Young people increasingly find that tradition is their cup of tea

Over 200 participants have taken part in this tea scenting course, which costs 89 yuan ($12) each. Wu Xuefeng, 44, attended a class on crafting osmanthus oolong tea last year. Guided by the instructor, she made the tea by herself and brought it home in a container.

"Usually, tea in teahouses is pre-prepared. Crafting a floral tea myself felt novel," Wu says.

The teacher simplified the process, making it easy to follow along. Wu says that she gained a clearer understanding of the tea's flavors through the process.

"The whole experience was relaxing and enjoyable. It helped ease my mood," she says.

Sun notices that with more sugar-free tea beverages introduced by tea brands in recent years, the taste of tea itself is gradually being embraced by young consumers. She hopes tea will become a part of everyone's daily life, with various ways to enjoy it, such as cold brewing in the summer.

In addition to the drink, Theatre Tea's tea-flavored cakes and desserts are also popular.

Chinese tea is increasingly becoming an inspiration for pastry chefs. Hao Jia, the executive sous-chef at China World Summit Wing, Beijing and her team recently introduced a spring-themed tea snack set.

One standout creation involves incorporating Longjing tea, picked before the Qingming Festival, fourth or fifth day of the fourth lunar month on the Chinese calendar, into traditional Italian panna cotta, enhancing it with a fresher, less sweet flavor.

The appearance of the dessert is inspired by the landscapes of Jiangnan (the region south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River), featuring layered colors of dark and light greens like a micro version of the mountains.

Hao, 39, keeps up with dining trends on social media platforms like Xiaohongshu, and she has noticed a rising interest in tea shops and unique tea-related offerings with more and more posts about these topics.

Starting last year, Hao and her team began infusing Chinese cuisine elements into their offerings.

"We've added tea flavors into our desserts, which makes them less sweet than typical Western desserts to cater to the local palate," Hao says.

This approach has resonated well with their clientele. "Our customers enjoy these new-style Chinese desserts, and many female customers recommend this afternoon tea set to their friends," she adds.