RoyalTea

Tea Drinking Culture is Changing. And This is Its New ...

Discover tea blends in exciting and healthy new creations.
 
+27 71 406 9835
Now with three locations in Cape Town.
www.royalteasa.co.za
info@royaltea-sa.com
RoyalteaSA
royalteasa

Tea Drinking Culture is Changing. And This is Its New Flavour

The tea bar that’s changing tea-drinking culture has arrived in Cape Town

Like Chinese tea culture? Learn more about Mandarin’s history at this exhibition.

---

Last update: 29 July 2019

Two entrepreneurs are changing the tea-drinking culture in Cape Town by introducing the new styles of tea that have revolutionised the tea scene in China. Their signature drink? Cheese tea.

FRUIT, CHEESE, AND BUBBLES IN YOUR TEA
Tea bar Royaltea, with more than 600 outlets around the world, has been flourishing in China for about two years and has moved into major cities, including in America and Canada. It is bringing fresh and curious tea combinations to the world.

Teas with real fruit and jams mixed in; teas topped with Oreo crumbs and bubble tea, a typically cold, sweet milky tea that’s shaken (hence bubble) and served with chewy tapioca pearls.

“The idea is to have options: Something to warm you when you’re cold, chill you when you’re hot and cheer you when you’re feeling a little down,” says Yixin Zhou, co-founder of Royaltea, with three outlets in Cape Town.

BETTER THAN BUBBLE TEA
Royaltea is not only changing tea’s sometimes fuddy-duddy face, it's also insisting on quality ingredients. “I felt excited about the new direction that tea was taking in China and wanted to help spread it across the world... Asian tea drinks with more of the special flavours I grew up with," says Zhou.

In fact, Chinese founder of Royaltea Nie Yun Chen created cheese tea because he wanted to serve his customers something better than standard bubble tea made from unhealthy powders and artificial syrups. The bubble tea sold at Royaltea uses freshly brewed Asian teas, fresh milk and top-grade tapioca pearls that are freshly cooked to be perfectly squishy and sweet.

DID YOU SAY CHEESE TEA?
For Jacob McGowan, it was simply the taste of cheese tea that compelled him to start Royaltea in South Africa. “I tried cheese tea while visiting China for the first time with my wife, Zhou. It sounded unusual, but I was hooked. I knew I wouldn’t be able to return to Cape Town without it.”

Royaltea’s cheese tea is a cold drink consisting of an oolong tea base that’s topped with cream cheese foam and sprinkled with matcha (an antioxidant-rich green powder). It’s like drinking a slice of cheesecake; and drinking it at a 45-degree angle from the cup, without a straw, is an important part of enjoying the tea as it balances the flavours and textures. It’s served in a recyclable cup with a special lid that allows you to drink at the right angle – and get an Instagram-worthy cream cheese foam moustache.

HONOURING THE RICH HISTORY AND TRADITION OF CHINESE TEA CULTURE
Yixin Zhou and Jacob McGowan might be revolutionising tea culture, but it’s with a rich dose of reverence for the ancient traditions of Chinese tea culture. Many of the teas used are rare and sourced from Asia. And at the Royaltea Kloof Street store, you’ll find beautiful, hand-crafted teaware from Jingdezhen, the porcelain capital of China. It’s a branch that also stocks rare loose leaf teas and hosts Chinese tea ceremonies.

Discover Royaltea’s exotic loose-leaf tea tastings every Saturday and get more of Royaltea with their Tuesday tea special.

WHERE TO FIND ROYALTEA

V&A Waterfront
V&A Food Market, Dock Road
Thurs-Sun: 10am–6pm

The Old Biscuit Mill
375 Albert Road, Woodstock
Sat: 9am–3pm

The bill: Teas start from R45, depending on your toppings.
Tip: Also get your Royaltea via UberEATS and OrderIn.

---

A story of triumph kicks off 16 days of activism at the Purple High Tea event, based on Beaten But Not Broken.

Learn to make Cape Malay sago pudding and an egg-free alternative with this sago pudding recipe.

Break the sushi mould and find a new use for your chopsticks at these Chinese Restaurants in Cape Town and surrounds and have you explored the V&A Food Market?

Also discover awesome high tea experiences, unmissable milkshakes around the city and some of the most unique desserts in Cape Town.

Treat them to something new to tell their friends about with our collection of exciting things to do with kids in Cape Town and free and cheap things to do with kids

---

Use our events section for an up-to-date overview of what’s happening in the city, ‘burbs and dorpies. Join our newsletter and get quick access on the go by adding us to your mobile home screen for the ultimate guide to discoveries in Cape Town.

Follow and like us on TwitterFacebookLinkedInInstagramPinterest for updates.

Cape Town Events Calendar
March 2024
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31

Esther Mahlangu, A Retrospective at Iziko MuseumOnce-in-a-lifetime exhibition of Esther ...

On from February to August 2024; 100+ artworks

Cannibisters 2024Cape Town’s very own cannabis club, ...

Now with over 90 strains of weed and The Serenity Room

Off-road adventure at Scootours BanhoekBest day ever? Monster Mountain ...

Scootours Banhoek has scooters, vine bikes and archery

Escape rooms Cape TownPossibly the best escape room in the ...

HintHunt’s Marble is being called “the king of escape rooms”

Comedy on Kloof comedy shows on TuesdayAffordable, weekly comedy show in Cape ...

Comedy on Kloof brings the city’s funniest

Mardouw Country HouseHow to have an unforgettable 40th, 50th ...

Private chef and 3-course meals at a 5-suite manor

Amina Boutique Hotel You can now book out this entire hotel ...

Infrared sauna, pool, special art, stunning rooms

Cederkloof Botanical outdoor jacuzziWe just found our next place for a ...

Cederkloof: Cottages with jacuzzi + house with pizza oven

Woodstock Brewery burgersA brewery with food specials for every ...

Burgers, schnitzels + curry specials at Woodstock Brewery

GiveawaysTravel Tips