Bartender gives teahouse a cool summertime twist

[Photo provided to China Daily]

The cart can be overwhelming - the second shelf has an equally broad array of "botanicals", the extra ingredients and flavors one might add to a gin and tonic. They range from fresh and dried fruits to rosemary, almond, vanilla and more aromatic goodies in delicate porcelain jars.

The Gin Garden Menu makes it easy on the left side, with a lengthy list of signature cocktails, including a lime-and-cherry blossom delight with sakura tonic. For the most adventurous, the right-hand page is a guide to making your own blends. Signature cocktails run 80 yuan ($12) each; DIY creations may run around 150, depending on which gin and which tonic you choose.

Want to learn more? The Gin Doctor is in - Balint's trolley appears in the teahouse every afternoon and rolls up to O'Bar in the evenings.

If you go

Yuan Teahouse at Nuo Hotel Beijing, A2 Jiangtai Road, Chaoyang district. 010-5926-8281.