Tea is for trendy
By Li Jin ( Beijing Weekend)
Updated: 2004-01-14 11:08

A spate of new tea restaurants opened in Beijing recently aim to tantalize the taste buds of those looking for something fresh.

Liwan Sisi Tea Restaurant is a Guangdong-style dining place. Rather than being a place to drink sophisticated teas, it is a fast-food restaurant.

In contrast to tea restaurants in South China's Guangdong Province and Hong Kong, Beijing's Liwan Sisi and other tea restaurants have become luxurious places for white collar employees seeking to keep up with new trends.

In appearance it is similar to some tea houses in Chengdu, where local people can spend five yuan (60 cents) and spend the whole day there sipping tea. But in Beijing, you're looking at forking out more like 200 yuan (US$25) for a couple of hours.

The appeal of the tea restaurant is largely to those who want to lose weight thanks to the special tea food recipe.

Upon entering the dining room of any tea restaurant in Beijing, you quickly realize that this is not your typical Chinese restaurant.

The ambience is relaxed and comfortable, perfect for private parties which can be catered at your request.

A weight-watchers menu is always available for calorie counters, and kids have a menu of their own that includes cake, soda and ice cream.

The offerings include traditional Chinese dishes, but do not hesitate to try the chef's specialty such as tender filet mignon in black pepper sauce or sizzling salmon sauteed with vegetables in a special brown sauce.

Daily specials are always available and the house green tea is to be enjoyed with every meal. It is a fine aromatic green tea from China, low in caffeine and rich in vitamin C. A full service bar is available for fine wines from California, sake, plum wine or cocktails.

The following are some special tea food offered in these restaurants in Beijing.

Long Jing Tea Rice (Green Tea)
Specialty: Long Jing tea and fragrant rice. Its health effects lie in reinforcing the spleen, strengthening the stomach, improving of vital energy and intestines.

Braised Chinese cabbage with Shui Xian (Oolong Tea)
Specialty: Shui Xian tea, Chinese cabbage, chili padi and dried shrimp. It help excrete dampness, improve the appetite and strengthen the spleen.

Julienne Duck Salad with Green Tea
Specialty: Green tea powder, roasted duck, shredded cucumber and sesame. It can improve appetite and general well-being and vital energy.

Ginseng Tea Chicken Soup(Oolong Tea)
Specialty: Dong Ding Oolong, black chicken, Shen Xu (panax ginsengs), Chinese Wolfberrry. It can improve vital energy and blood circulation, good for the system and general well-being, improving liver and functioning of kidney.

Where to go

Liwan Sisi Tea Restaurant: Wangfujing Street.

Laoshe Teahouse: Third floor of Building 3, Qianmen Dajie.