BreadTalk's latest concept is a tea-focused cafe in Orchard Road. Located at Takashimaya, Charlie Tea is an 18-seater teahouse reimagined as a sanctuary to offer respite within the heart of, yet away from the hustle and bustle of town.
Charlie Tea prides itself on its tea leaves which are hand-picked, curated and cultivated from the Fujian Province in China and Sri Lanka. The tea leaves are then "sun-kissed by Mother Nature, smattered with regular rainfalls, and boast crisp temperatures of up to 24 degrees" to achieve the best quality. The tea is also brewed at a precise temperature to enhance the full flavour.
The foundation of the menu are three teas: Green Jade, an earthy green tea; Mount Wu, a medium-bodied, nutty oolong; and Red Phoenix, a fragrant red tea with a light and fresh citrus note. On the menu are over 30 different tea-based drinks, served in a variety of combinations: hot or cold, as bubble tea, cold brew, fruit tea, slushies, with cultured milk, or as jellies to top off your drinks with.
Here are some must-trys:
The Mount Wu Pink Cloud – aromatic oolong topped with Charlie Tea’s signature Pink Cloud cheese foam, creating an ultra-creamy drink that manages to retain the tea’s depth. Instead of just cheese and heavy cream, Charlie Tea’s cloud foam uses a touch of beetroot for a pastel pink colour, and Himalayan pink sea salt for a mild savouriness.
The Pearl Milk Tea and Milk Tea series at Charlie Tea are also available as warm drinks, and the floral Green Jade Milk Tea is great for when you want something comforting. Top it off with some brown sugar pearls for extra texture and chewiness!
Charlie Tea seems to understand that we can get bored of milk tea sometimes, so they also have plenty of fruit-forward drinks on the menu. Need a fruity pick-me-up? Then go for the Yuzu Pink Cloud drink – yuzu ice blended with yuzu fruit extracts and pomelo bits, then topped the same housemade cloud foam made from a blend of beetroot powder and a touch of Pink Himalayan Salt.
The Grapefruit Pop is also a crowd favourite. Real grapefruit and citrus pulp are added to a fizzy green tea brewed in a Sodastream, and the result is refreshing, bright and tastes both bitter and sweet. Makes for a great thirst-quencher on a hot day!
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For a more substantial beverage, look to the Slushie+ series stars cultured milk teas, better known as Yakult bubble tea. The Dragon Fruit Slushie+ will give you an unexpected wave of nostalgia, tasting just like a Solero ice cream stick. The best part? This satisfying shake is all guilt-free – made with real fruit and minimal sugar!
If you're feeling a little skittish, Charlie Tea also has a range of sweet and savoury snacks to accompany your drinks. You have a whole range of Danish pastries and chunky cookies to choose from!
Charlie Tea opens today (9th Sep 2020) at Takashimaya, #B1-30 from 10am to 9pm.