The cafe scene in Budapest is getting more and more recognised and dominated by small-batch, house-roasted and sustainably sourced beans with speciality blends and the newcomer hip places to hang out, but there is another caffeinated beverage which has been slowly amassing major footing here. Explore Budapest’s hidden, but vibrant tea scene and enjoy the moment of the slow-living with a pleasant tea ceremony. Zhao Zhou – ancent tea leaves This little place is a real gem, the owners know each other since the beginning of the 1990-s, when they started studying in Beijing, Peter studied Chinese medicine, Gabor economics. They both had a scholarship, therefore they could learn and also explore China. Peter stayed in China since than, getting very deep in TCM (tradicional chinese and also tibetan medicine), meditation and puer.Gabor has rediscovered tea, after 16 years in wine business, around 2010, when a great experience of drinking a 50-60 years old puer occured. Every year they roam the tea mountains of Asia to find, taste and bring back the most exciting teas, the best finds. Also it is uplifting for them to meet so many nice, skilled tea makers who share the same passion for tea as they do. They always look for teas with special characteristics representing the mountain, the varietals or teas with a message. Every month Zhao Zhou organise tea classes, thematic special workshops, breakfast events as they believe: tea is a wonderful way for connection and friendship. Where? District 1, Lánchíd utca 5. Opening times: Tue-Fri: 1pm-7pm, Sat: 11am-5pm Don’t miss: a unique selection from sheng puer tea from 600-800 year old wild trees to matcha from the Yoshida tea garden in Uji Flying Bird – tea ceremony hideaway The teashop offers a wide selection of high quality teas sourced and hand selected directly from tea growers in China, Taiwan and Japan: fresh white, yellow, green teas are available as well as fresh and aged oolong, red, black and puerh teas and many special and rare items. Get involved with the Gongfu tea ceremony which is actually a sort of meditation or relaxation. Tea is served in nice and lovely equipments, in handful Yixing teapots or gaiwans with lids, on pitted bamboo teatrays, with pitchers and thimbleful teacups. Premium tea tasting session is available for a group of maximum 14 persons with the preparation and introduction of four rare and special teas of your choice or recommended by them. Sharing special knowledge of teas and croplands with you in the meantime. Where? District 7, Nyár utca 10. Opening times: Mon-Fri: 11am-9pm, Sat: 2pm-9pm Don’t miss: the Phoenix mountain dancongs, the Wuyi mountain dark oolongs, matured heichas 1000 Tea – soothing blends away from the crowd Hidden in a small courtyard off the busy Váci utca, this is the place to go if you want to get away from the downtown crowd to sip a soothing blend made by the tea-serious staff and relax in a Japanese-style tearoom. You can also sit in the bamboo-filled courtyard. This place has been established in 1996, being one of the first main tea houses in Budapest with dedicated owners and 100+ teas from India, Japan, China, Nepal and Taiwan. Where? District 5, Váci utca 65. Opening times: Mon-Thu: 12pm-9pm, Fri-Sat: 12pm-10pm, Sun: 2pm-9pm Don’t miss: the roasted teas, the one week shaded Japanese tea, the raw cake Pu’er from old trees Körönd Teahouse – Chinese hospitality The place may look like an internet café from the outside, but as you get inside, you will start to feel the vibe, like you’ve just entered a first-generation family’s living-room with some inherited furniture from Asia. This teahouse is a buzzing community place, where you order a tea, have it re-topped with hot water and enjoy the endless sipping, while you can take part in a Chinese course or enjoy real Chinese flavours as you can order main courses. Where? District 6, Aradi utca 53. Opening times: Mon-Sat: 4pm-10pm Don’t miss: Complimentary Chinese courses, traditional food is also available to pre-order Photo: Pixabay