Gastronome

THE TEA FARM CAFÉ
2600 S. King St., #106
Honolulu, HI
Phone number (808) 945-2679
website theteafarm.com/cafe

Among the things I rely on most throughout the day to keep me alive is tea. It gives my brain that little extra nudge without wreaking havoc on my stomach (I’m talking to you, coffee).

On this island, I’ve only found a few teashops that cater specifically to tea drinkers. One of my favorites, since it opened in 2011, has remained The Tea Farm Café.

There’s a lot I like about this place. It has a quiet and relaxed atmosphere, which I took advantage of when I was attending UH Manoa. Plus, with more than 80 teas to select from, I’ve never gotten bored.

Still, for those new to tea, it can be somewhat intimidating. It’s not just about selecting black tea, white tea or a rooibos. There is Assam, Darjeeling, Lapsang Souchong, Hazelnut Honeybush — the list of different varietals is endless.

Once you get past those unpronounceable names, it’s really not that hard. Some are floral or sweet, while others are dark and sometimes bitter. As I always will say, ultimately, it comes down to personal preference.

To get you started, I’ve asked The Tea Farm Café owner Ervin Gong to impart some knowledge to Metro.

Q: The Tea Farm Café offers an extensive selection of teas — green, oolong, white, black, herbal, chai, puerh and rooibos — what are the differences among these?

A: Well, the difference between the types of teas are the way they are processed — whether they were allowed to ferment, how it was dried (oven or pan-fried), and even which type of tea leaf or bush it came from. From that, it tastes different. (See accompanying sidebar for a breakdown of each tea.)

Q: What is your favorite tea?

A: I like to rotate my teas depending on how I feel. But if I had to choose a favorite, I would have to pick the Dragon Well Green Tea.

Q: For people who only have begun to venture into drinking tea, what would be a “safe” selection for them?

A: A safe selection is a flavor that they like. If they like sweet things, then I’d suggest naturally sweet teas. If you like the more floral aroma, I’d suggest going with floral tea.

Q: Is there a wrong way to prepare tea?

A: Yes and no. We offer information on how to make specific teas — for instance, how much tea to put, what temperature water and brewing time. But at the end of the day, you make tea taste the way you want it. If you like it stronger, then make it with more tea leaves or steep it longer.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?

A: Join us, and have some tea here.

METRO-031115-GASTRONOME-THE-TEA-FARM-CAFE-AC-12ALL ABOUT THE FOOD

As much as I love tea, I love food even more.

It’s perfect then, really, that The Tea Farm Café offers a menu of sweet and savory items to complement whatever herbal beverage you settle on. There’s a lot to choose from, so I asked owner Ervin Gong (pictured at right) to point me in the right direction. He brought out the café’s Matcha Tiramisu and Basil Pepperoni Pizza. Neither pack that visual punch that has you instantly attracted, but both more than made up for it with taste.

The tiramisu was soft, silky and sweet, and matcha flavors thankfully kept it from going over the edge.

And that pizza is something I’d order for lunch multiple days of the week. Essentially a Margherita pizza (with tomato sauce, Mozzarella cheese and basil), everything about it was delicious — the slightly sweet tomato sauce, the fresh basil on top, the perfect crunch of crust.

Still, it will be hard to pass up on the chance to experience The Tea Farm Café’s Ice Cream Fondue. As someone who has sampled it many times, I say you’d be foolish not to try it at least once.

gastronome