Ching Ching Cha

everything is amazing more

We stumbled upon this little shop and ended up having a delightful lunch. The food is simple, light, but very well-prepared. The jasmine iced tea was wonderful and not too sweet. It feels a little like visiting another country and left us feeling nourished and calm. more

I think there are people who enjoy tea from time to time, don't mind it when they are sick, and occasionally have it when it rains. Then there are people who love tea. Some might say these folks are tea snobs, but I think they are just enthusiastic about an amazing beverage. Yeah, maybe I fall into the latter category. Ching Ching Cha will make a tea lover out of just about anyone. Going for a cup of tea here becomes an event. The selection is great, from upscale yet conventional teas, to blossoming jasmine teas (tea that flowers -literally- as it steeps), to rare or seldom found varieties. The staff are knowledgeable and friendly. Often, after ordering one type of tea or another, they will ask, ""do you know how to prepare this tea?"" Ching Ching Cha shows you the process of tea, how certain varieties are best served, kept warm, and enjoyed, and how to appreciate the taste, color, and aroma of tea. Patrons can either sit on pillows, with shoes off, or at tables. The food is edible, but not amazing; the steamed dumplings are not bad. At the shop you can buy different varieties of tea, books about tea, and various tea accoutrements. This is not a cafe. If you are looking for some hot water with a bag of Lipton you will save yourself some time and money by going elsewhere. Ching Ching Cha is one of the more unique places in Georgetown and is great for relaxing, refreshing, and taking in the moment with a good cup of tea. Whether you occasionally have a cuppa or are the type to only drink loose leaf, Ching Ching Cha is a great break from the norm. Pros: Tea, tea for purchase, tea books, tea experts Cons: Not a place for a meal. more

Maybe it's the lute music. Perhaps it's the handsome rosewood tables, the sunlight pouring in from the skylight or the chance to unwind on big pillows and while away an afternoon with your date over a pot of tea. Everything at Ching Ching Cha, the serene tea house off Georgetown's busy main drag, conspires to put you in a better mood than when you came in. And it has all the makings for a great date -- a lovely setting, more than 60 different teas and a small menu of little dishes to accompany your beverage of choice. The best of the bunch: steamed dumplings stuffed with lamb and cabbage; peanuts tossed with star anise and peppercorns; and curried beef sealed in a packet of puff pastry. "You should always try something new," a waiter with a beatific smile coaches me when I ask for his recommendation. Today I'm sipping an aromatic ginseng oolong, but next time I might try the jasmine blossom, with tight buds that unfurl into what look like flowers as it steeps in its glass of hot water. --Tom Sietsema (February 12, 2006) more