Ranran Tea: A slow-paced tea break in the city 🍵

#September2025 This contemporary tea space, guided by a tea sommelier and meticulously crafted with water quality and brewing details, emphasizes a journey of flavor from light to intense. • Shop Name: ZEN ZEN THÉ • Address: No. 589, Dadun Road, Nantun District, Taichung City (intersection of Gongyi Road and Dadun Road, paid parking available downstairs) • Hours: 10:00 AM–7:00 PM, closed Wednesdays; reservations recommended, with a one-hour and 45-minute visit. • Minimum Charge/Price: Minimum charge per person for one tea, starting at NT$400, plus a 10% service charge. Cash and credit cards accepted. • Transportation: Near Wenxin Forest Park MRT Station and Shui'an Temple MRT Station (within walking distance). • Surrounding Area: Stroll and take photos in Wenxin Forest Park, and visit Shui'an Temple (the MRT station of the same name is derived from the temple).  • Phone: 04-2320-3068.  ⸻ Background and a Brief History: From Tea Roasting Teaching to Contemporary Tea Ceremony The founding team began their business by roasting, selling, and teaching tea. They later established "Ran Ran Tea," a high-ceiling space near Dadun Road and Gongyi Road. They transform tea drinking into a master-guided experience, focusing on water quality, temperature, utensils, and the rhythm of brewing, allowing the flavors to "slowly unfold" from gentle to full-bodied. Media reports have highlighted their seasonal tea menus and their tea and wine pairings, highlighting their contemporary interpretations. In recent years, they have also collaborated with various brands and exhibitions on themed tea ceremonies (such as limited-time nighttime events), taking the "tea ceremony" beyond its traditional framework and integrating it into urban life. The brand has also introduced extended products such as cold brew and teaware, forming a complete tea universe. ⸻ Follow the photos: A cup of tea slows down time. Upon entering, the space is immediately greeted by cool gray walls, sharp cutouts, and a spherical chandelier, creating a clean and tranquil atmosphere. The bar is the heart of the space, where the tea sommelier weighs the tea leaves and brews them at controlled temperature right before your eyes, creating a sense of handcrafted craftsmanship. The long window table and its green-cushioned seats create a blank space, inviting you to naturally slow down your speech and breathing. We ordered two seasonal teas: a refreshing high mountain oolong with floral and fruity aromas, and a slightly higher roasted black tea with a lingering finish. The tea arrived with a clear, unblemished amber glow, perfectly warmed—not scalding but still allowing the aroma to reach the top of the nose. The accompanying pastries were crispy on the outside and smooth on the inside, with a subtly sweet touch, gently complementing the layers of the tea without overpowering it. This is why I love Ran Ran: every aspect of the service gives way to the tea. It's worth noting that Ran Ran is a reservation-only restaurant with a minimum order of one tea (starting at NT$400), and a seating duration of 1 hour and 45 minutes. The counter seating is perfect for first-time visitors, where the tea sommelier will explain the tea's flavors in simple terms and adjust the brewing rhythm to your taste. For a quiet chat, the long tables by the window offer a more relaxed atmosphere. The restaurant also reminds us that since the first-floor public area is shared with a neighboring clinic, please avoid taking photos when you're not in the company of others—a very considerate and appropriate approach. How to Order? For first-timers Ran Ran's tea menu changes seasonally, often beginning with a welcome tasting menu and progressing through a structure like light oolong, roasted oolong/Japanese sencha, and finally black tea/Darjeeling. If you'd like to explore a variety of flavors, ask the tea sommelier for seasonal recommendations, or focus on classics like the signature high mountain oolong, honey-scented black tea, and Japanese sencha. In previous reports on tea menus, media outlets have also shared Ran Ran's tea, dessert, and wine pairings. Those who enjoy experimenting with flavors should give them a try. ⸻ Transportation and Travel Tips • MRT: Wenxin Forest Park Station on the Green Line is within walking distance; Shui'an Temple Station (named after Shui'an Temple) is also accessible. These two locations offer a day trip combining tea, a stroll, and local religious culture. • Park Stroll: Wenxin Forest Park boasts vast grassy slopes, and the evening light and shadows are perfect for photos and picnics. • Local Culture: Shui'an Temple, located at No. 515, Section 1, Wenxin Road, is an important local temple and bears witness to the origin of the MRT station's name. Contrasting with Ran Ran's contemporary aesthetic, it creates an interesting urban combination. ⸻ Why I Recommend Ran Ran Tea (6 Points) 1. Professional and Friendly Tea Service: Instead of dogmatic explanations, they guide you based on your preferences. Officials clearly emphasize "attention to water quality and brewing details," and this meticulous attention to detail is evident on-site. 2. Clear experience design: Reservations are required, seating time is 1 hour and 45 minutes, and the minimum consumption starts at NT$400. The pace is just right, with no rush or rush. 3. Seasonal tea menu + flavor pairings: From the welcome to the finale, there's a well-organized flow, with occasional tea x wine or tea x dessert collaborations, creating memorable moments. 4. Spatial quality: The combination of concrete and warm lighting creates a vibrant bar atmosphere, while the window seats are comfortable and photo-friendly. 5. Convenient location: Near two Green Line stations, directly accessible by MRT; nearby parks and temples are also available for visiting. 6. Brand extension: Offering in-house cold brew and teaware, you can take your favorite flavor home and enjoy it forever.  ⸻ Store Information (For Collection) • ZEN ZEN THÉ Address: No. 589, Dadun Road, Nantun District, Taichung City Open: 10:00 AM–7:00 PM, Closed Wednesdays Tel: 04-2320-3068 Reservations/Notes: By appointment only. Minimum charge per person: one tea (starting at NT$400) + 10% service charge; 1 hour and 45 minutes; Paid parking available downstairs at B1.  ⸻ The highest level of tea drinking may not lie in the sheer number of jargon, but in returning life to its proper pace over a cup of tea. ZEN ZEN THÉ's expertise leaves complexity behind the bar, leaving purity in your hands. Next time you visit Wenxin Forest Park, consider spending the two hours before and after your stroll to enjoy a ZEN ZEN THÉ moment. 🙂 Check-in Locations • ZEN ZEN THE (No. 589, Dadun Road, Nantun District, Taichung City) • Wenxin Forest Park (Wenxin Forest Park MRT Station) • Shui'an Temple (No. 515, Section 1, Wenxin Road, Nantun District, Taichung City) ⸻ #RanRanTea #ZENZENTHE #Taichung #Nantun #WenxinForestPark #Shui'anTemple #TaichungTeahouse #ContemporaryTea #TaiwaneseTea #Teahouse #Taichung #TravelNotes #HiddenSpots #QualitySpace #TaichungMRTGreenLine