We enjoyed a fabulous dinner at Oriental Teahouse on the eve of their 20 year anniversary. The public can book a table for an epic Yum Cha 20th anniversary party coming up this week. Champagne Prawn, Kimchi Pork, Buckwheat Dumplings and Cheese and Bacon Spring Rolls will be some of the special yum cha dishes.
Two remarkable Yum Cha birthday parties were held at both their Melbourne CBD and South Yarra restaurants on Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th August respectively.
The events will encapsulate the typical Yum Cha experience that Oriental Teahouse diners have come to love and expect over the last two decades - more dishes than you can count, tea spilling, and sauces dripping.
The Yum Cha birthday party will see Oriental Teahouse reintroduce some throw-back favourites that haven’t been seen on their menu for years, including Lamb Cumin Dumplings (2015), Treasure Dumplings (2005), and Cheese and Bacon Spring Rolls (2018).
There are also new dishes on offer crafted solely for the occasion, including Roast Duck Dumpling salad, Buckwheat Vegetable Chilli Dumplings and Champagne Prawn Dumplings.
The venues have been a meeting place for Melbournians to celebrate personal milestones great and small, from a first-time Father’s Day to the same child’s sweet 16th. Now, the Teahouse family extends an invitation for a celebration of its own.
“We want to hold a beautiful and memorable evening for our wonderful regulars and those who have dined with us over the years and newcomers alike, making memories together with loved ones”, said restaurateur David Zhou, who began Oriental Teahouse with hopes of it being a century-long project of ongoing developments, just like the teahouses of Shanghai.
“I opened a small teashop in 1993. It was authentic and healthy. Today, Oriental Teahouse combines the benefits of tea with Yum Cha culture. In fact, we were one of the first to introduce Yum Cha and tea to Melbourne. Oriental Teahouse is colourful and modern, but remains authentic”, Zhou said.
In anticipation of the special yum cha party events we enjoyed a selection of yum cha dishes in our own celebration of Oriental Teahouse 20 year anniversary.
As Oriental Teahouse began life as a teashop, part of the celebrations will also include free tea tastings throughout the entire month of August with three of their signature teas: Refreshing Tea (wolfberry fruit and chrysanthemum), Calm & Concentration Tea (logan, green tea, mandarin peel, red dates, wolfberry fruit and chrysanthemum), and Relaxing Tea (Liquorice roots, wolfberry fruit, peppermint, red dates, ginseng). This Signature range was blended by David 28 years ago, after he dedicated much of his life and business to the healing properties of different teas.
Creating different blends that are as beneficial on the body as they are on tastebuds, as well as educating those around him about the philosophy of tea and its untapped benefits. “Tea tastes gentle. In order to taste it and enjoy the experience, you cannot be aggressive - you need to relax. It is enjoyable and calming in nature, the benefits are subtle but long-lasting”, David Zhou.
Here's to many more years of Oriental Teahouse!