Sweet addiction at Serenitea

MANILA, Philippines - How do you like your tea? A strong brew of Earl Grey with a hint of black sugar for an uplifting milk tea? A light and refreshing green tea with your choice of fruit juice? Or a delightful blend of tea, mango and an iconic cultured milk drink?

These and more twists complete the 80 satisfying flavors and variants that Serenitea, the first Filipino tea shop to use espresso machine in making tea, has lined up for any picky tea lover. To get the authentic taste of tea, the company imports its base ingredients from Taiwan where tea shops are more evident than coffee houses.

“We want to be known as a go-to brand for tea,” says Juliet Herrera, general manager of Serenitea Group of Companies. “As much as possible, the stores aren’t just kiosks, but places where people can stay and bond together.”

In 2008, then 23-year-old Juliet and her Taiwanese fiancé, who was 24, founded a little tea shop in Little Baguio, San Juan. “Our idea was to offer a new product that’s not yet locally available, or something that didn’t have too many competitors at that time.”

The couple wanted to start early with a business so that if it didn’t take off, they would still have time to correct what went wrong or start up another business. “When you’re young, you have fresher ideas and you’re more energetic,” Juliet attests.

The company now has 28 company-owned branches in Luzon and a franchise in Cebu, each selling 200 to 500 cups a day. The main store in San Juan has a 25-seating capacity while the largest branch, which is on Banawe St., Quezon City, can accommodate up to 60 guests.

Warmed by a soft, minimalist theme and a touch of green, each store portrays what the brand conveys — relaxing, calming, serene. “Green also symbolizes fertility and growth,” Juliet explains.

Sweet addiction

Besides the nationwide-trending milk tea, Serenitea also serves hot or cold brewed tea, matcha (Japanese green tea), the chocolate series, and Tease, which is usually non-tea and caffeine-free.

Okinawa is Serenitea’s best-selling milk tea. More than its Japanese name that captures the Zen-like image of the brand, its fine blend of brewed Earl Grey black and frost sugar makes it the favorite of most customers. Next on the must-try list is the stronger Malt Royal Milk Tea.

For the frost series, Winter Frost exhibits a perfect fusion of cream cheese on top of wintermelon tea. Nowadays, it’s more than just the classic grass jelly, pearls and crystals for sinkers. There’s aloe vera, black bricks and diamonds, egg pudding, green tea jelly, panna cotta, perilla seeds and red beans.

Those who like it light but don’t prefer a cup of brew usually opt for Fruitea, where cranberry green tea counts as the best-seller. For a freshly-squeezed mouthfeel, try Serenitea’s pulpy varieties such as Peach Mango, green tea with mango and juicy peach bits.

Mango, green tea or Yakult? Why choose one when you can have all in one cup? Kids and adults alike love Yakult, and so does the Serenitea’s “cultured-milk tea.” You’ll forget searching for the tart aftertaste of the classic drink — which is absent in Yakultea — when you taste the equally sweet-and-sour goodness of blended mango and Yakult.

Milo Dino, iced Milo topped with Milo powder, is another favorite of children at Serenitea. Others include the creamy Taro Lover, the Coco Cooler, and tea frosts in wintermelon and cocoa flavors.

Just a few years after mainstreaming “milk tea” into the country, the Filipino taste has already evolved. More and more customers of Serenitea have preferred to have snacks with their tea, and so from three snacks during Serenitea’s startup, the company now offers seven snacks, plus five new choices coming by the end of this year. The snacks are patterned on Taiwanese street food and are usually seasoned with Serenitea’s house-special pepper. A bite of pepper tofu to sink your teeth into and a sip of creamy milk tea at Serenitea — it’s everything you need to realize how something serene can be delicious and addicting.

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For information, visit www.iloveserenitea.com. Like and follow “iloveserenitea” on Facebook and Twitter.