Have you ever visited a Chinese restaurant? You’re handed a dainty teapot meant for small cups. The tea is unexpectedly fantastic – a mix of great atmosphere and top-notch tea leaves brewed just right.
Now, here’s the fun part: you can recreate this enchanting experience on your own. Different restaurants serve up different teas, but a handful are the real stars.
Chances are, the tea you relished falls into one of these categories. 🔽
What Is Chinese Restaurant Tea?
Chinese restaurant tea refers to the type of tea commonly served in Chinese restaurants. It’s often a black or oolong tea, known for its rich and robust flavor.
This tea is typically served hot and may be accompanied by a small teapot and tiny cups. The tea’s unique taste and aroma contribute to the overall dining experience at Chinese restaurants.
What Tea Is Served At Chinese Restaurants?
Blended Teas
Some bigger Chinese restaurants might serve blended teas, which mix different types of tea together. This can create a unique and tasty tea experience. These blends often combine oolong, green, or chrysanthemum flavors to make something delicious and memorable.
These big restaurants often use our finest clay teapots to deliver the best aroma of the tea. Learn how to choose the best clay teapot HERE.
Green Tea with Jasmine
In Chinese restaurants, you usually get a small pot of hot tea along with your meal. One very popular type of tea they serve is called Green Tea with Jasmine. This tea has a lovely smell of jasmine flowers and a flowery taste.
It’s often made with green tea leaves and jasmine flowers, creating a delightful blend. Sometimes they take out the jasmine flowers, but the best ones keep them in. It’s a bit like having a gentle floral scent in your cup.
In Chinese culture, enjoying tea at the table is considered beneficial for aiding digestion and can also be incorporated as part of a weight loss regimen. Discover the most effective teas for supporting weight loss right here.
Chrysanthemum Tea
For those who want to avoid caffeine, Chrysanthemum tea is the way to go. The flavour of this flower tea resembles chamomile. No wonder it’s also known as the ‘Chamomile of the East’.
The Chinese prefer Chrysanthemum when they want to avoid heat and inflammation as a result of eating too much fried food.
Chinese Restaurant Oolong Tea
Another tea you might come across is Oolong Tea. It’s interesting because it’s not fully green or black tea. It’s kind of in-between. It has a unique flavor that can range from somewhat green-tea-like to somewhat black-tea-like. Each restaurant might have its favorite kind of oolong tea.
Chinese Restaurant Green Tea
Of course, there’s good old Green Tea too. It’s a classic with a light green color and a natural, earthy aroma. Green tea is known for its health benefits and can be a soothing drink, especially with spicy foods.
How To Make Green Tea Like Chinese Restaurants
Ingredients you’ll need:
- Green tea leaves (regular ones work fine)
- Jasmine flowers (for that special fragrance and taste)
Steps:
- Choose Your Tea Leaves: Get some green tea leaves. These are great because they mix well with jasmine flowers.
- Mix with Jasmine Flowers: Take a handful of jasmine flowers and mix them with your green tea leaves. This combo will give your tea that unique jasmine aroma and flavor.
- Combine and Wait: Let the jasmine flowers hang out with the green tea leaves for a while. They’ll share their wonderful scents.
- Decide on Flowers: You can either take out the jasmine flowers after a bit, or you can keep them in the mix. Leaving them in tends to make the tea taste better, in my opinion.
- Brew Your Tea: Put your tea leaves and flowers into hot water. The hot water will coax out the flavors from the leaves and flowers. You can use a tea infuser or a teapot.
- Enjoy Your Tea: Once the tea has steeped (soaked) for a few minutes, it’s ready to drink. Pour it into your cup and savor the delightful taste and fragrance.
Remember, some people might say that leaving the flowers in makes the tea too strong, but don’t be afraid to try it for yourself.
Enjoy your homemade Chinese restaurant-style green jasmine tea!
Pu-erh Tea
You might not recognize the name, but you could have had Pu-erh Tea in a nice Chinese restaurant. It’s a rich, reddish-brown tea that stands out from green or black teas. Some people call it “boo-lay” tea.
It has a distinct earthy taste and can be quite special. It pairs well with sweet dishes and is a bit of a delicacy.
Chinese Restaurant Tea Bags
Authentic Restaurant-Grade Oolong Tea Bags
Bring the delightful aroma and flavor of your neighborhood Chinese restaurant’s tea to your home kitchen with these rich tasting Chinese tea bags.
This wonderful beverage is popular with families, adults, men, women, and pairs well with dim sum, noodles, rice dishes and more.
Best Chinese Restaurant Tea⭐Natural Chinese Restaurant Tea Bags
- Captures the essence of Chinese restaurant teas flawlessly.
- Addictive blend of jasmine, oolong, and green teas in a convenient 6-pack bundle.
- Surpassed coffee in our household – just ordered more, can’t get enough!
Chinese Restaurant Tea Recipe
Ingredients:
- 4 cups water
- 3-4 tea bags (black tea or oolong tea)
- 1-2 tablespoons honey or sugar (adjust to taste)
- Optional: lemon slices or mint leaves for garnish
Instructions:
- Boil Water: In a saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a boil.
- Add Tea Bags: Once the water is boiling, turn off the heat and add 3-4 tea bags to the water. Use black tea or oolong tea for an authentic Chinese restaurant flavor. You can adjust the number of tea bags based on how strong you prefer your tea.
- Steep Tea: Allow the tea bags to steep in the hot water for about 3-5 minutes. Steeping time can vary depending on the type of tea and your personal taste preference. Longer steeping times will result in a stronger flavor.
- Sweeten: After steeping, remove the tea bags and add 1-2 tablespoons of honey or sugar to the tea, adjusting the amount to your desired level of sweetness. Stir well until the sweetener is fully dissolved.
- Serve: Pour the tea into cups and garnish with lemon slices or mint leaves if desired.
- Enjoy: Your Chinese Restaurant-style tea is now ready to be enjoyed! Sip and savor the flavors just like you would at your favorite Chinese restaurant.
Why is Chinese Restaurant Tea So Good?
Chinese restaurant tea is often praised for its unique and satisfying qualities. There are a few factors that contribute to its distinct taste and appeal:
- Tea Quality: Chinese restaurants often serve high-quality loose-leaf teas, such as oolong, jasmine, or green tea. The tea leaves are carefully selected and processed, resulting in a more flavorful and aromatic brew compared to lower-quality tea bags.
- Preparation Technique: Chinese restaurant tea is usually brewed using traditional methods that have been refined over centuries. The tea is typically steeped for a precise amount of time, allowing the flavors to develop fully without becoming bitter.
- Teapot and Cups: The teapots and cups used in Chinese restaurants are often made of materials like clay or porcelain, which do not interfere with the taste of the tea. These materials can also retain heat well, ensuring that the tea stays at an optimal temperature throughout the meal.
- Ritual and Presentation: Chinese tea culture places a strong emphasis on the ritual and presentation of tea service. The act of pouring and sharing tea adds a sense of ceremony to the dining experience, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the meal.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is Chinese restaurant tea always served hot?
While hot tea is the traditional choice, some Chinese restaurants also offer cold or iced tea options, especially in warmer climates. However, hot tea remains the more common choice due to its cultural significance and the belief in its digestive benefits.
Do all Chinese restaurants serve the same type of tea?
No, Chinese restaurants may offer a variety of teas, such as oolong, jasmine, green, or black tea. The specific type of tea served can vary based on the restaurant’s preferences, regional influences, and the dishes they serve.
Can I request a specific type of Chinese tea at a restaurant?
In many cases, yes. Chinese restaurants often have a selection of teas available, and you can inquire if they offer a particular type of tea you’re interested in.
However, the availability of specific teas may vary depending on the restaurant’s inventory.
Why does Chinese restaurant tea sometimes have a slightly bitter taste?
The slight bitterness in Chinese restaurant tea can result from factors such as the tea’s variety, steeping time, water temperature, or the type of tea leaves used. Some Chinese teas are intentionally brewed with a slightly bitter note, as it can balance the flavors of rich and savory dishes commonly served in Chinese cuisine.