Tea isn’t just a drink—it’s a medicine. But only if it’s brewed with intention.
We’re launching a monthly tea subscription, curated by Timothy Hsu, founder of The Mandarin’s Tea Room and in-house Tea Educator here at Chinatown Soup. Each month, you’ll receive 20 grams of a hand-selected tea—enough for two full sessions of Kung Fu-style brewing, a traditional method that unlocks the full medicinal potential of tea.
This club isn’t just about tasting tea—it’s about learning to make tea as a medicine. If you don’t brew it properly, you lose its potency. Through guided virtual tastings, you’ll explore how to prepare tea with care, presence, and precision.
How It Started
The Chinatown Soup Tea Club is a natural evolution of what began in 2018—introducing our community and curious seekers to Tim’s favorite teas at the bar, a colorful space tucked away behind our storefront gallery, where artists and visitors intermingle. Over the years, this shared experience has grown beyond casual tastings into a deeper practice, inspiring a dedicated place to explore tea as an art form and basis for making meaningful connections.
At the heart of this club is the idea that tea is more than a beverage—it is a living tradition, a conversation with time, place, and each other.
Camellia sinensis has been foundational to Chinese medicine since Buddhism flourished in China during the Tang Dynasty, and likely much earlier as a plant medicine. Through our growing online collective, Tim will share insights from his lifelong tea practice, carefully selecting teas that have shaped his journey—spanning regions and centuries.
Interested in another cup? The form and offerings of our club will continue to evolve—just as Chinatown Soup has since 2014—blending new ingredients into our ever-growing creative experiment. Become a member, come sip with us.
How It Works
📦 Monthly Subscription — $25 + shipping
Receive 20 grams of tea (serving 15-20 brews per delivery)
A video tutorial from Tim on how to brew the selected tea properly and experience its full effects. Subscribe to our channel for guided tea pairing videos with each month’s featured selection, posted every new moon.
Add-Ons
🌿 In-Person Tasting — $45+ per person
If you're looking for a personalized experience, you can self-organize and meet Tim at Chinatown Soup for a live, guided session. Public group sessions are offered on Sunday afternoons and select Wednesday evenings. Flexible scheduling is available for club members. Please inquire.
🍵 Gaiwan Starter Kit — $65 (one-time purchase)
A curated brewing set to support your at-home practice, including:
One 150ml gaiwan (serves up to four people) made from 45% ox bone china, sourced from Fujian, China
Two porcelain tea cups, sourced from Japan
