In today’s age of technology and convenience, one may find it difficult to switch to a mindset that prioritizes slow living and savors small moments. Within a world that constantly moves faster and faster and consumes quicker and quicker, is perhaps a hunger for something different, something more. Enter Steep LA – a modern oasis tucked into the heart of Chinatown LA that dares visitors to take a pause and to live in the moment.
Self-described as a modern tea room, bar and eatery, Steep LA was founded by Lydia Lin and Sam Wang as an antithesis to today’s fast-paced society. The duo hailing from Chinese and Taiwanese backgrounds respectively, have reimagined the traditional Chinese tea ceremony for a contemporary audience. Whether it be through Steep After Dark – the tea room’s evening calendar of tea-inspired cocktails and mocktails – or through its Chinese R&B music programming throughout the week, Steep is centered around a celebration of culture.
Having come from immigrant backgrounds themselves, Lydia and Sam understand the importance of community within the Asian American body. Taking their own personal experiences in the States, both founders have poured their hearts and souls into building Steep into a haven for not only a mindful appreciation of traditional Chinese tea, but also the nuances of Chinese culture at large.
We recently sat down with Lydia Lin to chat about the philosophy behind Steep LA and what makes the traditional Chinese tea ceremony so unique. We learned about the different categories of traditional Chinese tea, how Steep celebrates “slow drinking culture,” and how this Chinatown establishment was able to build a community around tea. Read on to discover more about Lydia’s journey and how the simple act of sharing tea has inspired an entire movement to slow down and rediscover the beauty of now.
LANG: Steep is inspired by the traditional Chinese tea ceremony. Can you tell us a bit more about this method of tea preparation and what makes this way of tea consumption unique?
Lydia Lin: A traditional Chinese tea ceremony can be as formal as an important virtue in a wedding or as casual as a family dinner at Moon Festival. It has tools from a teapot, a fairness cup, and several tea cups. The unique part of tea consumption is the sharing – sharing the process of making tea and sharing the tea with your loved ones while engaging in a conversation.
LANG: For someone who may be unfamiliar with traditional Chinese teas, what are the flavor profiles? And how can they select which variety is most suitable for them?
LL: There are six major categories of traditional Chinese teas: white, green, oolong, yellow, red (black), and pu’er. Green tea is the most popular globally. It is light and refreshing. Oolong has the biggest variety from lightly oxidized to heavily roasted. Pu’er on the other hand has a very different taste profile than the other two that we mentioned earlier. It is earthier and sometimes with a slight acidity.
There is no such thing as “the most suitable” tea, but it is just what you like to drink. Even with the same tea, different ways of steeping can turn out tasting different. One must try the tea to realize what is the preferred tea.
LANG: Steep is all about slow living and taking a pause. Why was this mentality important for you and Sam to integrate into the ethos of Steep?
LL: LA is such a fast paced society. We often grab a coffee on the go or snip a sandwich as lunch. Steep is this modern oasis where people can slow down and actually get together to have a conversation, to relax while sipping a cup of tea or enjoying a traditional tea ceremony. Even with the night program, Steep After Dark, we want to introduce the slow drinking culture such as crafted tea cocktails and mocktails. Slow drinking can also be enjoyable and fun.
LANG: Community is a big part of Steep. For you, what is the most important part of building this community and how Steep has been able to foster this successfully?
LL: I think the most important part of a community is what brings the community together and awareness of the community. We can always throw a party, but throwing a party is not necessary to bring a community together. Bringing the community together is about how “through sharing, we connect; through connecting, we form a community.” From tea, we share our knowledge and passion about tea to our customers. From all the events we host, we invite anyone to join and demonstrate all the talents we Asian Americans have.
LANG: As Asian Americans, how do you and Sam continue to integrate your Chinese and Taiwanese backgrounds into Steep (and also into life beyond the business) and celebrate both cultures in an authentic way?
LL: We play Chinese R&B on certain days of the week to introduce Chinese pop cultures to our customers. We also have Chinese and Taiwanese dishes on our day and night menus with a little bit of Steep twist to make them more “Lydia” or “Sam.” We also incorporate Chinese ingredients in our tea cocktails and mocktails for the night programs. We try to incorporate tea and Chinese culture [in whatever] way we can at Steep.
LANG: Can you tell us a bit more about Steep After Dark and what newcomers can expect from the cocktails? How is tea celebrated through these drinks?
LL: Steep After Dark is a bar concept that we adopted from Asia’s [well-known saying] “Morning Tea, Night Alcohol” in the same space and sharing the same mission. Tea is infused in liquor or as an ingredient to all our drinks at night. Most of our drinks are lighter in flavor but bold in idea. They are drinks that you can sip on and carry a conversation. A relaxed hangout time at either a tea room in the day time or a tea bar at night.
LANG: What makes someone LANG / beautiful?
LL: Self-confidence. If you believe you are lang, you are lang. Regardless of the outfit, hairstyle, or makeup, we should always tell ourselves we are lang.
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