It’s zen o’clock at these traditional Asian tea houses

Sip. Taste. Reminisce. Those are the three steps in enjoying kung fu tea (gong fu cha/工夫茶), according to Chinese tradition. Relying on small teapots and lidded tea bowls (gai wan/盖碗), this brewing technique originated in the Song Dynasty around Chaoshan in Guangdong Province. For centuries, kung fu tea was considered ceremonial and a symbol of the highest luxury.

Today, tea lovers can enjoy it in most major U.S. cities. If you’re needing a cultural getaway from the bustling American cities, count your blessings: it’s always zen o’clock at these seven tea houses.

Wai’s Gong Fu Tea House, Atlanta

Featuring the largest hand-carved root wood table in the United States in its tearoom, Wai’s Gong Fu Tea House is as authentic as it gets when it comes to a traditional Chinese tea ceremony experience. Here, a tea master follows all the essence of traditional gong fu cha brewing, including using the classic triple-cup configuration that represents the harmony between heaven, earth, and person.

Contrary to many tea houses that use loose-leaf tea, Wai’s uses whole-leaf tea instead. Whole-leaf tea opens more slowly, allowing a more layered tasting profile that evolves along each steep. During the hour-long ceremony, the tea master also explains in detail the timing, temperature, and technique used for each type of tea. 

Living Water Tea House, Chicago

Living water refers to water from running creeks, streams, and rivers. In traditional Chinese poetry, it often symbolizes growth, mobility, freedom, and life. Located in Chicago’s Little Italy neighborhood, Living Water Tea House boasts a bright, minimalist interior and comforting earth tones. Their 45-minute tea bar sessions are only $22 per person, during which a tea master will present a selection of teas sourced from East Asian, such as Yunnan Pu-erh and Taiwan Oolong. Besides traditional teas, Living Water also has a variety of original tea beverages, tea-flavored gelatos, tea cakes, and elegant, classic hand-crafted teaware.

Tian Tea House, Kansas City, Mo.

Newly opened in January, Tian Tea House is the private, intimate nook everyone living in the city has been looking for. The space features rustic, dark interiors with original artwork on the walls. The menu carries authentic kung fu tea and modern mixed beverages, including several iced drinks. 

On Sundays and Mondays when the tea house is closed to the public, it is available for small-scale community gatherings during which people can build authentic connections over delicious brews. The tea house also regularly hosts community vendor pop-ups to introduce their customers to local small businesses, artists, and artisans.

Northeast Tea House, Minneapolis

Northeast Tea House, a tranquil oasis in the heart of Minneapolis, is an icon for traditional tea ceremonies. To encourage mindfulness and community bonding, the tea house employs a “minimum screen policy.” Meaning no laptops or tablets, and minimal cell phone use.

For gong fu cha, Northeast offers regular tea ceremonies and unique “weird and rare tea tasting” services for the more adventurous souls to explore some of the strangest teas the owners have collected. In addition to gong fu cha, Northeast Tea House also specializes in house-milled matcha. In fact, Northeast was one of the only two matcha mills in the nation when it first opened in 2020.

West China Tea, Austin, Texas

West China Tea is Austin’s only authentic Chinese-style tea house. The owner, So-Han Fan, is a gong fu teamaster with more than two decades of experience. Many tea enthusiasts might also recognize him as the host of the award-winning YouTube educational series, Gong Fu Tea|chA.

West China Tea offers loose-leaf Chinese tea hand-sourced directly from farmer partners and welcomes reservations and walk-ins. Tea services are offered at the public tea bar or in a private room. Tea bar services feature staff-curated tea leaves. Meanwhile, private tastings serve a curated tea flight or guest requests.

Floating Mountain Tea House + Gallery, New York

Nestled inside the second floor of a rental building in New York’s Upper West Side, Floating Mountain Tea House + Gallery prides itself on serving the finest quality Chinese tea. Meanwhile, the space is heavily inspired by Japanese zen aesthetics with a neutral palette, low tables with floor mats, and window seating. Reservations for table and bar seats come in 90-minute sessions during which you can unwind while experiencing a Chinese Gong Fu Cha service. 

Bardo Tea, Portland, Oregon

Bardo Tea’s name came from Bardo Thödol, an 800 CE Buddhist text exploring the three dream states of the afterlife. The tea house carries a wide variety of Pu’er, black, oolong, and green tea, as well as teaware and Indian incense.

The tea house features outdoor and indoor seating, with large wooden doors connecting the two. You can take off your shoes and enter the tatami room for a more intimate experience, or sit at the tea bar for a casual drink. Bardo welcomes walk-ins and also hosts ticketed events, including Saturday tea meditation sessions and educational series.