Have you been upstairs at Rota do Chá in Porto? Like the tea house’s back garden, the upper tea rooms are very zen. This is where I did the interview part of my introduction to the tea house for Air Transat. When I set up the filming I spoke to the owner, Miguel, who also has a furniture shop. He’s been collecting things in his world travels and those collections decorate the rooms and create the ambiance. Bits and pieces from different eras, continents, and traditions make for eclectic yet relaxed surroundings. I hadn’t discovered these upstairs tea rooms until I scouted them for filming (I always headed directly to the garden) but now that I know they exist, I predict they will be my new winter hangout.
If you’re wondering about tea’s relevance in a country of die-hard coffee drinkers, here are some interesting factoids: the Chinese introduced tea to expat Portuguese who were living in China in the 16th century, and then in the 17th century tea-drinking was popularized in Britain by a Portuguese monarch, Catherine of Braganza who was married to Charles II. While the Portuguese may not be known for tea, they certainly played an early role in creating a global demand for it.
As I mentioned in the video, Rota do Chá really does have a 40+ page tea menu… it’s impressive! You’ll find me at Rota da Chá in the Air Transat video starting here.
June 9, 2015
Album: Portugal [Spring 2015]
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