One day I will write a list of the top gastronomic experiences in Asia and one of spot will be rightfully occupied by tea houses in Taiwan. They are warmer than in Japan, more hipster than in Mainland China, and Taiwanese tea is usually flavorful.
Stop By Tea House has checks all of these boxes and is easily my favorite tea house in Taipei. I especially like their blending of traditional and modern.
The visit
The tea house is located in an alley just a stone-throw away from the all popular Yongkang street.
The interior is modern, with various sitting arrangements. On a weekend afternoon it may be difficult to find a seat.
They also sell tea and tea ware.
In my first visit I tried one of their aged Taiwanese teas. They gave me instructions on the optimal time to wait after adding the boiling water. Then I would pour the tea from the tea pot to an intermediate bowl.
On the side of the table I had a kettle with boiling water to add at my leisure.
I also had some of their traditional pastries, these with ginger.
In my second visit I was with two friends and I had their cold brew sampler. This included three different teas: Jinxuan, Dong Ding Oolong, Oriental Beauty (all three from Taiwan). Not that it is central, but the teas were marvelously presented in lab-style long vials; it was a very instagrammable set up that shows the ability of the tea house to blend tradition and modern taste.
In this second visit we tried several of their pastries and my favorite was a purple pastry with a full grape inside.
During my first visit, I was invited along with other customers to have a look at their amazing basement that they use for demonstrations and classes. There was a “river” going along the room that is used to circulate tea among the attendees. It was a magical place.
The check
In my solo visit I spent 396 NTD (there is a 10% service charge) or around 13 USD for a tea pot and a serving of pastries. Fantastic value for money for the quality of the offering.
Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed my visits and I try to go back every time I am in Taipei.
Where in Taipei
No. 9, Lane 13, Lishui Street, Da’an District
In Chinese: 麗水街13巷9號
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/stopbyteahouse