This post is dedicated to all you tea sommeliers out there. Like you, 702 ENT appreciates a good cup of tea every now and again, and with the blistering cold kicking in, what better activity to get yourself immersed in?
At the bar, on a stone slab, you can witness Lola Zhao heating six tiny terra cotta cups by pouring hot water into them. Later, she then rinses the delicate green tea leaves prior immersing them in a pumpkin-shaped teapot. Once they’ve been brewed for just 15 seconds in 180-degree water, Zhao pours the light green tea into the six cups, each just big enough to hold a couple of sips. Zhao then repeats this process with the same leaves, from a tea variety called Qinba Wuhao, as many as six times, with each infusion drawing out new flavors, colors and mouthfeel.
Then there’s the fantastic exhibition – known as a Gongfu tea service, –a familiar sight for visitors at the new Lucky Dragon casino’s lobby and Cha Garden, which is a 24/7 tea room. The method is more functional than ritualistic. The steps ensure guests will enjoy the tea’s optimal flavor accentuated with few flourishes.
Gongfu service will be continuous at Lucky Dragon, offering miniature cups of tea to visitors. Guests can also sit at Cha Garden, and have the luxury to choose a tea from the list of an astounding 50, and order it either in a pot or in Gongfu style. The complete Gongfu service lasts for 45 minutes.
The master tea list includes green, white, black, yellow, oolong and pu-erh varieties, all from mainland China or Taiwan.Established by beverage director Joe Muscaglione and Zhao, the tea sommelier-in-training, the Lucky Dragon’s tea program, is part of the new property’s immersive experience, one that begins with a reception from the doormen in Mandarin.
Hotel officials say that some teas such as the Qinba Wuhao green tea that Zhao prepared, aren’t served anywhere else in the U.S. Prices range from $10 to $58 for a pot, depending on the kind of tea. One pot serves about two people, and guests at Phoenix, Lucky Dragon’s fine dining restaurant, can also choose from the master tea list. Elsewhere, a list of eight teas is available, and three complimentary teas will circulate the casino floor.
Zhao and Muscaglione — both of whom could be considered tea sommeliers — source the teas and provide guests with education when they visit Cha Garden. Both enthusiasts have a high level of skill and knowledge, though a “tea sommelier” varies from the traditional tea master, which in China refers to someone who processes the tea.
As Lucky Dragon’s tea sommeliers, Muscaglione and Zhao school patrons about the extensive variety of teas and their sources, and suggest teas that may fit their preferences or introduce something new. The idea that certain varieties pair well with certain foods is an American one; in China, people primarily drink tea from their region. Nevertheless, Muscaglione says, teas can enhance certain foods.
“There’s actually some pairings that are wonderful together, which is why I’m an advocate for promoting it in this country even though it’s nonexistent in China,” Muscaglione says. “For example, something that’s maybe a fattier dish, you want something that’s maybe a little bitter to cut into some of that fat.”
Most of all, at Lucky Dragon’s Cha Garden, there’s something for both newbie tea drinker and connoisseur. Anyone from either China or the U.S. can find something new and unfamiliar to sample.
Although this activity is your typical Vegas excursion, it’s something different. Whether it’s a first date or night out with family or friends — you can go to Lucky Dragon for as low as $12, sit for 45 minutes or even an hour or two. So if you’re interested about getting educated about tea, and most importantly, want to drink something that’s actually healthy for you and simultaneously delicious, it’s worth considering making your next stop at Lucky Dragon!
To find out more about this activity, contact 702 ENT today. Our staff work tirelessly to provide you with a sterling Concierge Service.
