
Towards the end, it gets a bit rich
✅ Germinated Brown Rice Milk Tea 🍵 $100
The first sip may surprise you with the grainy texture of the germinated rice
But as you chew, the germinated rice flavor bursts forth
Pairs well with milk tea and is very delicious
Super impressive!
Although there were no bad items,
the cost-performance ratio is really low
Additionally, my personal opinion
Since there’s a 10% service charge,
guests shouldn’t have to scan the QR code to place orders
and then go to the counter to pay
You can empathize with the hard work of the staff, but it doesn’t feel like we’re being served at all.
Conclusion: A tea house that will captivate you even if you don't often drink tea, it truly feels like a home away from home! I will definitely return.
On 2024/08/16 (Friday) at 13:30, there was no reservation needed. It's recommended to book a table, as there are only 6 seats available on-site.
I typically do not come to the Le Li Road area much; previously, I only came for cocktails. Unfortunately, as I've aged, I've lost the ability to indulge as I did before. Today, however, I came for work, and since I had some free time, I decided to take a seat; I can only say I’m glad I made this choice.
I usually enjoy tasting various beverages, whether it's coffee, beer, whiskey, or even wine. I love connecting with the local terroir and the artistry conveyed by the winemakers through smelling and tasting. However, "tea" has been a major blind spot in my tasting life.
Taiwan has its own distinct characteristics when it comes to terroir. Whether it's whiskey or wine, it occupies a place in the international alcoholic beverage market. But when it comes to non-alcoholic drinks, "tea" is undoubtedly a favorite for many.
With that said, let me talk about this tea house.
“Liquide Ambré” is a tea house based entirely around Taiwanese tea. Whether it's from Lishan, Alishan, Pinglin, or Muzha, all tea-growing regions in Taiwan can be found here. From light aromas to heavy roasting, and from light fermentation to heavy fermentation, despite the seemingly indifferent attitude of the staff, they are actually warm and enthusiastic in their introductions. Even as a layperson, the simple and easy-to-understand explanations made it impossible not to engage; even before settling in, the moment I took my seat, I was transported to a space filled with a sense of ritual and elegance. The comfortable service and limited seating truly create a high-quality environment, and you can feel that the person running this space is someone with great taste.
🍵 Lugu Dong Ding Oolong
I believe anyone who has stayed in a hotel or inn has probably seen Dong Ding Oolong tea bags in the drawers! My limited knowledge probably ends here.
"Sorry, but this will overturn your understanding of Dong Ding Oolong." Of course, I had to give it a try.
Some say, "North Baozhong, South Dong Ding." Made from Qingxin Oolong, it is said that early tea farmers had to go barefoot during harvest, hence the name due to the cold winter making their toes freeze on the mountaintop.
I can sense the flavor has fruity notes, but unfortunately, I cannot identify what kind of fruit it is; my sensitivity to tea is still somewhat lacking.
However, there is a hint of sweetness reminiscent of osmanthus honey, and a charred roasted taste I definitely picked up after the aftertaste.
This time, I asked the tea master to steep it four times. The flavor was strongest during the first steep, but the fourth was the sweetest. It’s said it can be steeped five or six times without issue; this is really a far cry from what you get in hotels! XD
You can feel the tea master’s passion and depth of knowledge. During the breaks, he was always ready to answer questions. At one point, there were Koreans next to me (there were plenty of Japanese on Google Maps, too), and I heard the tea master explaining the tea in English—truly impressive!
By the way, I overheard some foreigners next door raving about the desserts being delicious. I must take friends here next time!
Thank you for reading; this article will also be posted on Google Maps.
From the moment you enter Wangji Tea Shop, you can feel the tranquility and elegance inside the restaurant. Even the guests who are already sitting inside, whether they are dining or having refreshments and drinks, feel very quiet and elegant.
It may be affected by the atmosphere of the environment and the external performance of other guests. In addition to feelings, people can be integrated into the overall atmosphere by speaking softly.
After the epidemic, QR Code was used to provide menus, but there was no online ordering and payment, and you still had to go to the counter to queue up, which was quite time-consuming. The cost is on the high side in Hualien.
The tempura in the meal is tender and crispy, while the Wuxi imperial ribs are sweet, smooth and go well with rice.
What’s a pity is the pepper and sesame chicken chop rice: the chicken chop is crispy, but the coating is a bit too thick compared to the chicken chop. The flavor of the coating overwhelms the taste of the chicken in the mouth. The sauce is served in a separate small dish and tastes slightly sour. Spicy but not numbing.
However, the exquisite handmade tea fully demonstrates the Chinese tea style. Recommended to gourmets who love gourmet food or friends who love humanistic atmosphere.
I will first select and taste nearly 20 kinds of tea.
The top 10 species are from Taiwan
There is also tea from Japan
The private tea I ordered 280
It's Alishan tea
The store clerk will bring it to you so you can arrive by yourself.
Tea will come with refreshments
There are five kinds
Almond cake, pineapple cake, dried fruit, walnuts, mung bean cake
really rich
environment:
Play soft music
Conversation is moderate
Service attitude:
The clerk was in a hurry and a little impatient.
Is this the etiquette that a tea shop should have?
And you can’t brush vehicles today