Where Harry Potter takes his tea

IT’S HALLOWEEN year-round at Kaethy the Witch, a beguiling little broomstick-bedecked tearoom in Lat Phrao that’s sure to cast a spell over anyone who loves dining in magical surroundings – and who doesn’t? As the teashop’s motto says, “If the broom fits, ride it.”

The chief sorceress at Kaethy the Witch is Kittiya “Kae” Bumrungsaun, a co-founder of the event-organising firm Graffiti Presentation, which has its headquarters in the same compound, as well as her residence – which is not stocked with newts’ eyes and dragons’ scales, we were disappointed to learn, and nor is it made of gingerbread.

But the compact, loft-style cafe is wickedly witchy, complete with a playful logo depicting a witch on a broom accompanied by a black cat. High-peaked witches’ hats, voodoo dolls, white and black candles and a chimney with a bat perched above it add to the fun. The large glass partitions and doors are partly tinted midnight blue to “give a sense of twilight”, as Kae explains. 

She’s been to Scotland and seen the rugged highland landscapes used in the Harry Potter films, and that’s what inspired the wizard theme for her tearoom. Still, “This isn’t a place designed to get you spooked,” she says, “but a place to share the magic of fine brews of tea. I love sipping tea at gatherings of friends and family and I want to share that kind of experience with others.” 

Just the same, it’s a tad unnerving having your tea prepared by people wearing witch caps and black aprons, mixing up blends from a shelf full of tins labelled “Poison No 3” and the like. Just stay calm and carry on, as they say.

A mini-set with your choice from among 13 (yes, 13) loose-leaf teas can cost anywhere from Bt220 to Bt380. That includes a steaming pot full of “poison”, a ham-and-cheese sandwich, a scone, a blueberry cheese tart, panna cotta and homemade passion-fruit jam. 

There are four tea “collections”. “Once in a Lifetime” has Marco Polo from the French brand Mariage Freres, a velvety brew with the fragrances of Chinese and Tibetan (not Chinese?) flowers, and classic Earl Grey French Blue, with the fruity and lightly peppery notes of bergamot with the sweet hint of cornflower. 

If black tea is your preference, “Pure” offers first- and second-flush Darjeeling and Assam from India. “Witch Blend” is different mixtures from a German tea company, like Snow White’s Apple (tastes like apple), North Star (green tea and jasmine), Moon Whisper (green tea, fruit and rum) and Boudoir (green and oolong teas with floral essences). 

And you can get decaffeinated with the “Healthy” line – Detect Poison is a concoction using the South African herb rooibos, while World Wizard is made from camomile leaves and flowers.

“You can choose whatever tea suits your mood,” Kae says. “To get rid of stress after a hard day at work, go for the gentle, refreshing Moon Whisper, or if you need a confidence boost before 

 a big date, have the Boudoir. After sunset, World Wizard with camomile will ensure a good sleep.”

Kae puts her patisserie diploma from Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School to excellent use baking sweets, but even here she can’t help getting a little ghoulish. There’s the RIP Cemetery Brownie shaped like a tombstone and a chocolate cupcake with salted caramel called Charlotte the Poison Spider (each Bt95), a Phantom (a lemon tart topped with meringue formed into a likeness of Casper the ghost, Bt75), and a Quick Mud Tart (with almond pralines, resembling someone’s hand sinking into quicksand).

Amid all these hair-raising desserts, Kaethy’s Lovely Herb is downright cheery. You get a clay flowerpot filled with an edible “soil” of cookie crumbs and tiny garden tools for digging down to the chocolate-cream cake with macadamia nuts. This one costs Bt150 or, if you want to take the pot home, Bt250. Meanwhile your dining partner’s probably ordered the Vanilla Crepe Cake (Bt90), which sounds pleasant enough with its layers of cream and Madagascar vanilla seeds – but the strawberry sauce comes in a syringe.

Hot tea aside, there are four homemade iced teas on the menu – Earl Grey Orange, Sakura Peach, Wild Berry Rose and Lemon Honey – at Bt65 per glass, and hot or iced coffee – cappuccino, latte, hazelnut and caramel – from Bt60 to Bt75.

 

 

JUST STAY CALM

>>Kaethy the Witch is on Soi Naknivas 41 off Lat Phrao Soi 71. 

>>It’s open daily from 9am to 7pm. 

>>Call (081) 916 8447 or visit the “KaethyTheWitch” page on Facebook.