This year has tested the power of community and shed light on the things that truly matter, with the devastation that separates us also inspiring connection. Such is the story of West China Tea House. This local minority-owned business imports farm-direct Chinese tea and works to share a different kind of socializing culture to Austin. But Covid-19 threatened to derail their goals. Courtesy of West China Tea Shop Since 2012, owner So-Han Fan has been working with his team to build up two tea houses, The Tea Spot and Guan Yin Tea House, before this year’s obstacles impeded their progress. Their ongoing focus is to share traditional Chinese tea service – Gong fu cha – with Austin. The practice, they say, “fosters a safe, cooperative, and fun environment where people can connect without the use of alcohol.”