5Miyahara
Central Dist. · Desserts & shaved ice
San Shi Tea House
Local favoriteTakeaway
VerdictThick handmade almond tea in a wooden colonial-era house
A tea house in a Japanese-era wooden house in a lane on the edge of the Yizhong area, specializing in handmade almond tea and almond tofu. The almond tea is cooked from southern apricot kernels with rice milk, thick with a light rice aroma; add a cruller and it's a meal.
Photos on Instagram
Review
San Shi Tea House is at No. 11, Lane 107, Taiping Road in North District, in a quiet lane on the edge of the Yizhong shopping area. The owners restored a two-story wooden house from the Japanese colonial era into a small teahouse, keeping its green exterior and original wooden staircase and mixing old furniture with modern touches; it looks especially atmospheric when lit at night. Writer Liu Ka-shiang has written about it and says he often meets friends here, and Supertaste lists it both as a photogenic old-house shop and as a locals' souvenir pick.
The specialties are handmade almond tea and almond tofu. Reports explain that southern apricot kernels are boiled and strained, then simmered with rice milk, giving a thick, creamy drink with a gentle rice aroma that reminds many of childhood. It is best with a crisp fried dough stick, and one article notes that almond tea plus a dough stick, about NT$100, makes a meal. Another report mentions a peanut almond tea with dough stick that is fragrant and warming. A 2020 report also lists almond soft-serve and almond jelly among the brand's items.
Reviews mostly praise the relaxed atmosphere, the photogenic house and the old-fashioned taste of the almond tea, and the writer describes spending afternoons here as very restful. The main letdown is space: the ground floor has only around ten seats, and to save energy the small upstairs attic opens only when it is busy; it was closed on the writer's visit. Most material found comes from media and writers, with few specific complaints from ordinary diners.
No source lists individual prices, so go by the menu on site. Sources disagree on hours: earlier reports give 13:00 on weekdays and 12:00 on holidays until 21:30, while recent information gives 11:00 to 18:30 with Thursdays off, so check before you go. Most customers take their order away. A 2020 report mentioned three San Shi locations in Taichung, including a department store counter and a sister shop near the Shen Ji New Village; confirm whether they are still open.
It suits anyone who wants to linger over a warm bowl of almond tea in an old house, or find a quiet corner while exploring the Yizhong area. On a first visit, order almond tea with a dough stick; if you are short on time, take it away, and the almond tofu is worth a try too.
Why go
- A restored colonial-era wooden house, loveliest lit at night
- Thick almond tea with a rice aroma, best with a dough stick
- Almond tea plus dough stick is about NT$100, enough for a meal
- Around ten seats downstairs; the attic opens only when busy
- Most people take away, handy if you are in a hurry
- Hours vary between sources, so check before going
What people say
Liked
- Relaxed old-house atmosphere that photographs well
- Thick almond tea with a rice aroma that tastes of childhood
- With a dough stick it makes an affordable meal
Complaints
- Few seats, and the upstairs is often closed
- Opening hours are inconsistent across sources
Summarized from the common views of bloggers, media and diners; not direct quotes.
Videos
Location
台中市北區太平路107巷11號Directions ↗
Sources
This page is compiled from the articles below and rewritten in our own words. Hours and prices change, so check before you go.
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