You come to Nigiro Teacafe in Plumstead for tea — over seven hundred varieties, served since 1999 in a space where the owner sometimes plays flute in the mornings. The teas range from flavoured rooibos to oolong, with tastings that explain their preparation and origins. Some guests book the food and tea pairing experience, where dishes are matched to specific leaves.

The cafe also sells loose-leaf teas to take home, packaged in tins or paper bags. While walk-ins can order from the menu, tastings require booking ahead. On quiet mornings when the owner plays, the sound carries through the room where teapots sit on wooden tables.

Nigiro supplies teas to over eighty locations across South Africa, but this is where they are served with the most context. The selection changes with new imports and seasonal blends, so regulars find something different each visit.