Chicago Tribune December 15, 2005

There's always a tea party here, thanks to the many spots (some quite exotic) that serve a nice hot cuppa. With all the parties, pageants, pressures and packed parking lots, it's easy to get frazzled this time of year. That's when it's time to meditate with a steaming hot cup of fragrant liquid. Sure, you could go the coffee route, but java seems a call to action. Tea, on the other hand, promises contemplation. Read more...

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Chicago Tribune October 9, 2005

EVANSTON -- Hong Wu sees the future in leaves and has a message for coffee consumers: Drink tea. Wu isn't clairvoyant, but she runs Dream About Tea, an Evanston store where she and her husband sell hundreds of kinds of tea and offer a course, The Chinese Art of Tea Appreciation. Read more...

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Time Out Chicago, Issue 32: Oct 6–Oct 13, 2005

Hong Wu and her husband, Daquan Yao (pictured), want you to stop and smell the rose tea. Since opening their small store in early 2004, the Chinese couple has waged a quixotic battle against our coffee-fueled culture by selling only tea, and only during off-morning rush hours (Tue–Sat 11:30am–8pm; Sun noon–7pm). Read more...

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The Epoch Times August 20, 2005

With a good selection of Pu-erhs, Dream About Tea is known especially for its kind service. The Chicago Tribune says, "Dream About Tea in Evanston combines the serenity of a Chinese tearoom with the comfortable ambiance of a Midwest coffeehouse." Read more...

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Chicago Tribune March 11, 2005

From there we were tempted to dash to the cold car and hibernate in our rooms but were intrigued by a Dream about Tea across the street. We poked around the soothing, quiet shop and were tempted by the various cookies that promise to lift your mood, help you lose weight and settle your stomach. Read more...

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Chicago Tribune May 12, 2004

Dream About Tea in Evanston combines the serenity of a Chinese tearoom with the comfortable ambiance of a Midwest coffeehouse. Owners Hong Wu and her husband, Daquan Yao, emigrated to the United States from Shanghai five years ago. Convinced that tea is where coffee was pre-Starbucks, they decided to open a teahouse and retail shop. Read more...

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Daily Northwestern 3/4

In a sea of Evanston coffee shops, a new tea house has arrived to brew a little competition. Dream About Tea, 1011 Davis St., opened Jan. 22, the first day of the Chinese New Year, and offers more than 50 varieties of tea ranging from the exotic to the traditional. Teas with names such as Iron Goddess of Mercy and Monkey-Picked line the shelves in glass jars, and manager Hong Wu offers tea counseling to help customers select from the array. Read more...

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Daily Northwestern 5/12

A change of pace in a glass mug awaits you. But like enlightenment, you must first find it. Dream About Tea, on Davis Street, is a 15-foot-wide tea house and slice of heaven. Even if you constantly hunt for the best caffeine, like this writer, you've probably never been anywhere like this. Between the lovely proprietor, Hong Wu, and her fanatical customers, you'll find your perfect tea in the multitude of choices. The subtle differences won't be lost on you once Hong has opened her jars for you to smell. At the counter she'll give recommendations, as will congregating customers. With wall-to-wall red carpet, ash tables, black-lacquered chairs, a cozy couch and light Chinese background music, Dream About Tea is the perfect place to relax -- a welcome slow-down close to campus. Read more...

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