Cebu province in the Philippines has a long, rich history that is reflected in its current charm and vibrance. Its busy capital, Cebu City, has been the center of economic activities, hence earning the appropriate moniker as the Queen City of the South. This progress paved the way for a plethora of businesses, including a wide array of tea shops that locals and tourists love.
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1. Bo’s Coffee
Although more popularly known for their homegrown coffee beans and blends, as the name suggests, Bo’s Coffee also offers a line of freshly brewed teas. With concoctions such as Ginger Lemongrass Citrus Iced Tea and Purple Midnight, which is hibiscus tea mixed with blue tea, you’re sure to find your refreshing drink in one of the Philippines’ most successful coffee chains. What makes Bo’s Coffee special to Cebu is that the founder and owner Steve Benitez started the shop’s first branch in the province in 1996. He has since opened a tribute store to the hometown in 2018 and has expanded into more branches, a testament of love and acknowledgment to the province.
Bo’s Coffee takes pride in using Philippine-grown products, from their menu offerings to the store’s interior designs. If you’ve visited the tribute store in a rush, grab some bottles of Bayani Brew or packs of Tsaa Laya to enjoy at home. The former is a line of ready-to-drink, organic tea blends with interesting flavors like Lemongrass Pandan, Sweet Potato Leaves, and Moringa Dalandan. The latter is a premium take on Philippine herbal teas, with a wide array of selections such as Coco Melange and Java Banaba. Whatever you wish to take home from these brands carried by the coffee chain, you are sure to get the best of Philippine farms because they partner with local farmers to give you the freshest infusions.
2. Island Tea Co.
Island Tea Co. introduced their Sri Lanka-grown Ceylon teas to the Philippines and Cebuanos have loved it since. With over five branches in the province alone, Island Tea Co’s vast selection of hot and cold tea blends instantly became a hit. Try a steaming cup of their Ceylon Earl Grey tea if you’re craving for something familiar to your taste buds or have a tall glass of tea mojito if you want a kick to your tea-drinking habit. Island Tea Co. also boasts of their natural loose Ceylon leaves that are brewed daily, ensuring a fresh, pure beverage with every serving.
3. Coffee Laboratory
If you’re staying in Cebu, this tea shop offers high quality tea with a unique experience. Learn how to prepare your tea the right way with the right equipment at their tea shop. They have several kinds of tea gadgets, from fancy tea kettles, presses, and pots, to tea drippers and bottles of sweetened tea syrup. Drop a visit to their three conveniently located stores throughout the province so you can brew your favorite teas at the comfort of your home.
4. 2any1 Cafe
2any1 Cafe is every Korean food lover’s dream come true. With slices of Kimbops, platters of Bibimbap, and servings of Kimchi and Samgyeopsal Rice, the cafe in the busy streets of Mandaue City is certainly a Korean paradise. You may not be accustomed to washing down bites of mandu and Korean noodles with tea, but the soothing hot cups of either Oolong, Earl Grey, or Ceylon tea will surely help you in relieving that feeling of fullness after a hearty meal. If you’re looking for a sweet beverage to pair these sumptuous dishes with, this tea shop also serves cold fruit teas too such as Raspberry, Apple, and Passion Teas.
5. Green Shelf
Cebu’s Green Shelf is appropriately named since they carry eco-friendly and organic products to cater to environmentally conscious Cebuanos. Aside from nature-derived skincare and house cleaning products, they also have powdered and loose leaf teas. Pop by their tea shop if you’re steering from pre-packaged tea bags.
6. Fujinoya
Master baker Hideo Goto has blessed Cebu with his exquisite Japanese dessert creations that are not only pleasing to the eyes but are also divine to the gustatory system. Indulge yourself and immerse in Japanese afternoon tea culture in Fujinoya, where pastries are best enjoyed and savored with a piping hot cup of green tea on the side. Have a slice of cheesecake, sink your teeth in their soft mochi, or delight yourself in the clean layers of their chocolate cake. Wash them all down with Japan’s highly-treasured matcha!
7. Machiya Mart
The darling Japanese store in Cebu City has all things oishii. Once you have loaded up on their instant ramen and their collection of snacks and pastries, help yourself to their matcha powdered teas to satisfy your Japanese tea needs. Plus, they’re now available for delivery, so you can have the matcha goodness brought straight to your doorstep.
8. D:matcha Kyoto
Unsurprisingly, D:matcha Kyoto prides itself as the tea shop from the Japanese city that specializes in Matcha, so it is a no-brainer that the menu is filled with variations of the beloved green tea beverage. Enjoy a loose-leaf cup of Sencha tea or gulp down an entire glass of their Matcha Latte. If the many choices of green-hued offerings overwhelm you, let the Samidori Matcha set solve that dilemma. The set includes Samidori tea from Wazuka, Kyoto, and an accompanying Matcha Green Tea cake slice that complement well with each other. And should you need any more proof that they take matcha seriously, they have a Youtube series dedicated to different kinds of green tea, from the careful and artful preparation to the geographic location of tea plantations.
9. Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea
Tea has several types, ranging from bitter and earthy to nutty and sweet. With Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea, you can get your unlimited dose of sweet tea. Choose among Pineapple Green Tea, Lemon Green Tea, and Calamansi Green Tea if you are into the tropical taste. They also have their take on the classic Philippine beverage and dessert sago and gulaman with Aiyu Jelly Grass Jelly Tea. However, if you want to go the classic route, they have cold Oolong, Black, and Green tea too, so all of the taste profiles of tea are covered.
10. TWG Tea Boutique
TWG Tea takes pride in its finest teas across the world, so you are guaranteed the same prestigious experience in their tea boutiques. Peruse the seemingly unending selection of premium teas housed in luxurious steel cylinder packaging and prepare for the indecision dilemma because of the sheer number of choices. If you are still having a hard time choosing, have a seat and relish the meringue crunch of their delicate macarons or order a Seared Ribeye Steak to delay the decision process. Once you’re ready, take a pick among French Earl Grey, Black, Royal Darjeeling, or Eternal Summer Teas. However, we won’t blame you if you take each of everything home. Sneak in some tea jellies or an entire design collection of tea equipment to your purchases for you to enjoy the same excellent experience at home.
Amid the flurry of activities in Cebu, it still has spaces for winding down and taking a breather. And with these tea cafes and shops, you know where best to go to.
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