Yuan Gu Ben Dian treats everyone with delicate taste. Paying respect to an ancient Chinese saying “Not in Season, Not on Plate”, the shop owner endeavors to not only offer natural food ingredients in four different seasons, but also express his understanding of and outlook on life.
The left area beside the gate is for displaying daily domestic items, living groceries and contemporary art. Walking further, you come to the tea tables and chairs. Simple but strong, the pines and cypresses in the yard and cactuses in the exhibition area are neither delicate nor flattering.
Four Seasons Tea and Pastries are wonderful with nice taste and excellent names. For instance, those offered in the hot summer is called “Beginning of Summer: Floating Duckweed”, “Lesser Fullness: Summer Moon”, “Grain in Ear: New Wheat”, “Summer Solstice: White Lotus”. “LesserHeat: Natural Indigo” and “Great Heat: Coming Rain”. These names impressed us with a conception of ancient culture with names covering 24 solar terms.
The female owner is good at creating new desserts through modifying the traditional Chinese dessert recipes. Her sweet and not-oily-flavored desserts won the buyers’ loves and praises. It is recommended to have a look at the delicate tableware and tea set. They are crafted by either Japanese or Chinese designers. Some of them are even ancient potteries from the Ming Dynasty or Song Dynasty. Yi Xiao, the owner hoped that these potteries are only treated as artware displayed on exhibition booths, but can walk into our daily life. On the wooden table covered by scent of time are scattered different potteries, which is like a silent song under the backdrop of light and shadow.
No big windows are in the front side, except a low and narrow one. Only little noise by the passing people can escaped through the window. Looking outside, you can see some old people ride old bikes, making an interesting picture by the moving shadows of bike wheels on the road. Under warm light in a summer evening, the hustle and bustle of Hutong slowly fades away. Eating Tremella and Lily Ball and drinking Basil and Ginger Tea let the people quietly enjoy the real taste of food.
Address: No. 34, Jianchang Hutong, Andingmen, Dongcheng District 东城区安定门内箭厂胡同34号
