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Food & Drink

South Africa's Most Quirky Tea Houses

Tea tasting is becoming popular in South Africa and there are many different venues to enjoy the pastime | ©Anete Lūsiņa/Unsplash
Tea tasting is becoming popular in South Africa and there are many different venues to enjoy the pastime | ©Anete Lūsiņa/Unsplash
Photo of Carina Claassens
Carina Claassens
16 June 2017

Although not yet as popular as coffee shops, more and more tea houses are popping up all over the country. Whether you’re after a cup of your favourite blend or interested in trying new flavours, there’s a tea house in South Africa to suit any tea-lover’s needs.

The Botanical Tea House

Cafe, Tea Room, Tea , Coffee, Fast Food, South African, $$$
Map View

The Botanical Tea House is an urban retreat set in a beautiful garden, offering a wide range of teas and homemade light meals and breakfasts. The teas are served in laboratory bottles on tripods and blends include Chrysanthemum, Hibiscus, Earl Grey Blue Flower and more.

Contessa Tea Connoisseur

Cafe, Restaurant, Tea Room, Tea , $$$
Map View
Clients can sample each of the different tea categories being, Classic Black tea, Flavoured Black tea, Oolong, Green, White and Tisane or herbal infusions
Clients can sample each of the different tea categories being, Classic Black tea, Flavoured Black tea, Oolong, Green, White and Tisane or herbal infusions | Courtesy of Contessa Tea Connoisseur

This tranquil space in Johannesburg stocks a range of different teas, including an imported range of loose-leaf teas. Some of the flavours include Coconut Snow, Tropical Breeze and Apricot Brandy, and the addition of 82 new organic Hyson Tea flavours brings the total tea offering to 152.

Lady Bonin’s Tea Parlour

Cafe, Tea Room, Tea , Coffee, Fast Food, South African, 0
Jessica, aka Lady Bonin, makes approximately 10 000 cups of tea a year
Jessica, aka Lady Bonin, makes approximately 10 000 cups of tea a year | Courtesy of Lady Bonin's Tea Bar

Lady Bonin’s Tea Parlour sells and blends a variety of organic loose-leaf teas, sourced from sustainable farms that are community driven. Lady Bonin started out in 2010 as a food truck, selling take-away tea in and around Cape Town.

NetMar Rooibos Tea House

Cafe, Tea Room, Tea , Coffee, Fast Food, South African
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NetMar is mainly a Rooibos Tea House but also offer gifts, jewellery, fabric, wool and more
NetMar is mainly a Rooibos Tea House but also offer gifts, jewellery, fabric, wool and more | Courtesy of NetMar

Situated in Clanwilliam, NetMar claims to be the only Rooibos Tea House in the world and serves more than 100 blends of the popular tea. From unfermented green rooibos to fruity versions including mango and peach, the variation is incredible. Enjoy a tea tasting of seven different blends and learn about the history of rooibos and its health benefits.

O’Ways Tea Café

Cafe, Tea Room, Tea , Coffee, Fast Food, Vegan, South African, $$$
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Tea can be paired endlessly with food, chocolate, wine and coffee
Tea can be paired endlessly with food, chocolate, wine and coffee | Courtesy of Nigiro Tea Merchants

O’Ways Tea Café sells a variety of teas, including Nigiro, and offers tea tasting and tea pairing. With more than 350 fine loose-leaf teas and blends, including black and red teas, show flower teas and herbal and fruit infusions, they also stock beautiful tea-inspired accessories.

High Tea

Coffee Shop, Tea , Coffee, Vegetarian, $$$
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High Tea also supplies freshly baked cakes for weddings and other events
High Tea also supplies freshly baked cakes for weddings and other events | Courtesy of High Tea

If delicious cake is what you’re after, you’ve come to the right place. High Tea, established in 2004, serves breakfast, lunch and delicious teas in Cape Town’s southern suburbs. The rustic-style cafe is the perfect spot to enjoy a relaxing afternoon while tasting flavoured and exotic teas.

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