If you were to travel back to ancient China, you’d find a whole different way of drinking tea.

Long ago, Chinese people cooked tea in soups. Some 1,800 years ago, they boiled tea with ginger and orange peel as a hangover remedy, and 1,200 years ago, they ground leaves into powders and boiled tea with salt.

While the primary way to enjoy tea has changed, there are plenty of locations in Hangzhou to enjoy a variety of teas as well as many kinds of snacks.

For that, we have to thank the Chinese who, some 600 years ago, began to make tea as we know it today by infusing hot water into tea leaves, dried or fresh.

The teahouse was already established in China dating back to the 7th century. In their earliest form, there were self-help tea booths where people could drop in a copper coin and take a bowl of salty tea, which appeared during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907).

Tea snacks began as a habit of the wealthy. While afternoon tea originated among the upper class in England in the late 19th century, Chinese people made tea snacks long before that.

Tea snacks of the Tang Dynasty included wonton, pancakes, zongzi (dumplings made of glutinous rice stuffed with fillings), steamed bamboo shoots, fried chicken or deer meat coated in rice powder, and roasted mutton.

In Fujian and Guangdong provinces, people had tea and tea snacks for breakfast, including delicate cakes and pastries that could be sweet or salty, preserved fruits, nuts and jerky.

In north China, where people liked to tea while listening to pingshu (a storytelling performance), melon seeds and peanuts were first choices.

Hangzhou, then called Lin’an, which used to be the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), had abundant teahouses in old times since it was traditionally the origin of the top green tea, Longjing tea.

The book “Meng Liang Lu,” which detailed social life in Lin’an, written in 1274 by Wu Zimu, records that there were several large teahouses in the city, decorated with famous artists’ paintings and fresh flowers, that even had house bands.

Different from the “tea and cake” of English tradition, the majority of tea snacks in the Yangtze River Delta are salty, such as crispy salty cakes, small steamed buns and wonton. In Hangzhou, dried bamboo shoots and hickory nuts are common on the tea table.

While Hangzhou’s tea hasn’t changed much, its tea snacks have varied with the influence of Cantonese, Sichuan and Western cuisines, so spicy snacks, sweet cakes and delicate dim sum (bite-sized Cantonese food) also are seen at modern teahouses.

Shanghai Daily takes a look at four of the largest teahouses in the city’s scenic area where people can take an afternoon tea, or even a meal, and lists six star hotels’ afternoon tea sets.

Lakeside Tea House

The teahouse standing at the bank of West Lake features a great view of West Lake, and offers tea produced by the company. The minimum price is 180 yuan for a person, including tea and tea snacks, but there is a time limit of five hours.

Address: No. 1, Shengtang Scenic Area

Hours: 9:30am-12am

Tel: (0571) 8702-1618

Tao Tao Tea House

The old teahouse’s buffet includes abundant hot dishes and tea snacks. Everybody gets a bowl of wonton, and waitresses deliver ice cream or BBQ kebab from time to time. Minimum price is 88 yuan per person.

Address: No. 248-250, Siyanjing, Hupao Rd

Buffet hours: 9:30am-4pm, 4:30pm-10:30pm

Tel: (0571) 5673-5566

Qing Teng Teahouse

The oldest teahouse in Hangzhou, with traditional Chinese decor and live Chinese music performances. Tea varieties are abundant, including modern fruit tea and English tea, and the buffet is ample. Minimum price is 88 yuan per person (with buffet), or 45 yuan (without buffet).

Address: 2/F, Yuanhua Plaza, 278 Nanshan Rd

Buffet hours: 10am-5pm, 5:30pm-1am

Tel: (0571) 8702- 0084

He Cha Guan

Situated in the picturesque Fayun Village as a neighbor to Lingyin Temple and the prestigious five-star Aman Fayun resort, He Cha Guan is traditionally decorated, and also has an antique business. The teahouse’s milk cake goes well with Longjing tea, and Hangzhou local rich butter cakes complement the strong taste of Dahongpao, an oolong tea. The minimum price is 98 yuan for a cup of tea and tea snacks. Organic meals may be ordered as well.

Address: No. 15, Fayun Lane

Tel: (0571) 8797-9556

Hangzhou hotels’ afternoon tea

High Tea @ Wyndham Grand Plaza Royale Hangzhou

Traditional high tea is served in the lobby. Snacks include ham and cheese finger sandwiches, vegetable finger sandwiches, smoked beef finger sandwiches, smoked duck and orange canapés, tomato and mozzarella cheese canapés, tuna and fish roe, mini fresh fruit tarts, chocolate éclairs, cheesecake, chocolate tart, macaroons, cookies and chocolate, all paired with coffee or tea. In August and September, it also offers iced Longjing green tea, iced lemon tea, iced Pu’er tea, iced peach tea and iced red berry tea, as well as New Zealand ice cream.

Address: 555 Fengqi Rd

Tel: (0571) 8761-6888 ext 6338

Afternoon Tea @ JW Marriott Hotel Hangzhou

Dainty petits fours are served daily between 2pm and 5:30pm at the lobby lounge. Price is 198 yuan for two persons.

Address: 28 Hushu Rd S.

Tel: (0571) 8981-7351, 8981-7353

New Weekend Afternoon Tea @ Hyatt Regency Hangzhou

Classical afternoon tea with coffee, tea or selected summer drinks, and cakes including raspberry éclair, passion fruit cream, banana jelly cake, coconut panna cotta, milk chocolate, black currant mousse, soft rolls, smoked salmon, sour cream, black olive tapenade, puff pastries, tuna and sun-dried tomato salad, baked wild mushrooms, asparagus tart, mango cream, pomelo, sago soup, green tea coconut pudding and custard cream puff. Price is 288 yuan for afternoon tea set for two persons.

Address: 28 Hubin Rd

Tel: (0571) 8779-1234

Afternoon Tea @ For Seasons Hangzhou at West Lake

The signature is ice cream fondue, with a great medley of flavors available. You can also dip your ice cream in hot chocolate fondue. Hangzhou’s famous green tea, Longjing, is served.

Address: 5 Lingyin Rd

Tel: (0571) 8829-8888

Afternoon Tea @ InterContinental Hangzhou

A selection of Taylor’s tea or a cup of coffee are served. There are six kinds of dessert, five kinds of salty snacks including burritos and finger sandwiches, as well as chocolate fondue. Price is 138 yuan for afternoon tea buffet per person.

Address: 2 Jifang Rd E.

Tel: (0571) 8981-0000

Afternoon Tea with Scenery @ Hilton Hangzhou Qiandao Lake Resort

With special desserts plus tea or coffee, its most fashionable and high class afternoon tea is 128 yuan per person. Served every Friday, Saturday and all public holidays.

Address: 600 Huanhu Rd N.

Tel: (0571) 6508-6666