Ming Pavilion, the Hokkien dining destination at Island Shangri-La, is expanding its culinary offerings this month with the introduction of CRAF-TEA, a monthly Chinese tea masterclass series curated and led by resident tea master Tiffany Chan. The immersive program begins on 10 May 2025, coinciding with International Tea Day, and is designed to offer participants hands-on training in tea appreciation, brewing techniques, and food pairing.
Each 90-minute session will be held in Ming Pavilion’s garden-themed dining room and features a curated exploration of one tea type per month, along with a historical and cultural overview. Participants will receive practical instruction on brewing methods, taste a variety of featured teas, and experience food pairings specially prepared by Ming Pavilion’s Chef Jack Lam Yeung.
The series opens with a focus on Green Tea, spotlighting three varieties: Ming Qian Longjing Tea (頭採明前龍井), Taiping Hou Kui (太平猴魁), and Gardenia Green (梔子仙露). The Ming Qian Longjing, known for being harvested before the Qingming Festival in April, is regarded as one of the most prized early spring teas in Chinese tea culture and takes center stage in the May session.
Future sessions will explore other major tea categories in the Chinese tradition, including White Tea (14 June), Dancong Oolong Tea (12 July), Wuyi Rock Tea (9 August), Taiwan Oolong Tea (13 September), Black Tea (11 October), Raw Puer Tea (8 November), and Ripe Puer Tea (13 December).
Participants will also delve into the role of terroir, processing methods such as withering, rolling, oxidation, drying, and fermentation, and how these influence the flavor and character of the teas. Each class concludes with a tasting session and a take-home package, which includes a certificate, featured teas, and tea ware.
Tiffany Chan, who leads the sessions, is a recognized expert in the field, having earned the title of Chinese Tea Culture Promotion Ambassador at the 2021 MingXing Tea Specialists Competition in Guangdong Province. At Ming Pavilion, she is known for her curated seasonal tea pairings and commitment to showcasing rare and high-quality teas sourced directly from plantations.
The CRAF-TEA masterclass series is priced at HK$1,088 per person, per session, and is available by advance reservation.
