If you are looking for a special way to celebrate Chinese New Year in Vancouver, Chef Michael Batoux has prepared some amazing trays of tea-infused treats at The Urban Tea Merchant. Tea Sommelier Reza Nasooti (yes there is such a designation) is usually on hand to assist in tea selection and after sniffing a few different choices we decided on some tea flowers and he brewed us a pot of both the heart of happiness tea and first kiss. Watching the tea flowers bloom is in itself a ritual; rather mesmerizing.
On the savoury side of the tray there is a generous selection of a vareity of tea-infused treats including:
“Number 8 Tea” steamed bun with braised pork & hoisin
“Singapore Breakfast Tea” biscuit with pomelo
“Lapsang Souchong Tea” chicken cone
“Weekend in Hong Kong Tea” sesame seared ahi tuna
“Indian Night Tea” curried egg tea sandwich
“Lucky Tea” braised tofu with black mushroom duxel
“Miraculous Mandarin Tea” crepe with crisp Peking duck
smoked salmon ribbon with ponzu jelly
Everything is made in-house and on demand, so the items are always fresh and never soggy or dry as I’ve had the misfortune of experiencing in other tea houses. The Peking duck crepe and the steamed bun with braised pork and hoisin have been especially created for this menu, so do make sure to try before February 10 in order to experience these little bundles of flavour,
We we rather hungry so also ordered a chicken tian salad a slightly smokey flavoured “Lapsang Souchong Tea”, a chicken salad with chunks of fresh cucumber, baby tomatoes and some greens. It was rather unnecessary however as we were quite full from the tea service alone, but packed it up to go and had a snack later.
On the sweet plate there are the requisite scones, but they are elevated with the tea-infused jelly (we bought some to take home) and the petit fours and seasonal fruit include a chocolate dipped dragon fruit which is a welcome change from just the strawberries.
sweets
TWG Tea macaron & chocolate bonbon
petit fours, seasonal fruit
Moroccan Mint Tea Nanaimo Bar
chocolate dipped dragon fruit
chevron strawberry
fresh baked scone with devon crème & tea-infused jelly
The signature sweet plate is also an option for those just requiring dessert after dinner, or a mid afternoon pick me up.
signature sweet plate 30
TWG Tea chocolate bonbon
Chevron strawberry
TWG Tea macaron
“Tokyo Singapore Tea lemon tartelette
“Earl Grey Gentleman Tea” white chocolate cheesecake
“Love Me Tea” mio amore panna cotta
“Lucky Tea” pear bavarois tartelette
chocolate rose
The real standouts here or the creamy panna cotta and the white chocolate cheescake. You will leave with your sweet tooth fulfilled.
Always great service here and many opportunities for gift shopping or picking up something extra for yourself from the shop. We are currently madly in love with the pink tea service set and the earl grey tea jelly.
