Images Credit: MINGCHA, Teakha, Teapigs
BREWING UP A
STORM
TEAPIGS
Forget Twinings or Lipton… these days, there’s
far more choice for your humble teabag. Leading
the charge are independent British tea company
Teapigs, who have won a dedicated following thanks
to their quirky blends (popcorn tea, anyone?) and
eco-friendly ethos.
By Rachel Read
Simon Disler, director of Drinks 99 (the company
responsible for bringing Teapigs to Hong Kong), believes the tide is turning in the beverage world, with
even everyday drinkers paying more attention to the
quality of their cuppa. As the first brand to put looseleaf tea into a biodegradable ‘tea temple’, Teapigs
provide what Disley regards an accessible affordable
alternative to both standard mass-market brands
and intimidatingly high-end ones. “When people
taste Teapigs, they can taste the real flavour of lemongrass, liquorice or peppermint,” Disler explains.
“People who try our teas can’t go back to drinking
other brands!”
MINGCHA
Co-founded by Vivien Mak when a friend asked
her to design teapots for his teashop, unwittingly
awakening her desire to learn more about the drink,
award-wining local tea brand MingCha has gone
from strength to strength over the past 14 years.
Mak works directly with farmers to understand everything about the plants used in her unique blends
(even down to the soil!), and says that it is her “mission to guide people to good quality teas at an affordable price”.
TEAKHA
Now sold in major retailers like Great Food Hall,
Oliver’s and ThreeSixty, Mak’s signature blends are
based on her deep understanding of the different
tastes and health benefits of each individual leaf and
flower – for instance, the ‘For Her’ blend includes Tanyang Golden Rim tea combined with mini rose buds
to combat poor blood circulation and insomnia…
perfect for those with cold hands and feet that can’t
get to sleep at night.
Famous for innovative tea-tasting workshops at their
Quarry Bay tea house (a runaway hit on TripAdvisor),
where Mak pairs teas with chocolates or shows folks
how to make the perfect brew, Mak believes that
MingCha is changing people’s perspective on tea;
their philosophy is to “make tea fun and full of potential… we believe MingCha tea can be associated
with anything in life”. Look out for even more new
products – like their patented Rose Honey or MingCha tea chocolates – coming out later this year.
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Everyone’s favourite (not-so) secret Poho café,
Teakha is the creation of tea lover Nana Chan – who
simply wanted to share her passion for tea with others. Why tea? Well, it’s “more versatile than coffee,
there’s a tea for every mood, festivity or culture,”
Chan explains. “And it’s also healthier!”
Every cup of tea at Teakha is brewed individually cup
by cup, with customers visiting from far and wide to
try their ever-popular Masala Chai and special tea
blends; previous creations include a Keemun Rose
Tea for Valentine’s Day and a Cold Brew Chrysanthemum Oolong to cool down in summer. Chan gets inspiration for her drinks from her travels around Asia,
what produce is in season and what she’s currently
baking… no wonder then that Teakha’s cakes and
pastries are the perfect complement to their brews.
Local bestsellers interestingly include two totally
caffeine-free varieties, Chamomile Flowers and Lemon & Ginger; Hong Kong has been a little slower to
catch onto Teapigs’ global bestseller, their organic
green matcha ‘super-tea’ – but with a wealth of scientifically proven health benefits including weight
loss, improved skin and 137 times the amount of
antioxidants found in regular green tea, it can only
be a matter of time before health-conscious Hong
Kongers are swigging their matcha with gusto. With
a dedicated Hong Kong Teapigs e-store plus regular
stalls at markets around town (including Island East
Markets, of course), your afternoon tea options just
got a whole lot more interesting.
Teakha has quickly become a bustling neighbourhood hangout, recently celebrating its second birthday with a Tai Ping Shan street party. Chan says she
still gets “goosebumps” when she thinks of all the
former coffee drinkers she’s converted to the way of
the tealeaf.
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May 11
VENDOR STALLS
LunaTalise
ARTMANIA
Zensory Ltd
Secret Little World
Portovelo Shoes
DECO OUTFITTER
Body Awakening
HelenKing Handmade Bag
Health Coach Kanch
PaintSomething
Hadeda
Workshop 1998
A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
A6
A7
A8
A9
B1
B2
B3
Jojo Beauty
Mega S-Mart Co.
Y Organic
Skin Corner
To Whit To Whooo/ Princessory/
Muddy fingers/ Alpaca
Chic-oholic Kids; Journey Foto
Ella Kateri
Calcite Indoor Environment Services Limited / Verdee Bamboo
LoveNaturally / Nutrolife
LEVAIN BAKERY
KJ Lobster Rolls
REED’S
Sparks & Cakes
B4
B5
B6
B7
C1
cutiecutiebaby
Skin Corner
B6
B7
Grit’s glitz, Claude Dia(Handmade
Crafts), Lampworking at Taikau’s
Family, Helen King Handmade Bag,
Serendip.ivy Hong Kong, Patinova
C1
La Douce Vie
First Closet
NOELLA DESIGNS/ My Happy
Sunflower
Anouk, Chic Home Deco,
Joyvino
LEVAIN BAKERY
KJ Lobster Rolls
REEDS
C2a
C2b
C3
Readbookshk
Y Organic
Jojo Beauty
Skin Corner
Novelty Lane / Suite Works /
Kidinc
LoveNaturally / Nutrolife
FABcessories, Dopamine, Polska
Traveller
Ecotropolis
Chinese Local Dept. Store
B4
B5
B6
B7
C1
LEVAIN BAKERY
KJ Lobster Rolls
Hago Limited
jep jep snacks
D1
D2
D3
D4
C2a
C2b
C3
C4
D1
D2
D3
D4
CENG, KC Coffee
Spruce
jep jep snacks
N*ICE POPS
TEATIME
teapigs
Gourmet W Healthy Grocery
Japanese Tea Kaorisabo
Cult de Choco
Happy Corner
Letpasificfood
Grassroots Pantry & Happy Cow
Golden Goose Gourmet
Grocer Limited
Health Luck Corporation Ltd
D5
D6
D7
D8
C5
C6a
C6b
C7a
C7b
C8a
C8b
C9
C10
C11a
C11b
PRIMVS FOOD
One Organic Limited
The Sausage Co
Piri Piri
Greco Pi
Baby Satay
Say Cheese
Mr Bing
C12a
C12b
C13a
C13b
C14a
C14b
C15a
C15b
Tsui Farm
南涌有機農場
菜園農業先鋒田
Rainbow Hydroponic Farms
幽柔有機農莊
Green Tech Design & Packaging
BF1
BF2
BF3
BF4
BF5
BF6
k.eïk, Irit
CENG, KC Coffee
Lola’s Ice Pops
jep jep snacks
Diverxu Limited
Jax Coco
Cloud Candy
Letpasificfood
Grocer Limited
Picco Wine Cellar
Gourmet W Healthy Grocery
House of Fine Wines
SpiceBox Organics
Golden Goose Gourmet
Chubby Charlie
D4
D5
D6
D7
D8
C5
C6a
C6b
C7a
C7b
C8a
C8b
C9
C10
C11a
Monsieur CHATTÉ
Sparks & Cakes
Cookies by Siuy
Baby Satay
Piri Piri
Say Cheese
Mr Bing
Flying Brats
C11b
C12a
C12b
C13a
C13b
C14a
C14b
C15
Tsui Farm
南涌有機農場
菜園農業先鋒田
Rainbow Hydroponic Farms
幽柔有機農莊
Green Tech Design & Packaging
BF1
BF2
BF3
BF4
BF5
BF6
CENG, KC Coffee
Spice & Sugar
Lola’s Ice Pops
Spruce
Jax Coco
Flying Brats
JOMB Slices & Brownies
Happy Corner
House of Fine Wines
Happy Cow & Something Fresh
REED’S
LION HILL (HK) LTD.
Letpasificfood
Health Luck Corporation Ltd.
Grocer Limited
Piri Piri
D5
D6
D7
D8
C5
C6
C7
C8a
C8b
C9
C10a
C10b
C11a
C11b
C12a
C12b
Baby Satay
Mr Bing
Cow & Rabbit Concepts
C13a
C13b
C14
Tsui Farm
南涌有機農場
菜園農業先鋒田
Rainbow Hydroponic Farms
幽柔有機農莊
生生有機農莊
BF1
BF2
BF3
BF4
BF5
BF6
May 18
VENDOR STALLS
Vintage Eyewear 4 You
atelier yasmina viale-fraine
Circles by Jonathan
Lure Mystique, No Less Créateur
Tepp & Saito
MKU Originals
Marina Malison
Fifth Avenue Collection
JuJuBe Kids / Bonsai Kids
Eco Concepts Asia Ltd.
Spanish Bookstore Hong Kong
PaintSomething
Mega S-Mart Co.
WOW pet shop
A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
A6
A7
A8
A9
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
C4
D1
D2
D3
May 25
VENDOR STALLS
Tiny Bitz
Lure Mystique, No Less Créateur
Funny Workshop
AnEW
簡梘 Cansoap
HelenKing Handmade Bag
atelier yasmina viale-fraine
simple嬰兒基本服 / Organic
Footmark 有機足印
Armand & Louise Limited and I. M.
Jewelry
Hadeda
Burano Murano
Tepp & Saito
25
A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
A6
A7
A8
A9
B1
B2
B3
C2
C3
C4a
C4b
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