Lady’s Teanamu Teahouse Review

There aren’t many hidden gems in London. News about new places spreads so quickly that it’s difficult to come up with something most Londoners don’t know about. But then someone told me about Teanamu Teahouse in Shepherd’s Bush.

Teanamu Teahouse

Run out of the proprietor’s home, Teanamu Teahouse is a tiny haven of tranquility and tea. It’s situated in the ground-floor living room of a house on an unassuming residential street opposite Cathnor Park.

The space is simple, but elegantly decorated with beautiful teapots and a smattering of mismatched tables. An air of peace pervades. It’s a rare find in London.

Afternoon Tea at Teanamu Teahouse

I arrive with a friend one day for afternoon tea. We’re seated at one of the tables. Near us is the kitchen where Pei and his assistant prepare the tea and food.

There’s only one other person there when we arrive, and the room is so quiet that we whisper for fear of disturbing the delicate ambiance.

The Teanamu tea menus are brought to us on tiny trays. Each tea is listed on a separate card, which offers a thorough description of it.

I settle on a jasmine tea called Phoenix Eye Jasmine, but I’m open to suggestions. When Pei comes to help us order, he chooses the same tea for me. It feels like fate. My friend decides to let him blend a tea for her based on her mood.

Teanamu Tea

Our teas arrive, each one with its own pot. Pei explains to us how we should brew them, with instructions on water temperature, steeping time, and pouring.

As we fumble around with the kettle, the jasmine pearls in my pot and the abundance of fruit and flowers in my friend’s start to unfurl and release their aromas.

The Savory Food

We order food to go with our tea, and soon the savory dishes arrive. They’re sticky rice served in a large leaf, and a delicious dumpling with a hot chili pepper on top.

Both are excellent, and I want more. Teanamu Teahouse might just be my new favorite place for afternoon tea in London.

The Sweet Food

Then the afternoon tea sweets come. Five tiny pastries are arranged on a plate. Everything from chocolate truffles made from cream cheese to traditional Chinese pastries with puffy crusts is present.

There’s even a scone on the plate, but it’s paired with rose jam instead of the traditional English flavors.

Teanamu Teahouse Classes

Teanamu’s pastries are as good as the savories. We sit sipping our tea as we enjoy the food, and Pei tells us about his tea appreciation courses.

My friend is so excited that she makes a reservation for the following weekend. She wants to introduce more friends to this unique place.

Before we leave Pei sits down at a table by the wall and brews a special tea. His technique is impressive, and puts my awkwardness with the kettle to shame.

Once the tea is brewed, he brings a cup for each person in the room, which by this time has filled up and become slightly more voluble than when we arrived.

Teanamu Teahouse: The Verdict

We sip. We savor. We say good-bye. We know that we will be back to Teanamu Teahouse in Shepherd’s Bush, and we hope that in the meantime our hidden gem isn’t discovered by too many people. Don’t tell your friends.

Find this post helpful? Buy me a coffee!

New here? Join thousands of others and subscribe to the A Lady in London blog via email.