In Chinese culture, six is a lucky number. Translated as liù in Mandarin, resembling the Chinese word for flow, six is elevated to represent smoothness, good fortune and events unfolding with ease. This is why Saranya and Zach Hubbard chose January 6th as the grand opening for their newest endeavor Tian Tea House (911 E. Fifth St., KCMO).
Think of the tea house as a pressure-release valve for the hustle and bustle of life. “I want people to come in, sit down, relax and then go,” Saranya says. “This is a calm and cozy environment.”
Saranya, who has been a presence around the metro with Moon Bar, her Japanese-inspired pop-up bar, achieves Tian’s serene setting through a curated collection of Chinese decor. Hues of Jade and warm woods are seen throughout, and the calming aromas of the shop’s teas are sure to calm your nerves.
Featuring Thai and Chinese teas, Tian’s menu is a mirror of Saranya’s upbringing. “I am a third generation Thai Chinese,” she says. “My grandparents on both sides moved to Thailand from China. I also grew up in Chinatown in Bangkok, so it’s easy for me to work with the tea farmers in China myself.”
On the food side, there’s an assortment of small bites like tea jelly, black sesame cookies and a newly introduced Cantonese milk pudding. Saranya has been collaborating with local chefs to create unique dishes, too. A recent menu addition is a spiced pork chop sandwich created by chef James Chang.
The Thai tea with condensed milk and black sesame cream is a nutty semi-sweet house blend. Tian’s tea jelly pairs well with pretty much everything, as it has a fresh, herbal taste and a stiff consistency best described as “if jello lifted weights.”
The Hubbards have big plans for the future. They plan to use the space in various ways, eventually offering tea classes and tableside tea service and turning the venue into a bar at night.
At Tian Tea House, everything moves with intention, from the pour of the tea to the pace of the room. Consider it a lucky pause in the middle of a busy day.
