Alpine Teahouse
Written by @PerGron
Within most Asian cultures, tea plays an incredibly important role in their society and religions. The Nepalese, Tibetan, and Chinese Himalayan cultures are no different, with tea playing heavily into the beliefs and cultures of all of these regions. For that reason, it would make sense for the city of Yùn Chèng to house a mystical tea house within their mountainous city.
The Alpine Tea House is modeled after a Chinese Tea House on the exterior but combines Tibetan, Nepali, and Chinese design on the interior. The walls and ceilings and floors are decorated in a way that abides by the idea of feng shui, creating a relaxing and peaceful location that brings about the closest thing to zen as possible. A beautiful and meditative selection of traditional Chinese, Nepali, and Tibetan music plays throughout the restaurant, just loud enough for guests to take in the atmosphere, but not loud enough to interrupt the relaxation this location is supposed to bring about.
As is customary in many Asian cultures, the tea house features its tables and seats on the floor, encouraging guests to sit in a meditative posture which many Asian cultures believe is the healthiest way to sit. Of course, in order to accommodate guests with disabilities, there are regular tables with chairs and booths available upon special request.
The tea house will be a very popular locale, being one place where serenity is easily found within the hustle and bustle of the theme park, so for that reason reservations are recommended for the tea house, though walk-ins are possible in the less busy times of the year.
Being a tea house, this location mainly focuses on… well, tea. However, it does have a few menu items to select from that are customary in many tea houses across Asia. Below is the menu for the food items as well as many of the teas available. The teas, however, are always subject to change.
Food Items
Hot and Sour Soup… $6.99
An Indian take on this Chinese dish, made with red and green chillies, ginger, carrot, snow peas, tofu, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sugar
Egg Drop Soup… $7.99
Beaten eggs in a vegetable broth with tofu and scallions, topped with a thin stream of beaten eggs
Himalayan Lentil Soup… $7.99
A soup made of lentils, onions, garlic, chili pepper, carrot, and potato
Creamy Lentil Soup… $7.99
A soup made of lentils, coconut milk, sesame oil, onion, vegetable broth, diced tomatoes, and spices
Wonton Soup… $8.99
Homemade vegetarian wontons with egg noodles, vegetable broth, and kale
Tea Selections
Herbal Teas
24 Flavor Tea
Wong Lo Kat
Green Teas
Anji bai cha
Baimao Hou
Biluochun
Chun Mee
Da Fang
Huangshan Maofeng
Longjing Tea
Lu’an Melon Seed Tea
Mengding Ganlu
Pouchong
Taiping houkui
Zhuyeqing
Darjeeling Tea
White Teas
Baihao Yinzhen
Bai Mudan
Shou Mei
Oolong
Bai Jiguan
Ban Tian Yao
Bu Zhi Chun
Da Hong Pao
Fo Shou
Huang Guanyin
Huang Meigui
Jin Fo
Jin Suo Chi
Pouchong
Qilan
Rougui
Ruan Zhi
Shui Hsien
Tieluohan
Tieguanyin
Black Tea
Congou
Dianhong
Golden Monkey tea
Jin Jun Mei
Keemun
Lapsang souchong
Yingdehong
Assam Tea
Yellow Tea
Huoshan huangya
Junshan Yinzhen
Fermented Tea
Pu-erh
Flavored Tea
Shou Pu Erh
Sheng Pu Erh
Bai Mudan
Hong Kong Milk Tea
Matcha