Teatulia: Tea shop and cocktail bar launches in Covent Garden

Teatulia opened this week at 36 Neal Street, Covent Garden and it is said to be the first tea shop and cocktail bar in London to have complete ownership of its provenance.

By day Teatulia will serve six teas for consumption at home or on site, while in the evenings it will also serve tea-based cocktails from a menu designed by Enrico Gonzato, from Dandelyan at the Mondrian Hotel.

Teatulia has what it calls the 'living bookshelf', a selection of books on offer to customers which is curated by notable writers, actors, musicians and filmmakers on a monthly basis. The first bookshelf has been curated by British actress Tilda Swinton, whose idea it was.

Swinton said: “Reading and tea leaves go together like breathing in and breathing out. Go slow. Take time to brew yourself some harmony. Separate the signal from the noise.”

Every leaf used in the bar is hand-picked in Tetulia, northern Bangladesh, a tea-growing region lying between the better known Indian regions of Assam and Darjeeling.

Gonzato’s drinks list for Teatulia will combine these teas from Tetulia within a cocktail offering.

Cocktails (£10):  

  • Builder's Bourbon Black Tea, Blackberries, Sugar, Fresh Mint, Bourbon.
  • Lemongrass Mojito Lemongrass Tea, Fresh Mint, Fresh Lime, Rum, Light Brown Sugar, Club Soda.
  • Chai Hot-Buttered Rum Chai Tea, Dark Brown Sugar, Butter, Honey, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Spiced Rum.

Mocktails (£6):

  • Green Tea Ginger Cooler Green Tea, Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup.  
  • Chai Spiced Hot Toddy Chai Tea, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Honey, Fresh Lemon, Fresh Ginger, Fresh Orange.