I've been wanting to write about the magical Chinese tea house Ching Ching Cha on this blog ever since I visited it for the first time last fall.
On Wisconsin Avenue in Georgetown, you could easily walk right by and miss this jewel. You will first enter a hallway that looks like it might lead to an import store for Chinese furniture and art, but keep going and that hallway opens up into a tall sunlit room filled with warm wood, low tables with floor cushions and beautiful table sets with Ming style chairs. There is also a well curated collection of tea ceramics, utensils and related accessories, books and art, as well as a variety of loose tea leaves for sale.
The menu, set inside a sweetly hand-stitched cover, offers an extensive tea list. Each type of tea is served in a particular kettle or cup complementary to it's style along with instructions from your waitress on how to pour, brew and sip your tea.
It's an intoxicating experience... the tea and the atmosphere in combination transport you to another time and place. If you plan to stay a while and sip your tea slowly (as tea is best enjoyed) Ching Ching Cha offers a small fresh and healthy menu of appetizers, meals and dessert. I especially like the very comforting and unique tomato egg drop soup that comes with the lunch combination meal.
