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Header image courtesy of Yee On Tea Co.
The culture of soaking dried tea leaves in water has evolved from a novel tradition born in the Far East to a universal practice spread across the world. Still, China remains the tea industry’s global powerhouse by planting and trading exquisite tea leaves. Different batches of tea leaves possess distinct flavours, while age, climate, and elevation affect their final quality. Long story short, it takes a lifetime to master the art of Chinese tea leaves. Whether you are a simple fan of the aromatic drink, or someone with a thirst for tea-licious enlightenment, take a sip of hot tea and read on—here are the best places to buy Chinese tea leaves in Hong Kong.
Beloved by locals and tourists alike, Ying Kee Tea House has been a monumental cornerstone of Hong Kong’s tea scene for the past 140 years. Having opened several branches across the city, this shop is your easiest gateway to the world of Chinese tea. From earthy pu’er to mellow green tea and refreshing jasmine, a fine collection of Chinese tea blends graces the shop’s elegant painted compartments. While premium gift sets with assorted flavours are available, the teaware hamper, featuring a tin of selected tea leaves with a complete tea ware and cup set, is a lavish choice for those with discerning tastes.
Gong Fu Teahouse instils great responsibility upon itself to revive the cultural practice of gong fu tea, the traditional Chinese tea preparation ceremony. Paying tribute to this dying tradition, the teahouse also adopts professional brewing methods to give each tea leaf its best quality possible. Exquisite teas like the phoenix dancong and tieguanyin are wrapped in traditional paper packaging and stored inside tin containers of stunning cloud imagery. Another amazing discovery while visiting would be the pu’er tea cakes, neatly assembled on wooden shelves. While sharing no resemblance with sweet cakes, these compressed discs of aged tea experience subtle shifts in flavour and texture over time.
Despite its slightly run-down exterior, Fukien Tea Co. is labelled as one of the best tieguanyin sellers among tea aficionados. The small tea shop is what you would expect from the old streets of Sheung Wan: dusty, narrow with mismatched wooden chairs, and a welcoming owner who is eager to educate patrons on the ways of fine Chinese tea. Tieguanyin is, of course, the shop’s speciality, naturally roasted and always processed in-house since opening in 1952, guaranteeing superior quality. Hailing from the Fukien province, China’s major centre of tea culture, the pu’er and baked oolong teas are flavours you should also try.
Fukien Tea Co., 6 Mercer Street, Sheung Wan
Featuring a generous selection of pressed tea cakes, Yee On Tea Co. is an easy pick for Chinese tea connoisseurs seeking the ultimate indulgence. Once a humble local tea shop, its expertise in tea storage and ageing has transformed the company into a tea empire, now offering exquisite Chinese teas to the world. Its aged pu’er tea comes in all shapes and forms, including tou cha (dome-shaped tea cakes), tea bricks, round tea cakes, and loose tea leaves that cater to different budgets. Some of the signature tea cakes are made from raw leaves dating back to the 1960s, making them worthwhile investments worth more than gold.
Yee On Tea Co., G/F, 147 Des Voeux Road West, Sai Ying Pun
Lockcha’s philosophy is to share happiness, enjoyment, and fortune through cups of delightful tea. Outfitted in a drape of contemporary wooden interiors and elegant Chinese dividing panels, the chic venue sells first-class, single-harvest Chinese teas procured from China and Taiwan. Customers can enjoy freshly brewed tea and exclusive drinks at the roomy bar counter, operated by tea experts who showcase each selection and brewing process. After sampling its tea leaves, such as Oriental Beauty, organic silver needle, and Longjing, patrons can buy their favourites, embarking on a brand-new tea journey.
On a mission to promote Chinese tea culture to a worldwide audience, One Tea House is a premium retailer of high-end tea leaves, offering authentic teas that boast complex flavours. It even supplies its wares to luxury hotels! A wild selection of high-grade whole-leaf teas can be found here, like the lapsang souchong, a special black tea that contains both a smokey and sweet flavour profile. Da Hong Pao, which has a lingering orchid-flower fragrance, is another unique offering. Aside from tea enjoyment, don’t forget to check out its purple clay teapots embellished in stunning floral patterns, specially made for serving Chinese tea.
Plantation Tea Bar celebrates the beauty of tea, not only with its prized selection of teas, but also through unique tasting menus. The broad selection of small-batch whole tea leaves on sale at this relaxing tea paradise are sourced from family farms in Taiwan, Japan, China, and India, covering all-time bestsellers like the osmanthus oolong and Darjeeling to seasonal specials such as the West Lake Longjing and jasmine phoenix pearls. If you want to discover the infinite possibilities of Chinese tea, sign up for one of Plantation’s tasting sessions, where tea is reinterpreted into cocktails and sparkling infusions, accompanied by delectable snacks and delicacies for a sensational gastronomic experience.
Plantation Tea Bar, 18 Po Tuck Street, Sai Wan
As the most budget-friendly option on this list, Hong Kong Tea House brings together an assortment of famous teas, strictly selected and roasted, to be had at reasonable prices. With branches near large-scale supermarkets and shopping malls across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories, you’ll easily locate one of its stores in your neighbourhood. Other than the quintessential black, green, and white teas, scented teas and healthcare teas are also available. Distinctive blends, including Keys to Happiness and Golden Throat, hold nutritional benefits that cleanse your palate (and your soul).
Fuelled by tea and oat milk, Stella is on a mission to discover the best cafés and teahouses for weekend lounging. This also entails the side quest for camera angle exploration on foodie pics. Other times, you will find her binge-watching video essays on YouTube, having private concerts in the shower, or experimenting with vocals on her microphone.
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