Tea Blog

Editor’s note: This is the first article for this blog by tea lecturer May King Tsang of May King Tea. We hope to see more.

Having visited many tearooms, these are my top 10 tips on what a customer should look for:

MayKing Tea: Believe it or not there is a right and a wrong way of making tea, something I wrote about in relation to green tea.  If the tea has been steeped too long and tastes bitter, there are not enough tea leaves in the pot, or if the tea tastes stale and flat, then take it back. The tearoom should be able to take constructive feedback.

Atmosphere: Atmosphere can really make all the difference and, for a truly exquisite High Tea experience, a quiet setting is best with the clinking sounds of the bone china tea cups, the pouring of tea by the resident Tea Sommelier, and the sighs of contentment as people indulge in their cucumber sandwiches and scones with jam and cream. 

You’re welcome! Please, thank you, or even a smile! Unfortunately, I’ve been to places where the staff is way too cool to serve you, saying unpleasant things to their colleague about a customer, chewing their nails behind the counter (!) — I’ve seen it all. A little politeness can often go a long way.

Knowledge: The mark of a great tearoom is the staff’s knowledge, including their confidence in tea recommendations to undecided customers. As a customer, don’t be afraid to ask questions about the tea menu. If staff can approach you with a smile and offer their assistance, it will give you (and them) a truly memorable tea experience. 

Innovation: Holding tea tasting workshops, tea talks, or something a little more ritualistic such as a Gong Fu Tea Ceremony are great ways to introduce teas to new and existing customers.  Tea and food pairing classes are also proving to be popular. What is your tearoom offering in the way of tea events?

Nice display: Actually we don’t want just a nice display but a great display to entice people to stop in their tracks, look and walk in.  Gone are the days of the same unchanged window display, dust covered teapots, and smeared glass windows (I hope!).

Going the extra mile: A tearoom can do this by sourcing a wide range of good quality teas, by sourcing specialist teawares, and by differentiating themselves from other tearooms in terms of décor.  I can’t emphasise enough the importance of customer service.  What else does your local tearoom do to go the extra mile?

Tea: The quality of tea is of paramount importance.  Whether it’s a teabag, loose leaf or herbal infusion it doesn’t matter. As long as it tastes good, there are no artificial flavourings added, it’s a real tea (as opposed to herbal), and whether the leaf can be reinfused several times.

Exceed Expectation:  It’s the little things that really make a difference, isn’t it?  I came across a tearoom where the staff came back with the tea I had ordered and she told me how long the tea already steeped which meant I could make the tea according to how I like it.  Now, that’s what I call excellent customer service!

Attentiveness:  In a Chinese Restaurant, when the teapot is out of water, the lid would be lifted out of the pot to indicate to the service staff that the teapot needs refilling, and it is this attentiveness that really does make a tearoom memorable.

Note: Take the first letter of each section and what do you get? Visit your local tearoom and have a wonderful tea-filled day.

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