4U Tea House is a tea room with a soothing environment that serves beverages in the purest Chinese tradition. The owner, Ruiyuan Wang, grew up in Jiangsu Province in China and now shares his love and knowledge of Chinese tea with Montrealers. “It is a very traditional place. All tea leaves are imported from China and have been picked and dried in the traditional way to preserve their aromas as much as possible,” says Ruiyuan. “Machines and materials can ruin the taste of tea.”
From an early age, Ruiyuan developed a fascination for tea, in part because his uncle sold the precious commodity and had an encyclopaedic knowledge of it. The student has learned from the master by watching him perform the ritual with family and friends. “For me, drinking tea is natural and it is good for your health. When I feel tired or stressed, the boiling process and the infusion helps me feel better. Drinking tea calms me down,” he explains.