Welcome to La Lune Teahouse
Berkeley’s newest late-night teahouse open for all. Our aim is to offer a social alternative space for the Bay Area centered around tea and herbal tisanes. We’re partnered with the Green Yogi in creating a closely juxtaposed teahouse and yoga studio with the goal of expanding a social community based on mindfulness, wellness, and care.
La Lune is organized as a 501c3 nonprofit and is run purely off of donations. Your monthly contributions are considered a donation and are tax deductible and easily trackable.
What is Gong Fu Cha?
When you arrive, you’ll notice the teas and teaware are largely of Chinese origin or influence, with herbs and other teas from around the world. La Lune is dedicated in part to sharing space and practice around the Gong Fu style of tea preparation, which has been practiced by the founder since 2009 and originated in China hundreds of years ago. It’s a brewing technique that invites a lot more attention to detail, uncovering layers of flavors through multiple steepings, and welcomes more focus and presence while brewing tea. Fortunately, it also provides an excellent context for sitting around with friends and strangers alike to enjoy a cup of tea together and savor a breadth of flavors and aromas.
How Does it Work?
La Lune is a teahouse that is set up with a community model in mind, meaning that in lieu of menus and servers, there are hosts to help orient you on how to use the space. Another element that makes it a community design is its membership model. You are welcome to offer a monthly payment to officialize your membership to the teahouse, or simply drop in with a one-time payment for a day pass where you are free to come and go as you please throughout that day.
On arrival, the hosts will greet you, and if it’s your first time they will take you through La Lune and help you settle in. There is a tea prep area with dozens of herbs and teas to choose from, acting as a miniature community apothecary. You are welcome to taste each tea/herb one at a time or get creative in blending your own mixes together.
Once you feel oriented to the space, you’re welcome to make your own pot of tea/herbs and set up to serve tea at an open table. Or, you may simply grab a cup and see if anyone else serving is interested in welcoming another person to drink at their table. Every table is communal, but never forcibly so. You’re certainly welcome to have a quiet moment with your tea and a book if you wish, or to have more personal time with your friend or group.
