At Hangzhou: Have an afternoon tea with a local – Boil tea above the stove

Hangzhou's tea culture

"West Lake Longjing is one of the most famous teas in China. Tea culture in Hangzhou runs deep — for over a thousand years, people have been growing tea on the hills beside West Lake, once offering it as tribute to emperors.

In small teahouses by the lake, locals sit for hours, watching the steam rise from their cups. For travelers, tea drinking isn’t just a travel experience — it’s a way to sit down and make friends cozily.

In recent years, Hangzhou has revived an old custom called “boiling tea by the stove”.
Imagine deep in the misty mountains of ancient China — villagers gathering around a glowing charcoal fire, laughter drifting into the cool night air. They roasted wild fruits, brewed tea in clay pots, and shared warmth, stories, and quiet joy.

Today, that same spirit lives on. Friends sit together around a small stove, boiling water in iron kettles, roasting tea leaves, and warming snacks over the fire. The air fills with the scent of tea and smoke, and conversations flow easily between sips.

Here in Hangzhou, tea is not just a drink — it’s a bridge between people."

The Routes

The experience takes place in a teahouse by West Lake, quiet and filled with the scent of tea.
You’ll learn about the rituals of incense lighting, the meaning behind fragrant beads, and the etiquette of Chinese tea culture.

As you enjoy handmade tea desserts, your host will prepare a small stove. You’ll roast seasonal fruits in the fire and experience how tea leaves are toasted in clay pots, releasing a deep and gentle aroma.

It’s a calm, slow afternoon — one that lets you feel the warmth of tea, fire, and quiet conversation.