Maria Katrina Paras

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Harvest Tea Room Chinese Tea Workshop

<p>I&#x27;ve been a<strong> tea drinker</strong> for as long as I can remember. When I was young, the first memory of tea for me was the classic yellow Lipton black tea bag that was offered in almost every restaurant and flight I&#x27;ve been on. I developed my love for tea as I grew up, having green tea as my go-to (primarily for its health benefits). I would occasionally drink chamomile tea before bed, mint tea after meals, and jasmine tea or oolong if I wanted variety. I&#x27;ve also had herbal teas like hibiscus on hand in my pantry for different therapeutic needs. Matcha has become a huge part of my tea routine, too, with its boom in recent years. But these days, I&#x27;m learning that tea isn&#x27;t just limited to the ones I&#x27;ve mentioned. </p><p>Just a few days ago, I was invited to join a <strong>Chinese Tea Discovery</strong> <strong>workshop </strong>at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/harvest.tearoom" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Harvest Tea Room</strong></a><strong> </strong>in BF Homes, Paranaque. I&#x27;ve been diving deeper into Chinese culture lately, thanks to my initiation into C-dramas, so this was something I didn&#x27;t want to miss.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1779696716691Chinese Tea Workshop.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">I attended my first-ever tea discovery workshop</span></span></span>The class was an intimate group of about 10 people, and was led by <strong>Thomas Balete</strong> of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/florateabar/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Flora Tea Bar</strong></a> in Quezon City. We were made to sit around a table, with a tea set beautifully laid out in front of us. Cups, saucers, loose-leaf teas, teapots, a kettle, and note cards were prepared. Each of us was given a card on which we could take notes about aroma, appearance, taste, and other observations. </div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1779701874222Harvest Tea Room Chinese Tea Workshop.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">The Chinese Tea Discovery set up</span></span></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1779702327749Harvest Tea Room Chinese Tea Workshop 2.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">We went through different Chinese teas</span></span></span>The first tea we tried was an iced sparkling <strong>Purple Bud</strong> <strong>white tea from Yunnan province</strong>—unexpectedly refreshing, but very subtle in terms of taste. It tasted floral and clean, perfect for a hot day. We then proceeded to explore the loose-leaf teas of the day, all hailing from China, each one with a distinct flavor profile. Next up, we tried the <strong>Bai Mu Dan &quot;White Peony&quot; tea from Fujian province</strong>. This tea appears long and thin, and has a bud and two leaves with fuzzy edges. For me, it has a very clean and light taste, perhaps something you would like to add to a rich dessert. The <strong>2025 Spring Morning (Raw Pu&#x27;er) tea from Yunnan province </strong>was clustered together, had a very brown appearance due to oxidation, and had an earthy, full, bolder taste. I&#x27;m not really a huge fan of Pu&#x27;er tea, but it was good to get more acquainted with it. The last tea we tried was <strong>Jin Jun Mei &quot;Golden Steed Eyebrow&quot;, a black tea from Fujian province. </strong>This was by far my favorite among the four, as it tasted like a dessert tea, wherein you could taste the cacao and orange notes, which really go well together. </div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1779706983041Harvest Tea Room Chinese Tea Workshop 3.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">The tea ceremony makes you appreciate the process of slowing down and noticing the subtlest details</span></span></span>Apart from discovering the teas, what I truly loved most about this workshop is the fact that I got to slow down and really focus my mind on the tiniest details—shapes of leaves, scent before steeping, aroma before sipping, imagining what it would be best paired with, and more. It also encouraged me to be more open to trying new kinds of tea and exploring different flavor profiles. Rather than simply dunking a random teabag into a cup of piping hot water, this class taught me to notice the right temperature for every kind of tea, the beautiful cups and teapots, and the lost art of savoring taste.</div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1779707783644Harvest Tea Room Chinese Tea Workshop 4.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Here&#x27;s to drinking more cups of tea!</span></span></span>In this fast-paced world where you can order fancy drinks in just a few taps on your smartphone, there is something therapeutic and romantic about setting up your own tea set at home, scooping tea leaves, and taking time to appreciate the process. When we unlearn being rushed all the time, it benefits our nervous system—teaching our bodies to relax, to take our time, and to be present in the moment. </div><div><em>Follow <a href="https://www.instagram.com/harvest.tearoom" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@harvest.tearoom</a> for more tea workshops and events.</em></div><div><em><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></em><br/></div>

<p>It was an experience that encouraged me to be more mindful of my tea drinking practices.</p>

It was an experience that encouraged me to be more mindful of my tea drinking practices.

Editor's Diaries: What I Loved About My First Chinese Tea Discovery Class

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Editor's Diaries: What I Loved About My First Chinese Tea Discovery Class

Kate Paras-Santiago

Published May 25, 2026 07:00 PM PHT

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Updated May 25, 2026 07:20 PM PHT

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Wellness

Harvest Tea Room

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Tea Workshop

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