Altdif Dosan Tea Lounge • 알디프 도산 티 라운지

Altdif Dosan Tea Lounge (알디프 도산 티 라운지) is a new tea lounge that just recently opened in Dosan Park (도산공원) neighborhood earlier this year in April. The tea lounge offers a variety of unique tea based menu ranging from milk tea, cream tea, tea cocktails, and tea-based desserts that use Altdif’s wide selection of original house blend tea leaves. 

Altdif itself is a Korean tea brand that’s established in 2016. The name Altdif is derived from the acronym of Art, Life, Tea, Dignity, Diversity, and Freedom which the brand stands for. One of the unique thing about their tea is they pair their original house blend teas with its own theme song and story, encouraging you to enjoy the tea using all of your five senses.

They first opened their tea bar in 2018 in Hongdae (which has just recently closed on July 25) and offered tea course session that’s now available at the Dosan location. The 90-minute tea course explores modern Korean tea ritual, tea mixology technique, tea-brewed dessert, tea cocktail, milk tea and a creative single tea menu that’s already prepared for you to make. The tea course session accommodates up to 6 people per session and available only by reservation through Naver.

I visited Altdif Dosan Tea Lounge (알디프 도산 티 라운지) for the first time earlier this year in May, not too long after they just opened. The cafe itself is located on the second floor of a building, so it’s not too obvious from the street unless you’re looking for their sign. Went on a Thursday afternoon and the place was pretty quiet. The tea lounge itself is pretty spacious with about 30 seatings that are spread around the room. 

As a non-coffee drinker, I immediately got excited as soon as I saw their unique tea-based menu which has options other than the usual matcha latte or hojicha latte. From straight tea, milk tea, tea with coffee and tea with alcohol, I feel like this place is definitely where I can bring all my friends to since there’s at least something that they can order from the menu.

Altdif Dosan Tea Lounge 2024 Spring/Summer Menu (알디프 도산 티 라운지 2024 S/S 메뉴)

(Menu Courtesy of Altdif)

I actually found Altdif in the beginning of my May trip and I’m so glad that I did because I had the chance to go back again for a second visit two weeks later at the end of my trip. Tried a couple of different things and everything was not too sweet (just how I like it) and the flavors of each menu are certainly unique. Here are the things that I tried during my visits:

Dosan Signature Purple Milk Tea 도산 시그니처 퍼플 밀크티 ₩8,000 | 9.5/10

Tea Master’s Recommendation #티마스터추천 (Caffeine Free)
Tea: Space Odditea 스페이스 오디티 • Aroma: Chamomile, Raspberry, Pineapple
Purple signature milk tea with lavender and vanilla flavors.
보랏빛의 시그니처 티에 라벤더와 바닐라를 더하여 차분하면서도 우아한 카페인 프리 밀크티.

Initially, I thought this will taste like taro milk tea just because of the purple color. But surprisingly and interestingly, the strongest flavor for me was actually lavender. But not in a room fragrance kind of way (sometimes lavender flavored food just ended up tasting like fragrance to me, but this one was not). It’s subtle and the combination with vanilla flavor certainly gave it a milkier taste, with a hint of pineapple in the end. The light sweet cream on top was also a nice addition to the drink.

Dosan Signature Black Cream 도산 시그니처 블랙 크림티 ₩8,500 | 8.5/10

Tea Master’s Recommendation #티마스터추천 (High Caffeine)
Tea: Lee’s Breakfast 리스 브렉퍼스트 • Aroma: Empress Tree, Sweet Persimmon, Grain Syrup
Altdif signature cream tea which blends coffee and black tea with savory black cream and persimmon.
커피와 홍차를 블렌딩하고 고소한 블랙 크림과 감태로 감칠맛을 더한 알디프 시그니처 스타일 크림티.

My coffee drinking friend actually ordered this and I tried a couple of sips from her glass. For this one, the coffee flavor hit me first, and then the fragrant black tea. I quite enjoy the sweet and savory cream on top as well. The texture is thicker than the one in the Purple Milk Tea, but still enjoyable and easy enough for me to sip with the liquid part on the bottom. Also, to actually taste the overall flavor of the drink, I think you have to sip the cream and the coffee and black tea blend all at the same time. Even though I don’t drink coffee, I still enjoyed this drink (although now I’m curious to know how it’ll taste without the coffee because black tea with that cream on top doesn’t sound bad at all 😆) . And if you’re curious, my friend (who drinks coffee) gave this drink a 9.5/10. She said it was really good.

Summer Citrus Milk Tea 도산 썸머 시트러스 밀크티 ₩7,500 | 9/10

Ice Only • Caffeine Free
Tea: Habit Plus 더하기 차 • Aroma: Green Tangerine, Orange, Quince
[S/S season only] Caffeine free milk tea with a citrusy flavor of lemon-scented herbs.
[S/S 시즌 한정] 레몬향 허브의 시트러스한 풍미로 상큼하면서도 싱그러운 매력인 카페인 프리 밀크티.

The summer Citrus Milk Tea is one of their seasonal menu and definitely reminded me of a refreshing summer drink. The milk tea is citrusy sweet with a hint of zestiness in it. The sliced orange garnish also goes really well with the drink. The flavor is definitely something that I’ve never tasted before and I quite enjoyed this drink.

Signature pudding plate 시그니처 푸딩 플레이트 ₩12,500 | 10/10

Tea Master’s Recommendation #티마스터추천
Altdif’s signature pudding plate with homemade oolong tea pudding, hojicha pudding, vanilla milk cream, crispy crumble and dried fig.
직접 만든 우롱차 푸딩과 호지차 푸딩, 바닐라 우유 크림, 바삭한 크럼블과 건과일로 다양한 식감과 차의 풍미를 느낄 수 있는 시그니처 푸딩 플레이트.

Their signature pudding plate is really good. I ordered this both times I was there. The pudding texture is closer to a panna cotta, but a little bit creamier. The hojicha and oolong tea flavors on the puddings are really fragrant. Love the sweet crispy crumble and dried fig. Both gave a nice texture contrast to the overall dish. Everything on the plate actually works wonderfully in a bite and I really love this dessert. 

Honestly speaking, there’s not a lot of great tea-focused cafe around Seoul, especially with unique milk tea and tea cocktail menu. Altdif Dosan Tea Lounge is certainly a nice addition to the category, especially with their spacious venue (usually most tea places are small with limited seatings). It has definitely become one of my favorite spot and would totally recommend to check this place out if you’re ever in Dosan Park neighborhood (so it can stay open and I can go visit them again on my next trip 😆).

 

Altdif Dosan Tea Lounge • 알디프 도산 티 라운지

Address: 서울 강남구 선릉로161길 21-4 2층
Telephone: 0507-1389-5034
Hours: Tues-Sun 11:00-21:00 | Closed on Mondays

Instagram: @altdif_dosan

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FELT Coffee Dosan • 펠트커피 도산공원점

FELT Coffee (펠트커피) announced the opening of their second branch, FELT Coffee Dosan (펠트커피 도산공원점), on May 10, 2019 on their Instagram account. Sharing the space that was designed by WGNB with Juun.J’, a youthful, street culture inspired Korean fashion label that is well-known for its ‘street tailoring’, the building certainly stood out from their surrounding neighbors.

Stepping into the abstract geometrical black concrete building felt like stepping into a piece of art in museum. The first thing that will greeted you is a courtyard with a single tree in a floating pot supported by wire suspensions, giving an illusion that the pot of tree is levitating mid-air. The courtyard is probably the most colorful part of this whole building.

Entering the store/cafe area, you’ll be greeted with a matching all-black interior surrounding the space. On one side is Juun.J’s flagship store area and on the other is where Felt Coffee set up their coffee bar and seatings. The cafe itself is not too big but the triangle shaped high ceiling makes it feels like the cafe is bigger than it actually is. Similar to the pot in the courtyard, there are black electronic modern candle lamps hanging on top of the coffee bar (which honestly reminded me of the floating candles in Hogwart’s great hall) that give an illusion that they’re levitating. The seating arrangement is also a little unusual. Two rows of tables and chairs are set up facing a glass window with the view of the courtyard, giving you a clear view of the levitating pot as well as people who goes in and out of the store. I quite like it actually. It almost feels like sitting at a gallery looking at an art piece and people watching while enjoying your drinks.

Note: These photos were taken before the pandemic.

Since the architecture is very intriguing, I ended up searching for more information about the place and came across an article that talks more about the design concept and thinking behind it.

“The architects express that ‘black is a magical colour’, attracting and absorbing light, hence the design follows the concept of ‘dark matter’. The architects fused a triangle, circle, and square to form one abstract, geometrical building, bound by its uniform black concrete facades. The ambiguous shape generates curiosity from passersby, and intentionally sticks out amongst manicured Dosan Park surrounds in Seoul’s upmarket Gangnam district.

Interiors also feature a blacked-out, monochromatic colour scheme. Felt Coffee is housed within a narrow strip beneath the pitched roof structure. A skylight traces the top edge, allowing a sliver of natural light to illuminate the café below. The coffee shop faces a central open courtyard, at the centre of which a singular potted tree is suspended above a pit of volcanic rocks.

Courtyard facing windows allow for a little more light, however the entirely matte black interiors give a predominantly sultry vibe. Although perhaps not what you’d choose for your go-to friendly neighbourhood coffee spot, the overall impact is undeniably intriguing.”

—yellowtrace.com.au
(Click to read the full article & for more photos)

 

FELT Coffee Dosan • 펠트커피 도산공원점

Address: 서울 강남구 언주로164길 23
Telephone: 070-7756-3145
Hours: Everyday 11:00 - 21:00

Instagram: @felt_seoul

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