Whether it’s the pillar box red and emerald green colour scheme, or the constant hum of satisfied customers, but there is something magnetic about Tang Xuan. Owner Pierre-Henri Boissavy was in the luxury watch industry before opening this Chinese tea room – and his attention to detail shows. Curved wooden chairs, blue china plates on the wall and hanging lanterns: it’s serene yet friendly, a lot like the service.
Teas like jasmine, longan and pu-erh (a fermented tea from the Yunnan province) are served from giant glass pots with teeny-tiny ceramic cups. Although the brews are delightful, it’s the desserts that really wow: choose from eight dairy-based or patisserie style treats using the picture menu. But really, you should take recommendations from the waiter. Or us. Because whatever you do, order the following: the cooling, creamy coconut panna cotta (€4.80), the matcha crepe millefeuille (€6.80) and the neige blanche (€6.80). The millefeuille is stack of airy, bright green pancakes, layered with cream and dusted with matcha powder. It’s nothing like the bitter, fishy-tasting products which give this green tea superfood a bad rep. Smooth, umami and not too sweet, we were quite distraught once the plate was licked clean.
Then the neige blanche: a milky ice, topped with chunks of fresh mango and a ball of black rice. If you’re not charmed by the mélange of textures, then you will be by its arrival in a bowl of dried ice. Weak-willed yes, but any dessert oozing with proper Harry Potter smoke gets our attention. The bottom layer of ice cream wasn’t as flavourful as the rest, but otherwise, it’s a winner. Three puddings sounds excessive but everything is lightweight and sugar is used sparingly to let the flavours shine. Go with a group to try as much as possible (there’s a couple of Durian-flavoured options for the more courageous) or order the selection stand of four minis (€18.80-20.80). Time slows down in this charming tea house, which is lucky because you'll need plenty of it to savour these unusual, loveable combinations.