Dorri Partain
Managing Editor

On a chilly December afternoon, a long-time friend and I sought a location where we could sit, chat quietly and relax after the rush of the holidays, but also have a new experience.

At Tian Tea House, owners Saranya and Zach Hubbard invite their customers to “step behind the curtain, slow down, and pause the busy world” with a decor that’s dark but warm with soft lighting, candles and flowers.

The Modern Asian vibe they have created was revealed to customers during a soft opening that began on Dec. 22, offering thoughtfully selected and prepared Asian tea blends.

Tian Tea House offers a selection of seating, from tables seating four or two, couches and easy chairs or a bar area with eight stools, where customers can watch as each drink, hot or cold, is skillfully prepared by Saranya and her assistant.

My friend and I selected an empty table for two, one of the few seats available. Either by word of mouth or by social media, the tea house was near capacity, with customers still entering as we waited for our order to be prepared.

Customers order and pay at the bar, then when their name is called, go and collect their order. Within the Asian practice of Gong Fu Cha — making tea with skill —- there are no quick to-go orders available. For each order, the tea blend is carefully measured and the water is heated to the correct temperature, using an electric kettle.

An Asian curtain marks the entrance for Tian Tea House in Columbus Park.

While I prefer tea over nearly every other beverage, my experience has been mostly with American or English blends, so figuring out what to order from Asian ingredients was a bit of a new experience. My friend and I both selected the lemongrass blend, with dates, longan and goji berries, served in a glass pot along with a sipping cup.

The lemongrass is a house blend, available only hot. Hojita, matcha, and Thai tea are available hot or cold, while toasted sticky rice and a blend named Menstrual Relief (ginger, dates, rose, goji, dang shen roots and brown sugar) are only available hot. Prices range from $7 to $8 per glass or pot.

Sarayba Hubbard and an assistant skillfully prepare a variety of drinks for customers.

Several varieties of premium loose leaf tea are available: white, green, oolong, red and black.

Snacks, prepared off-site by local bakers, are available but may vary by day so are not listed on the menu.

My friend and I were eager to try our tea, then joked — after a few cups — that it was even more flavorful as it steeped so we shouldn’t have been in such a hurry- after all, this tea house is intended to be a “slow bar”.

Addressing why this tea house has a bar area, this is because day time (tian) tea service is only one half of the business. Once the Hubbards obtain their liquor license, the tea house will close for the day, and reopen in the evening as The Moon Bar, serving intentionally-crafted Japanese cocktails and small plates.

Saranya and Zach Hubbard, owners of Tian Tea House and The Moon Bar. offer personal service to customers.

Saranya Hubbard, a native of Bangkok, Thailand, learned both Gong Fu Cha and bartending before arriving in America in 2020. For several years, she and Zach have operated Tian Tea House and Moon Bar as pop ups to gain experience and build a customer base in preparation of opening their brick-and-mortar business.

After a little more than an hour enjoying our tea and conversation, and noting the tea house would be closing at 3 p.m., my friend and I bundled back up to leave the slow pace we had experienced and head back into the busy world — with a vow that we should certainly visit again and try a different thoughtfully-prepared Asian blend.

Tian Tea House at 911 E. 5th St. will have its official opening on Tuesday, January 6. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. For social media followers, you can find both Tian Tea House and The Moon Bar on Facebook and Instagram. For updates on the opening of The Moon Bar, visit their webpage at https://www.moonbarkc.com/