There’s A Tea Called The Garden Of Heavenly Pleasure (And It Goes Well With Cake)

What am I drinking?

The descriptively named Garden of Heavenly Peace.

Where am I drinking it?

Slice – a little sister to the fantastic Cake Café, located out of the way in Stoneybatter. Slice is a bright and sunny little spot, its décor stripped back and bare without being stark. It’s a quiet place for a quick tea, though you’re almost sure to be elbow-to-elbow with other patrons.

What does it taste like?

This is a white tea with vanilla, fruits, rose and cardamom. Sounds like an ideal combo, but this multi-layered blend is more confused than cohesive, with sweet fruit and a strong bitter herbal undercurrent. Still it’s flavoursome and refreshing, and goes really well with one of the café’s cakes.

What does it look like?

Slice serve their teas in fairly old-fashioned smoked-glass cups which almost obscure the colour of the tea (not dissimilar to white wine) completely. It fits with the look of the café though – more front-room than fine-dining.

Where does it come from?

This is a Chinese white tea (Pai Mu Tan), sourced from one of the new big players in Irish tea distribution, Niks Tea.

What effect does it have?

It’s a strong astringent tea with lots of flavour, ideal with your sweet late-afternoon pick-me-up.

Where can I get it?

Certainly Slice or its sister-café The Cake Café at Pleasants Place, or online here.

Is it worth the try?

This tea makes nice change from your standard green teas or fruit teas by occupying somewhere in the middle. As an alternative, try their Berry Treasure.