China's Joy of Tea at Epcot

If you’re touring Epcot for Chip & Co.’s Drink Around the World Showcase (DAWS) challenge, China is a promising quick drink stop. China provides two convenient locations for drinks and a nibble, the Lotus Blossom Café, the pavilion’s counter-restaurant, and the Joy of Tea stand.

While either place works well for DAWS, I’m partial to China’s Joy of Tea stand. Not only is it one of the most attractive kiosks in the World Showcase, with a picturesque view of both the lagoon and the China pavilion, but Joy of Tea offers some satisfyingly unusual flavor combinations. Equally refreshing is its variety, as the stand serves several different alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to appeal to different tastes.

Green Tea Plum Slush, Epcot's China pavilion.

Although I’m not convinced a slush cocktail is particularly authentic to China, I recommend trying the Green Tea Plum Slush, made with plum wine. The plum wine itself earns authenticity points even if it’s not unique to China. Plus, the slushie has the advantage of letting you say that you enjoyed an alcoholic beverage with green tea, a combo which is bound to provide some health benefits.

While the slush mix itself isn’t incredibly thick or sticky, the Green Tea Plum Slush is a very sweet drink. Its taste alone almost earns the “sticky” descriptor and its plum wine creates the drink’s predominant flavor. If you prefer, try plum wine on its own as a less expensive and smaller DAWS drink option.

Another cocktail I would recommend for those who like their drinks with more spice to balance the sweet – admittedly more to my personal taste – is the Mango Gingerita. The drink, made with vodka and rum and served over ice, features the taste of (you guessed it) sweet mango and the bite of ginger. If you like a strong ginger flavor, this is a must-taste.

I’ve also had the opportunity to taste-test two other specialty slushie cocktails available at the Joy of Tea: the Canto Loopy, made with vodka and cantaloupe juice, and the Peach Snap! made with schnapps and Oolong tea. The former is lightly fruity, while the latter is definitely for those who like their drinks on the tooth-achingly sweet side.

More joy at the Joy of Tea may be found in its non-alcoholic slushies – pleasant options for those who don’t drink alcohol or who simply want to balance their round-the-world consumption on a DAWS tour. The stand offers both the Strawberry Oolong Tea Slush and the Mango Green Tea Slush. Of course, iced and hot teas are available here for lighter, less filling, non-alcoholic beverages.

While my DAWS days generally don’t include beers, beer drinkers can order Tsing Tao (Tsingtao), a smooth and easy-to-sip lager that tastes of malt and hops. It’s light and  a solid option on a hot day or with spicy food.

Speaking of food, remember the Chip and Company DAWS challenge includes food as well as drink, with points earned for each. The Joy of Tea offers some fitting snacks to accompany your DAWS beverages: Chinese BBQ pork buns, curry chicken pockets, and pork and vegetable egg rolls. Of these, try the curry chicken pockets, unless you’re a vegetarian or want something more substantial. Then I recommend heading over the Lotus Blossom Café.

One last note for the Disney foodies who are doing the full-on DAWS with dining experience. The Joy of Tea also has two flavorful ice creams, Strawberry Red Bean and the Caramel Ginger. They are both well worth sampling, but don’t go particularly well with the specialty cocktails or beer. Enjoy them on their own.

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