Helsinki, Finland

Teemaa

The Nordics • Eat & drink • Teemaa in Helsinki, Finland

What’s the café in a nutshell?

Tea lovers, take note. With Finland consuming the most coffee in the world per capita, it is only right that lovers of tea are given a small haven where they can sip in peace. After finishing their academic studies in Helsinki in the early 2010s, Peng Luo and Xinyuan Sui decided to make the city their home. The Teemaa tea house and shop is a way to share their passion. In their quest to create a contemporary tea culture in the Nordics, the duo regularly arrange tea tastings and workshops at the Annancato space, which was designed by Yatofu Creatives.

What are the signature dishes?

Obviously, it is all about the tea at Teemaa and the theme continues throughout everything that is served. There are Matcha Madeleines, Earl Grey and Hoijicha cookies, Matcha rolls with adzuki bean paste and Teemaa’s own interpretation of the Basque burnt cheesecake flavoured with – you guessed it – Matcha.

Drinks, anyone?

Both Luo and Sui are trained in the art of tea-making – Luo received her tea education in Changsha Art of Tea School in 2012 and Sui received her tea education in Zhengzhou Art of Tea School in 2014. With countless tea varieties, they brew each kind through the optimal method. For many teas, this means the Chinese Gongfu brewing style, where a small amount of water is brewed with a relatively large amount of leaves. Japanese brewing techniques are also used – Gyokuro green tea is made in a susuricha-style with a small amount of warm water, and for Matcha, they make a nice dense foam.

What’s the neighbourhood like?

The hip downtown Kamppi district was named after the Swedish word ‘kampen’ – the battle – and refers to the military training field in the area. The area showcased some of the oldest wooden buildings in the entire city. The eastern side of the district includes, among other sights, the Amos Rex Museum, Kamppi Mall, the Tennispalatsi building, the Narinkkatori Market and the Tavastia Club. The western side, on the other hand, has the Alexander Theatre and the Hietalahti Square, known for its flea market and for its market hall, which nowadays houses many small restaurants.