Yswara Tea Room is a chic respite from the bustle of Joburg central, with Instagram-worthy decor and delicious tea for a perfect afternoon out.
For thousands of years, Asian culture has emphasised the art of tea drinking. The Japanese tea ceremony is counted as one of the three classical Japanese arts of refinement and an integral part of everyday life. Sitting in the glittering Yswara Tea Room in the heart of Maboneng, it’s easy to see why.
Surrounded by the soft pink and rose gold hues in this Moroccan-style room, taking in the enveloping smells of freshly brewed creations and listening to the quiet hustle and bustle of the city around you, you’ll soon start to realise that a visit to Yswara is about far more than just drinking tea.
If you’ve made the pilgrimage to Maboneng, you’ll be familiar with The Cosmopolitan: a revamped heritage building that was once an Edwardian hotel and which is now home to gems like The Cosmopolitan Bar, Hazard Gallery and, of course, Yswara Tea Room. If anyone knows about tea, it’s Yswara. Launched in 2012, the brand was created as a way to reverse the so-called African commodity trap by creating a socially responsible brand that processes African raw commodities locally into high-value products that are distributed globally. The result? A luxury tea brand that is internationally renowned for producing a variety of proudly African teas that contend with top brews from all over the world.
The tearoom itself speaks perfectly to the luxury essence of the brand. Guests are greeted in soft tones and invited to take a walk (or rather, a sniff) around the tearoom, where the 29 different varieties of tea leaves are available for customers to smell before making their decision. From soft fruity scents to heavy liquorice, warm caramels and muted florals, there’s a tea for every taste. Once you’ve decided what you’ll be having, a fresh pot is brewed for you to enjoy. Whether you choose to experience your tea inside in the Zen-like interior, or outside in the lush green garden, afternoon tea at Yswara is an experience like no other.
Experience for yourself:
- Yswara Tea Room | 010 005 5111 | yswara.com
This article originally appeared in Neighbourhood, Sunday Times.
