Finding Peace and Energy with Wai’s Gong Fu Tea HouseFinding Peace and Energy with Wai’s Gong Fu Tea House

Tucked just off the Atlanta Beltline’s Northwest Trail, Wai’s Gong Fu Tea House offers guests the opportunity to quiet their minds and recharge. Couple Wayne and Amy first had the idea to serve tea as an added wellness offering to their already established Kung Fu business. Utilizing her experience growing up in the Huang Shan region of China, Amy’s unique tea service experiences slowly grew in popularity thanks to word of mouth and referrals.  

Wayne elaborated that “Folks would say things like, ‘My husband is into coffee, and I would like him to be into tea. Can I bring him to try this?’ It just grew roots in the community, and the next thing you know, we have a full-fledged tea house.” 

The Culture and Heritage of Gong Fu Tea

Located just next door to Wai’s Kung Fu, Wai’s Gong Fu Tea House offers guests an intimate experience to drink tea harvested directly from the mountainsides of China. Amy and Wayne’s close ties with the farmers who pick the tea leaves allow them to share the stories with each guest they served. “We don’t pick up tea randomly,” said Amy. “We choose a certain tea from the farmers that we know, and we know which mountain they picked the leaves from, so we also know the quality.” 

Amy likens the tea service to meditation or yoga practices; it serves as a one-hour time of focusing on one thing: tea. “Tea is packed with health benefits,” added Wayne. “You get a unique feeling of calm and focus while getting just enough caffeine to give you focus and clear away any brain fog.” 

The tea house offers different experiences for guests to enjoy. Their typical bookings are created through groups of up to 10 people who are led through a one-hour meditative tea drinking experience. Amy and Wayne also offer free tea tastings on Monday evenings to introduce people to the Gong Fu tea experience that has made the tea house so popular. Limited to 25 people, the tastings are often filled with new guests curious about Chinese tea and for those looking for a new community. 

Calling Atlanta Home

Wayne and Amy’s approach to community building instills a connection spanning across continents with Atlanta at the heart of it. The city became Wayne’s home after moving south from Canada to help support his growing wellness clients between New York and Florida. Amy, on the other hand, found herself in Georgia for one reason. “I came here because I loved him so much, so I gave up my life in China to move to America.” 

Since the pair both live and work near the Beltline, they can often be found on it after closing time. As a self-described homebody, Amy uses the Beltline as a convenient and safe way to enjoy family time. “Since we are on the Beltline, we can ride a bike or play out there with the kids for hours without worrying about the cars being so close. They love it and we feel safe on there.” 

Wai's Gong Fu Tea House showcases how culture can be shared through everyday experiences. Thanks to carefully sourced tea and an emphasis on connection, Amy and Wayne have built a space where guests can experience a centuries-old tradition while finding a moment of calm in the bustling heart of the Atlanta Beltline.