📍Location: Banff, Canada
Visiting this teahouse situated at an altitude of 2135m took us nearly 2 hours. We started at 6:45 AM from Lake Louise while it was still dark, each holding a flashlight 🔦 and hiking up the trail. From darkness to daylight, we experienced changes in humidity and light in the forest, chatting and encouraging each other along the way, with an unwavering determination to reach the top.
The trail wasn't particularly difficult; it was a gradual ascent but required stamina and endurance. For us, who seldom hike for such a long time, it took some effort. Along the way, many experienced hikers who seemed to fly past us highlighted our anxiety about pacing. Weather in the mountains can change quickly, and during the two-hour journey, we faced rain and sleet, which was less idyllic than imagined. We finally reached the teahouse at 8:40 AM, and the feeling of achievement was beyond words.
Of course, since this is a food review, we must comment on the food. The teahouse features classic log cabin architecture, and there's a small mountain lake beside it called Lake Agnes, providing stunning views. While ordering from the server, it started raining again, and a rainbow 🌈 appeared over the lake. This is an experience no other restaurant can offer, unique to this place.
The four of us ordered:
Tuna Sandwich (CAD12)
A simple whole wheat sandwich stuffed with tuna. Although it was pure tuna without other mix-ins, the seasoning was decent, making it a plain yet delicious choice.
Homemade Hummus Sandwich (CAD12)
Whole wheat bread filled with chickpea hummus and pickles 🥒. The hummus was acceptable, but the pairing with pickles was an acquired taste; it tasted better without them.
Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows (CAD5.5)
The marshmallows were already melted into the hot chocolate when served. It was quite sweet, but went well when eaten alongside the sandwiches.
The food here is straightforward and not particularly outstanding, but perhaps because of the effort it took to get here, it tasted exceptionally good. Especially knowing that the fresh ingredients were brought up by the staff every morning on the same path we hiked, it makes one feel grateful regardless of what is served.
We left the teahouse at 9:15, by which time a long line had formed outside. Since there are no other shops in the area, it's recommended to hike up early. Finishing breakfast early leaves you time to explore other trails.
⚠️ Cash only, both USD and CAD are accepted.
⚠️ Apart from the sandwich wrapping paper and drink cups, any trash brought up must be taken down yourself, as even the garbage is painstakingly carried down the mountain by the staff!
The Dreamlike Geometric Bubble Tea Shop in Wufenpu, despite its name, is actually closer to the Houshanpi Station. Next door is Tai Guan Beef Noodle, which I also found to be quite good.
Today, I enjoyed the Licorice Pudding Tea and Honey Lemon Slush, totaling 380 TWD.
Licorice Pudding Tea:
The hot tea can be re-brewed, but an additional set of cups costs 60 TWD extra. The rich sweetness of licorice has a natural aftertaste, and the mucilage flavor of the pudding tea makes the hot drink slightly thick, creating a very soothing sensation for the throat.
Honey Lemon Slush:
It’s a very large cup, looking quite spectacular. Besides the wide straw for easy sipping, there’s also a small spoon for scooping up the slush. Honey and lemon are a perfect match, and the shop has balanced them quite well.
The shop has designated non-smoking and smoking areas, does not provide plain water, and the plastic cups for water are used as ashtrays and are not for drinking. The entire shop plays relaxed old-fashioned music, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of bubble tea shops from twenty years ago.
Overall, it’s a bubble tea shop where you can experience the charm of the post-1970 era. Besides drinks, there are also simple meals available, but we weren’t hungry that day. Perhaps we’ll have a chance to try them next time.
I recommend it to everyone.
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.
