WELCOME TO GO & TEA

Go & Tea is a unique place to play Go and enjoy a delicious beverage, as well as to play American Mahjong!

We’re pleased to offer Camrose these amazing games and authentic Chinese tea. Or, if you prefer, we also serve bubble tea – especially popular with younger customers.

Our Mahjong Corner

Our mahjong corner is a lovely spot for you and your friends to hang out. We have American mahjong sets and mahjong tables set up, for you to have a cozy time. Welcome all, for lessons or drop in play!

Have not heard of mahjong? Here is a quote from the Canadian Mahjong Federation:

“Mahjong is a mentally challenging game or sport that is suitable for people from children (3+) to seniors. Mahjong is beneficial for intellectual development and hand-eye coordination. Many studies have shown mental stimulation can help to prevent or delay diseases such as senile dementia.”

PLAYING GO

Go is a fun traditional game that takes just minutes to learn, but a lifetime to master. You and another player will take turns placing black or white stones (markers) on open intersections of the board grid. When you surround your opponent’s stones they are “captured” and removed from the board. At the end of the game, whoever controls the majority of the territory wins!

Go was invented in China thousands years ago, where it’s called “Weiqi”. In Korea, it’s known as “Baduk”. In Japan, and most western countries, It’s “Go”. It is a competitive game played in the World Mind Sports Games by professional players.

Ask for a free demo and we’ll get you started. Then you can drop in to play. To progress, our teacher Jin (Sarah) offers lessons and game reviews for players of all ages and skill levels. Our classes start at beginners’ level and expand with each player’s progress.

Check out the Go resources below, including Go associations, online learning opportunities and tournament information…

Go Organizations

Canadian Go Association – CGA promotes the game of Go within Canada through various events, e.g., online Go tournaments, Go teaching and youth programs. It also coordinates the hosting of the Canadian Open, and the selection of our international representative. CGA is a founding member of The International Go Federation.

American Go Association – AGA hosts US Go Congress, the largest Go activity in North America, annually in August. Events include the US Open, professional lectures and game analysis, that attract many Canadian Go players to participate.

European Go Federation – EGF hosts European Go Congress (EGC) every summer in one of the member countries, which is open to players worldwide.

The International Go Federation – IGF was founded in 1982, with 29 founding members. IGF works to promote and popularize the game around the world, and helps local communities organize to form national associations. IGF is a founding member of International Mind Sports Association (IMSA).

Online Learning

GO – A wikibook for beginners, introducing basic and foundational concepts of Go. Its composition and editing is ongoing.

GoBase – An online Go library. You’ll find a lot of information on the game, including the history of Go, Go rules, and exercise problems of Go game play.

Sensei’s Library – A collaborative website about the game of Go. This library provides an in-depth discussion and analysis of the concepts and principles of Go.

Playing Go Online

No opponent to play? You can meet Go players and play online games 24-hours, anytime, anywhere.

KGS – KGS is an online Go Server operated by the American Go Foundation. There are usually over 1000 players in the English Room. You can easily find an opponent of similar skill to play with, by clicking “Automatch” .

IGS PandaNet – Another and the first Go Server, where you can play, watch, and study the game of Go online anytime.

EXPERIENCING TEA

Tea was discovered in China thousands of years ago. It is a traditional beverage with unique fragrances and tastes. We believe drinking tea properly, and harmoniously with one’s body constitution, keeps us healthy.

Great tea starts with high-quality tea leaves. It is prepared with care using water that is just the right temperature and infused for the optimal length of time – creating tea exactly how it was meant to be served.

What Can We Brew For You?

Black Tea – Chinese black tea tastes sweet and robust. It is fully fermented and can blend easily with other flavors to create a rich and exquisite taste. Black tea is comforting and warming. There is evidence that regular consumption of black tea can reduce the risk of stroke, and help prevent cancer.

Green Tea – Chinese green tea undergoes the most tender processing. It is light and many believe gives strength to the body. Health benefits of green tea may include: helping to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, preventing cavities, and regulating aging.

Oolong Tea – Oolong tea is a partially oxidized tea. Its flavor falls somewhere in between black tea and green tea, ranging from light to full bodied, floral to grassy, and sweet to toasty. The colour of the leaves and the hue of the brewed tea can also vary from green to golden to brown. Oolong tea is believed to have many health benefits, including lowering cholesterol, aiding in weight loss, and supporting dental health.

Herbal Tea – Herbal tea is made from the infusion of leaves, roots, barks, seeds, flowers, and/or fruits. Herbal teas are also known as tisanes. They taste refreshing and many customers choose these caffeine-free beverages to help them relax.

Bubble Tea – Bubble tea originated in Taiwan in the 1980s.Typically, it has a tea base, with milk and fruit flavour, and chewy tapioca pearls inside a cup. Served cold, it is a sweet and refreshing drink with a variety of flavours to choose from.

Drop in for a delicious beverage!

Our Story

“My name is Sarah. I discovered Go at my grandpa’s place at the age of 6 and fell in love with it. After waiting for half a year, my family found me a teacher and I began my Go journey. I then had 6 years of training: with talented students who wanted to become pros, with instructors who had already become pro, and with a professional 7 Dan coach.

I immigrated to Canada in 2005. When I became a citizen, I began to represent Canada in international tournaments.

In 2020, I had my baby girl, Lisa. Since then, I no longer play competitively.

Today, I get a lot of satisfaction from teaching others how to play Go… and from drinking tea.”

Sarah (left) winning a bronze medal in Women’s GO at the 2012 World Mind Sports Games in France

Our Go teacher Sarah (Jin) is a 6 Dan amateur player and has represented Canada and North America in top professional tournaments in Asia and Europe. She won a bronze medal for Canada in the 2012 World Mind Sports Games in Lille, France.

CONTACT

Location

2nd FL, 4929 50 St
Camrose AB
T4V 1P9

Opening Hours

Monday             10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Tuesday            10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Wednesday      10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Thursday          10:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Friday                10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday           Closed
Sunday              2 – 5:30 p.m.

Contact

1-587-332-1908
goandtea@gmail.com