Richmond’s award-winning Baan Lao Fine Thai Cuisine is launching an elevated afternoon tea experience featuring a range of decidedly exotic options.  

Guests will be greeted by one of Baan Lao’s three TAC-certified tea sommeliers, who oversee the Gong Fu Cha tea service. Included with the selected teas are savoury and sweet canapes created by Baan Lao chef Nutcha Phanthoupheng.

In a release, Baan Lao describes the experience as follows:

“We have raised the bar by having a certified TAC tea sommelier who curated a selection of five estate loose teas, either caffeine or caffeine-free, to pair perfectly with each dish. Our TAC certified tea sommelier will brew our estate loose leaf teas on our tea cart and served with 12 canapes, which consists of Thai ingredients to capture the five taste qualities of sweet, sour, salty, savoury (umami), and bitter. We have removed the bitter and replaced with a hint of spicy.”

Teas fall under the umbrellas of white, oolong, black, green, herbal and fermented, and include such options as Assam Doomni from India, Honey Bush from South Africa, and Fukamushi Chiran Sincha from Japan. 

“Gong fu cha” translates to “tea made with skill.” A style of preparation indigenous to southeastern China, it treats tea as a ritual, focussing on the appreciation of tea for its own sake.

As part of the afternoon service, servers will explain the ingredients and inspirations behind each of Phanthouphneg’s canapes. 

Baan Lao’s Afternoon Tea Thai Experience launches on May 3. For full details, go here.