A new Japanese tea bar opens on Tai Ping Shan Street

Something’s brewing on Tai Ping Shan Street. This quiet stretch of Sheung Wan has just welcomed Green Gingko Tea – the first hand-brewed tea bar in the city. Channelling chic, Japanese-Nordic vibes, this tiny café specialises in premium teas from Kyoto and Shizuoka. 

Owner Shawn Mak is serious about his brews and devotes careful attention to everything from the leaves and teaware to the quality of the water and its precise temperature. If you’re not sure which variety to go for, try one of the sencha green teas, which range from the fresh and grassy ‘01’ to the rounder ‘09’. Meanwhile, connoisseurs will appreciate the gyokuro (tea leaves grown in the shade) and kukicha (a blend of twigs and stems). There are also seasonal teas, such as the springtime special sakura leaf brew. So the next time you can’t get a seat at Teakha, drop by Green Gingko Tea and enjoy a hand-brewed pour instead.