Community stall is everyone's cup of tea
A 42-year-old herbal tea stall in Hangzhou that offers passersby free drinks in summer now has a large group of supporters.
The herbal tea stall and its third-generation owner Gu Zhonggen are a familiar sight for residents of Xiaoying Community.
The 81-year-old Gu, who walks with faltering footsteps, runs the tea stall daily at the crossing between Jianguo Road M. and Guozi Lane from the beginning to the end of the dog days of summer.
In the past he would push a stainless steel wheelbarrow with a big tea barrel and a little blackboard with the Chinese character cha (tea) written on it, to the site.
July 12, the first dog day in the lunar calendar this year, saw Gu and his herbal tea stall appear at the crossing as always.
It has, however, been upgraded by students and teachers from the China Academy of Art.
Gu has been running the non-profit outlet for 42 years, but the history of the herbal tea stall is longer than that.
More than 70 years ago, a herbal tea stall was at the front of the gate of a candy and refreshments store near the Xiacang Bridge.
The owner of the stall was Gu’s maternal grandmother. Serving drinks to thirsty passersby was also her idea.
“Though the herbal tea stall charged people a bit, it was far from a profitable business,” said Gu.
Later the family moved to Qingtai Street and Gu’s mother, following suit, served free tea for passersby in summer at her wonton store.
Fifteen years ago the family moved again to Guozi Lane and the herbal tea stall was set up near the Zhangjiaqiao Bus Station. Both Gu, Gu’s mother and his grandmother believed that their cups of tea would reduce the likelihood of people being affected by sunstroke. They would even top up passersby large cups.
Gu does everything himself, from buying the tea leaves, boiling the water and making the tea.
He once said: “I would run the tea stall till I am 92-year-old. It was my mother’s dying wish.”
Besides local residents living nearby, fans of Gu’s herbal tea stall also include sanitation workers and delivery men.
“Some of the young men are in such a hurry that I have to persuade them to stop and drink,” Gu said.
“Their life is not easy.”
Inspired by Gu, volunteers of Xiaoying Community, from all walks of life, are helping at the stall.
Zhou Zhenghao, a sixth grader from Shidai Primary School, has given packets of tea he bought with pocket money to Gu.
Volunteers from companies such as Zhejiang Tailong Commercial Bank have donated disposable paper cups and packets of tea.
The number of “waiters” and “waitresses” at the stall has expanded to 103.
The non-profit group now benefits tens of thousands of people yearly during the scorching heat of summer.
Address of the herbal tea stall: No. 10 Guozi Lane, Xiaoying Community
Service time: 9:30am-4pm