Chagee Tea Bar: Reviving Chinese Tea Culture in Shanghai
In the bustling heart of Metro City, Shanghai, Chagee Tea Bar emerges as a modern ode to China’s ancient tea culture. Designed by Still Young, this contemporary space reinvents traditional tea-drinking experiences, intertwining it seamlessly with today’s youthful, urban lifestyles.
As the lines blur between coffee and tea markets, Chagee’s fresh concept establishes an inviting, avant-garde arena in the realm of oriental tea.
About Chagee Tea Bar
The Resurgence of Tea Culture in China’s Youth
Tea drinking in China isn’t just tradition—it’s a growing trend among the young. Traditional teahouses and modern tea shops are vying for attention, intertwining with daily routines. With the tea and coffee markets merging, how can brands charm young consumers and instill an appreciation for oriental tea?
Enter CHAGEE. Their “Tea Bar” concept, in partnership with STILL YOUNG, graces two prime Shanghai locales: Global Harbor and Metro City.
CHAGEE’s Vision: Modernizing Tea Culture
Originating from the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, the cradle of tea trees, CHAGEE seeks to rejuvenate Chinese tea. In just six years, CHAGEE’s influence spread from Kunming to international shores with over 2,000 stores. Their mission? Craft a modern tea experience.
Regarding their Shanghai stores, CHAGEE representatives shared, “Everything—from design to product range—reflects the contemporary youth’s tea culture.”
Global Harbor, an iconic mall in Putuo District, holds sway over local businesses. Conversely, Metro City dictates Xujiahui’s fashion pulse. CHAGEE’s strategy? Launch groundbreaking flagship stores in both.
Distinctive layouts mark each store. Global Harbor boasts a sprawling tea space with a central island seating, segmented into premium tea-making, dine-in, takeaway, and tea-tasting zones. Metro City, however, reshapes the mall’s exterior, marrying indoor facilities with outdoor relaxation areas. Folding windows in both venues blur indoor-outdoor boundaries, enhancing spatial openness.
A Palette Inspired by Tea’s Rich Hues
When plotting the color scheme, gold, wood, water, fire, and earth inspired the team—hallmarks of age-old tea culture. They incorporated the Silk Road and the ancient Tea Horse Road, finding further muse in the movie “Dune”. The final touch? The characteristic tea color. Light golden tea, pristine white milk, and a desert feel combine, crafting a signature brand ambiance.
“The tea color is emblematic,” states STILL YOUNG’s founder. “We envision a universal appreciation for the color in tea spaces.” This hue connects the space, brand culture, and products.
White tea colors adorn walls, ceilings, and counters, paired with a gentle matte texture. The bar showcases black tea tones, its metallic shimmer captivating onlookers. This dual-tone design presents a cohesive visual narrative.
Echoes of Ancient Trade Routes in Modern Design
China’s tea culture, dating back millennia, boasts tales of Shennong, Lu Yu, and the renowned Tea Horse and Silk Roads. These narratives inspire CHAGEE’s design ethos. The team integrated Tang dynasty art and Silk Road motifs into installations, producing striking visual anchors. A glaze-infused installation, reminiscent of the brand’s “C” logo, merges pottery and porcelain, evoking historical gravitas. Meanwhile, a wall painting of the Silk Road signifies East-West interplay, enhanced by a sand-blown effect for dramatic flair.
Inside, Dunhuang’s grottoes inspire. Unified color schemes cover walls and ceilings. Minimalistic structures elicit tunnel-like compactness. A myriad of seating options cater to diverse needs, from socializing to working. Wood, bamboo, and rattan interplay with ample greenery, cultivating a tranquil atmosphere. Window-side bar seating even accommodates plugged-in patrons.
Tea Bars: Celebrating Barista-Customer Connection
“Tea Bar” spaces resemble traditional teamaking workshops. An 8-meter-long (26 feet) bar hosts bespoke devices. The area’s flow ensures swift “order, brew, pickup” transitions, prioritizing barista efficacy and customer experience.
“We design with CHAGEE’s ethos in mind,” says STILL YOUNG’s founder. “It’s about updating barista-consumer interactions and creating a novel tea beverage space.”
A deliberately simple bar design spotlights products and baristas. The counter becomes a stage, letting customers witness each tea-making phase. New devices streamline traditional teamaking. This efficiency, combined with bronze stainless-steel finishings, exudes contemporary tea sophistication. Dark bronze teapots on a back wall and a continuous warm light strip unify the ambiance.
In partnership with the design team, CHAGEE’s Shanghai Tea Bars symbolize a renewed journey. Both parties vow to refine store designs based on feedback, ensuring evolving consumer engagements.
Photography by Yuuuun Studio
- by Matt Watts
