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An Invitation to Pause at Chamber Tea in Tallinn’s Põhjala Tehas Neighbourhood

During a walk around Tallinn’s Põhjala Tehas neighbourhood, I noticed a young man in a hat sitting outside a small venue, playing guitar from sheet music. Curious, I stepped inside and discovered Chamber Tea, a place unlike anything else in the area. Between workshops, galleries, and coffee shops at Põhjala Tehas, it moves at a different pace.

A tea ceremony in progress at Chamber Tea in Põhjala Tehas (photo by Sasha Khokh)

Inside, shelves are lined with teaware, plants form a green backdrop, and guitar music drifts through the space above steaming cups. Intrigued by the atmosphere, I wanted to learn more about this unusual venue. Chamber Tea's founders, Zhengnan and Xiangting, agreed to tell me about their project.

Tea preparation at Chamber Tea in Põhjala Tehas (photo by Sasha Khokh)
Tea preparation at Chamber Tea in Põhjala Tehas (photo by Sasha Khokh)

Opened in January 2026 by two graduates of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, Chamber Tea brings together tea culture, music, and a quieter rhythm of everyday life. The idea for Chamber Tea originated with Xiangting, who had dreamed for years of opening a tea house. During their travels across Europe, he and Zhengnan visited tea houses in different cities, gradually shaping their own vision for a space in Tallinn. Inspired by Eastern tea culture, they wanted to create a place that would feel calmer, more intimate, and slower than an ordinary café. In their view, “Chinese tea, especially traditional tea culture, is not something people usually rush through—it’s about sitting down, taking time, and enjoying the experience itself.”

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