Ching Ching Cha

The space is half ’tea house’ and half shop, but the tea house has fewer guests than one would expect. The first time I visited I started off by looking at the wares, and when I thought about tea there was no one to seat me in the tea area. I’m sufficiently shy that when it isn’t clear what one is supposed to do, I feel uncomfortable and want to leave. Tea, for me, is about comfort, and so that was lacking.

Still, once that hurdle is surmounted, one can have a pleasant tea. There is emphasis on ceremony, here. My pu-erh came with an initally bewildering array of accoutrements- a small Yixing clay pot, a clay catchbasin that the pot sat on, a utensil that was a small scoop on one end and a point on the other, as well as the teacup. These are all part of the GongFu preparation of tea that requires you to steep small amounts of tea for 1 minute [no more, no less!], keep the clay pot warm by pouring hot water over it [hence the catchbasin], keep the teacup warm by pouring water in and then disposing of it, and so forth. It isn’t as confusing as it might seem, once you’ve done it! Food is mostly limited to a lunch bento box or small side dishes. You’re really there for the tea.

The interior space is pleasant, with a high skylight and open beams, and there is a nice selection of teas and teaware to browse.

With all due respect to Kobi’s review, the reason I like Ching Ching Cha is because... it has a relaxing vibe. Well, it works for me, anyway. I like the low tables with big cushions (please remove shoes and place them under the platform). The menu is limited, but the food quite good, in a simple sort of way. The tea is outstanding. I guess a comparison to Teaism is inevitable, so here goes: Teaism is a victim of its own success, and therefore always too busy to be enjoyable. But then, Ching Ching Cha has sit-down service as opposed to Teasim’s counter service.

Conclusion: when in Georgetown and in need of tea, a great place to drop in.