As the first luxury Korean matcha house in the UK, TOKKIA is setting a remarkably high standard for London's specialty tea landscape. This week, The Plum Edit team headed to Covent Garden to visit this charming, rabbit-themed tea house, where the intimate and tranquil setting provides a welcome, peaceful sanctuary from the surrounding city bustle.
Upon entering TOKKIA, visitors are warmly greeted by baristas wearing bespoke rabbit pins on their aprons. The name itself carries a charming story: "Tokki" in Korean translates to bunny, creating a call that is both friendly and curious.
The concept is the creation of Sooji Im, the visionary entrepreneur behind this new opening following the success of her former tea house, Be-oom, in Exmouth Market. TOKKIA was directly inspired by Im’s pet bunny, Hazelnut, with the overarching aim of creating a comforting "rabbit hole" environment where every guest feels instantly welcome.
TOKKIA brings the rich culture and historic traditions of Korean tea making straight from South Korea to London. Every piece of brewing equipment, ceramic tea set, and traditional bronzeware, known as bangjja, is imported directly from artisanal makers at the source. Bangjja is a hand-hammered Korean bronze alloy renowned for its thermal properties, durability, and aesthetic elegance.
The brand also maintains an unyielding commitment to quality, sourcing only the finest ceremonial-grade matcha and hojicha powders cultivated in South Korea’s pristine tea-growing regions.
Watch our full store walkthrough and traditional tea preparation video below:
Once you order your drink, they prepare each ingredient in front of you, inviting you into the process to experience the tea making itself. This is an important step in the experience, as it is an action that respects the tea and the traditions behind it.
Beyond its exceptional beverage menu, TOKKIA has quickly built a reputation for its irresistible baked goods. A central staple of the menu is their signature Korean salt bread (sogum ppang). Baked to perfection, the bread features a golden, crunchy crust dusted with sea salt crystals, giving way to a soft, warm, butter-enriched interior, making it the ultimate accompaniment to an iced matcha latte or a warm hojicha.
Every month, they include a seasonal flavour that highlights the energy of the current month or a specific fruit of the season. Last month celebrated the flavors of persimmon, featuring a Persimmon Cinnamon Matcha Iced Latte, while this month showcases injeolmi vanilla. A little bunny told me next month’s flavour might also be a fruit variety.
Luckily for us, all of their matcha, hojicha, and bangjja are available in-store for purchase. Whether you stop by to take a quiet breath before heading back out into the bustling streets of West London, sample seasonal pastry pairings, or shop for luxury tea accessories, TOKKIA offers an unforgettable escape into Korean tea culture. And if you are particularly lucky during your visit, you might even spot Hazelnut the bunny herself lounging in her favourite spot.
Images: TOKKIA
