Along a small lane of the touristy Beijing Road in the old town of Guangzhou was Che Cha, a tranquil tea house which specialises in traditional tea, kombucha and tea cocktails. The main tea house was on the first floor, divided into 3 areas with moody lighting and tones – the outer veranda, tea hall and private rooms.
Heading up the stairs, you could find creative spaces on the second and third floor, housing art exhibitions. And finally, up on the fourth floor was where I found myself spending the rest of my time at the café.
The white, minimalistic space featured their handmade objects, primarily white pieces of porcelain, lit by natural light from the windows. In the center, there was a kombucha bar displaying glass jars of kombucha undergoing fermentation, with a communal table right in front. Through a door, you could also step outside to sit in a backyard with bamboo chairs and wooden benches in the cooler season.
I ordered a drink and tea snack on the first floor where the cashier was, and the owner kindly brought them up to the fourth floor where I wanted to sit.
The Ginger Lemon Kombucha (RMB 48, SGD 8.8) I had was made with 2 rounds of fermentation – the first round with oolong and the second round with ginger lemon. I liked the subtle spiciness of ginger blended with the refreshing acidity of lemon, creating a bright, aromatic flavour that was refreshing in the heat and humidity. It also came with a small piece of peanut candy on the side for a sweet finish.
Alongside the kombucha, I ordered a Red Bean Yokan (RMB 28, SGD 5.2) which made a substantial snack.
As I was the only customer that morning, I could indulge fully in the quiet, peaceful atmosphere of the tea house and gallery, leaving behind the touristy Beijing Road below and the busy CBD district where I was working at.
10.30am to 8pm
广东省广州市越秀区北京街道北京路昌兴街7号
地铁1号线/2号线公园前地铁站出口
7 Changxing Street, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province
Nearest MRT Station: Gongyuanqian station
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