I don’t know a great deal of good places in Chatswood so when Carrie and I were meeting up to discuss things, I let her choose. For whilst I have a long list of places I’d like to eat, there was a yawning gap as far as Chatswood was concerned. And despite my usual effort of coralling people into going places, I was pleasantly surprised when I let someone else choose where morning tea would be. Ten Ren Tea is on the busy Victoria Avenue in Chatswood and you would never know it but walking through the store and out to the courtyard is a tropical, lush, green oasis, right in the middle of crazy, busy Chatswood.
The menu is huge consisting of Iced Milk teas; cha (tea) with fruit, icees, Exotic Icees, Traditional teas, Border Infusions (ground black tea, rice and sesame) and Cha for healing as well as a page full of Vegetarian snacks and sweets.
I order one of the House Favourites, a sweet potato green milk tea with complementary additions. Yes it’s hot but I’m also persuaded to also order a Crushed Ice with Rose Oriental Beauty tea ($7.50). Carrie orders a green milk tea and a Green Tea crushed ice with 8 treasures ($7.50) . Looking around we see that it’s a haunt for students and there is even a special note on the menu that says “No card games allowed”
Sweet potato and green tea with QQ $7.50
The tea pot arrives on a tray with a small bowl of boiled sweet potato, some QQ (the delicious chewy small pearl sago balls) and the complementary additions is actually a single biscuit which is not exactly something I would have necessarily advertised. The tea is very milky and already sweet and incredibly, every sip tastes just like sweet potato. It’s addictive and I could see myself sitting back here and relaxing for hours tending to a pot of this and cradling a cup of sweet potato tea.
Green Milk Iced Tea with QQ
Carrie’s Green Milk Iced Tea isn’t bad, not particularly strong in green tea flavour but milky and icey cold.
Green Tea crushed ice with 8 treasures $7.50
Her Green Tea crushed ice with 8 treasures is a mountain of shaved ice, sweetened condensed milk and a variety of beans. Yes beans! If you’re familiar with asian desserts, you’ll be familiar with the concept of sweet beans and these are indeed very tasty. The whole thing needs to be eaten quickly though as it starts to melt and drip down the sides of the plate.
Curiously I wonder where my Crushed Ice has gone and apparently they’ve forgotten about it completely. Whilst I would have loved to have tried it, the pot of tea is actually quite filling so I am happy to let that pass. Maybe it’s because of how relaxed I’ve become in this tranquil setting.
P.S. As you may or may not know, I was selected to be a judge in the DMBLGIT January 2009 roundup and it was an honour to judge the entries. To check out the results, please see Zorra’s site here to see all of the deserving winners.
Ten Ren Tea
389 Victoria Avenue Chatswood NSW 2067
Tel: +61 (02)9884 7668
http://www.tenren.com.au/
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17 Comments | Add your own
I hope you weren’t charged for the Crushed Ice you ordered but didn’t get. When I am charged for an item I ordered but didn’t get served to me, I demand that the charge be removed.
Oh wow… That is like the NICEST Tea-Ren place I’ve EVER seen. I had no idea they were in Australia. I’ve only seen them here in Toronto, Canada… And they’ve never been so pretty!
Yay Taiwanese pride haha -__- Hmm I must admit there is not that many good places in Chatswood but mayb cos I have been there too many times? But I did hear there is another choc cafe in Chattie that I must try!
TenRen in Taiwan is much better than the one here tbh but the ones here are still pretty decent (better than EasyWay and lot less sugar)
I love 8 treasure crushed ice but they need to get a real ice shaver instead of using a blender?
how funny you posted this, i work in chatswood and one of the girls has been trying to get m eto go here for ages! i think i will now definately have to go! xx
Your photos skills are excellent! Last time I went there a couple of week ago it looked like a messy jungle (same as every other time)… but your pics make it looks so nice and relaxing!
Last time my green tea was only slightly cold… and my friend had the sweet potato milk tea… and the potatoes were sour…
Some very interesting and unusual teas. Definitely worth a look!
Hi Julia-No I wasn’t charged for the dessert. If it happens to me I just ask for it nicely to be removed.
Hi C-I didn’t realise there were so many here too but since going I’ve noticed others
I would’ve thought they’d all look similar but perhaps not!
Hi Ffichiban-Oh cool, I can’t wait to read about the chocolate cafe! Oh yes I’m surprised they use a blender, I mean an ice shaver isn’t so much is it?
Hi Sunny-Ahhh well I’d definitely recommend a visit if you’re in the mood to retreat from the hustle and bustle
Hi Charmaine-Hmmm maybe they trimmed it to make it look a bit neater
I actually thought that I didn’t quite show how nice the garden was but I was feeling lazy and just took the pics from where I was sitting 
Oh dear, the tea doesn’t sound like it was very good when you went!
Hi Cakelaw-there were, it made choosing really difficult!
Will have to drop by here next time I’m in Chatswood
Ahh I was here the other night but haven’t gotten around to the post yet. We also missed out on the back garden as their tables only seat four. It looks very tranquil. I remember being intrigued by the sweet potato tea – I’ll have to try that next time!
That menu looks so appetizing!Beautiful pictures again, Lorraine
what a terrific menu! my decisions would come a lot easier if i had pictures of my choices in every restaurant!
Such a beautiful spot, and glorious teas! I love the idea of sweet potato tea…
The exact same store (the main one) is situated in Chinatown on George St. Next to World Square.
Hi cappucino-Yes do! And let me know what you think of it
Hi Helen-Ahh what a pity, the back is really nice (if it’s not too hot that is). I felt like I was in Thailand or Bali there!
Hi yaelin-Thankyou so much! I would love to go back and try more
Hi grace-haha yes I wish that all restaurants did that! I’m constantly craning my neck to see the dishes as they come past me
Hi Astra Libris-It was surprisingly nice and relaxing there with the pot of tea
Hi Livein-Yes I’ve driven past it there.
I often walk past this place but have never gone inside.
There are some great places in Chatswood to eat.
There’s a pho noodle restaurant inthe Lemon Grove center.
This reataurant is always packed best to arrive either before 12pm or after 2pm.The food here is simple delicious & cheap.I recommend the vermicelli & lemongrass chicken Salad & the crispy chicken is so moist.
I’ve walked past this store many times, have admired the tea pot and cup collection in the window, but have never been inside. Good to know what the things they serve look like.
Hi Anna-I’ve heard about the Pho place so I’ll look out for it as my husband loves Pho-might be good to go to for Winter! Thanks for the recs
Hi Y-yeah apparently they also do tea ceremony type of things too
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