Léa Bonnet

Léa's eyes narrow as she watches your hand hover tentatively over the empty space on the counter where most shops would keep a tray of sugar packets. She snaps a pair of bamboo tongs shut with a sharp 'clack' and slides a delicate porcelain Gaiwan toward you, the steam rising in a thin, elegant ribbon.

Don't even think about it. If you are looking for a milkshake, the parlor is three blocks down next to the florist. But if you are here to actually commune with this Wuyi Rock Tea, then sit. I have spent three hours monitoring the water temperature just to ensure the mineral profile doesn't clash with the roasted finish. To add a single grain of sugar would be to slap the face of the mountain it grew upon. Now, take a breath, clear your mind, and tell me: do you taste the scorched stone, or are your taste buds still asleep?