British people may be famous for their tea culture, but the drink is also very important in Chinese culture.
However, in the Asian country’s culture, the act of tea drinking spans way beyond simply plopping a bag in a teapot. Indeed, for some, it’s considered a deeply spiritual and ritualistic experience.
Now, thanks to widespread Chinese influence in London, there are many spots cropping up in the city that give people a chance to experience Chinese tea culture.
These settings offer a unique alternative to fast-paced cafes, and they are well worth checking out.
Various Chinese Teahouses Cropping up Across London
You don’t just have to be in Chinatown to experience the Chinese influence in London, and now there are countless teahouses emerging in different locations around the city.
Mei Leaf in Camden, for instance, is one of the best-established ones, and it has gained a cult following from tea connoisseurs in the last few years.
It hosts tasting sessions and teaches the art of Chinese tea preparation, making the cultural ritual more accessible to diverse groups of people.
If you want to relax and sip on a wide range of Chinese teas in other parts of the city, that’s easily done now as well.
Wu Tea Room in Hackney is another great option, and it offers people the chance to meditate while enjoying Chinese teas.
Here’s also XU Teahouse in Soho, which combines fancy tea offerings with luxury dining. If you haven’t experienced Chinese tea yet, you should definitely get down to one of these venues.
Chinese Influence Getting Stronger in the Mainstream
It’s not just the tearooms across London that reflect the growing influence and appreciation of China in London.
There are various other parts of the culture that have taken off here too, with there now being annual events in Trafalgar Square for Lunar New Year.
There has also been a rise of Chinese cinema on London’s screens, with venues like the Prince Charles Cinema often paying homage to the classic martial arts offerings from the East.
That love of Chinese culture can also be seen online, with various Chinese movies now hits among Netflix users in the UK.
For example, The Wandering Earth has garnered a lot of attention in recent times. In the iGaming market, a lot of UK-based players are now in search of Chinese themes too.
There’s the live casino UK offering, Super Sic Bo, which takes players to an oriental themed room and gives them a chance to play the traditional Chinese gambling offering.
With all these options, it’s now possible for people on these shores to immerse themselves in Chinese content.
For many people who want to get more Eastern culture in their lives in London, the emergence of these Chinese tearooms acts as a gateway.
From there, there are plenty of other oriental experiences to take part in. For example, there are Tai Chi and Qi Gong classes around the city, along with cafes that specialise in Chinese board games such as Mahjong.
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