A part of the Ten Ren tea empire, Cha for Tea is a chain teahouse that can be found all over Taiwan, with to-go outposts and sit down dining experiences in many of the locations. Decades old, the tea brand has an established presence among locals across generations. It’s like a full service tea house.
The take out tea bar has endured despite the fierce competition of trendy boba tea bars in Taiwan, a trusted stop for anyone looking for a sweet drink on a hot day. It is a stark contrast from the heavily branded, trend-seeking tea brands, with cups that exude the unremarkable branding of the early 2000s, and a menu that includes all the classics. A solid middle ground choice in terms of price, a bit more premium than the standard chains but with the insurance of quality teas to maintain their reputation.
Then, there is the restaurant experience. A traditional Taiwanese tea house that is a favorite among older generations and families, looking for a comfortable untimed eating experience, a stark contrast from the rule-ridden “afternoon tea” cafés that are always chaotically crowded. Cha for Tea is a solid choice for a full meal or an in between meal. Their lunch and dinner sets come with multiple courses, each a small single serving dish, like a Taiwanese dim sum. And all of the food from appetizers to dessert are infused with tea in some form, from tea oil silken tofu to pu-er braised beef to tea jelly.
And finally there’s the retail portion. There are countless places to purchase tea, but this is a solid place to start for Chinese teas. They carry a wide range from fairly cheap to very premium.