Serenitea in Cebu

            Even if I'm a food blogger, I'm not one to join the bandwagon of fads in the food industry. And we all know milk tea has been all the rage this year but you barely see posts of these on my blog. Well, i think that explains itself. Dont get me wrong, I'm no hater. I'm just not as crazy about it. However, I do like milk tea cafe's because they're great alternative hangouts when your favorite coffee shop is full. 

             Serenitea is said to be the pioneer milk tea cafe in the Philippines. Seems like it since I first heard of it in 2009, way before milk tea was in the limelight. I've heard nothing but great comments about their tea but believe it or not, it was only last month during their grand opening when I first tasted their milk tea. 

            Serenitea's first branch was in Manila in 2008 and now has over 23 company-owned branches in and outside Metro Manila, including their first franchised outlet in Cebu City. They started operations here since last March with an open area setting. They then opened an indoor, air-conditioned extension last month at their grand opening. Their indoor area is furbished with plush couches and comfy chairs. It can accommodate up to 30 people and outlets are available for charging gadgets or laptops.   

            Their menu offers a wide variety of tea mixes to choose from. If you have a hard time choosing, the helpful staff give you suggestions or you can take your pick from their Top 10 list. I actually visited them the night before the grand opening to get the actual  experience of a regular customer. 

            Okinawa Milk Tea is their best seller so I chose that without the pearls to really taste the milk tea itself. It was definitely a treat, something different for once, from the usual Wintermelon favorites in other milk tea places. It felt light, not overwhelmingly rich yet substantial. It also did not leave an unpleasant bitter aftertaste. The customer service was also great. The staff were accommodating and I like the organized set up of the shop wherein ordering and claiming are separate. 

                On the day of the grand opening, Serenitea gave out free JUMBO upsize for every order of drinks from their Top 10 list the whole day. My eyes definitely went JUMBO to see such a big container that one's hand could barely hold. It was 1 liter big! But this size is exclusively available for if you book special occasions at their outlet. 

        

              This time, I got the fruitea -- Cranberry Green Tea w/ Perilla (basil seeds) at 50% sugar level (my default sugar level). Again, I was not disappointed. The drink was so refreshing, it easily became my favorite. And I was so amused by the perilla seeds that floated in the middle of my drink. It was my first time to taste them. I thought it would be impossible for me to finish my huge drink but eventually, I had an empty cup in my hand. It was so refreshing, sip was followed by another sip unconsciously, almost like a reflex.

             I sandwiched my fruitea with my fellow bloggers' milk teas. I noticed that the black pearls (sago) they serve are smaller than the usual ones from other milk tea cafe's. Personally, I prefer that because then I don't have to chew so long. It gets tiring, y'know. Makes me feel like a goat or cow chewing on cud, no offense. My friends prefer the regular-sized pearls though.

JUMBO milk teas: (from left) Sinjin of libotero.com's Wintermelon Milk Tea w/ pearl and nata, my Cranberry Green Tea w/ perilla, and Angeli of foodiecraft.com's Okinawa Milk Tea with pearls

               

              The new indoor area was launched by the franchisee and partners of Serenitea Cebu: 

(Center) Juliet Herrera, owner and general manager of Serenitea Cebu, with her business partners Chloe Ong and Francisco Bernardo 

                Their indoor area is definitely a serene place to stay for some good milk tea and company. I actually like staying here when I can to work on the blog. The modern minimalist interiors create a liberating atmosphere for the mind although it's not exactly a place to chat with friends because it can easily be heard by others around. It would be best for studying and online work. :)

           Though I'm no milk tea junkie, Serenitea won me over with their blends. I found out that what truly makes them stand out is that they are the first and only milk tea shop in the country that uses a "teaspresso" machine. That means each order of tea drink is freshly brewed to ensure the service of qualiTEAS (see what I did there?). So, if you wanna make sure you get fresh milk teas, this is the place to go. Their wifi here is fast, too. ;)

Serenitea

Podium Level, Calyx Centre, Cebu IT Park, 

Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City 6000

Operating Hours:  Sun - Thurs     11 am - 12 mn

                                Fri - Sat            11 am - 1 am

Contact:   (032) 236 3228

For updates and more information, just like, follow, or visit their social media accounts: 

Facebook: Serenitea Cebu Official Facebook Page

Twitter: @iloveserenitea

Website: www.iloveserenitea.com

"To know Cebu, eat Cebu! :D"

oink oink,

Babe for Food

- your BFF in Cebu dining! :)

Chatime Cebu

        I first read about Chatime on Shoot First Eat Later, a Manila-based blog. I was in Hong Kong during the last week of May and I found Chatime at the airport but unfortunately, the group was in a rush to check in the hotel and I didn’t get to find it again anywhere else.

         Chatime is a superstar  tea shop (if it's in the HK airport, then it must be something, right?) from Taiwan and has made it to international shores. Finally, it’s here in Cebu! I was there during the first day of the soft opening last month with Kazoot, one of my best friends in culinary school who just came back from working in a cruise ship.   

            The moment you enter the shop, you are greeted cheerfully and unanimously by the staff, "Welcome to Chatime!". The interior is bright and quite dainty, a dollhouse feel with the purple and pink theme. The seats are plush and outlets are conveniently provided beside the long tables for you to charge your gadgets for free while enjoying your drink. :)

           Here, you can moderate the ice content of your drink and the sweetness level. At the counter, you will find a list of the top ten drinks they serve. I chose the Yogurt Lychee QQ since it looked irresistible. I could try the milk tea some other time because I'd definitely go back. I wanna finish that list to find out which one I like best. ;)

             Kazoot, on the other hand, got the Grass Jelly Milk Tea. 

Top 10 Bestsellers: 1) Pearl Milk Tea, 2) Chocolate Mousse, 3) Chatime Roasted Milk Tea, 4) Red Bean Milk Tea, 5) Taro Milk Tea, 6) QQ Milk Tea, 7) Grass Jelly Milk Tea, 8) Yogurt Lychee QQ, 9) Banana Milk Tea, 10) Mango Green Tea

          After several returns, I've tried the Chatime Milk Tea, Chatime Roasted Milk Tea, Chocolate Mousse and Strawberry Slush. Of all the top 10 drinks I've tried so far, Yogurt Lychee QQ is still my favorite. It's the most refreshing drink I've ever had and I love nibbling on the pearl-coco jelly combo. . :)

All in large: Yogurt Lychee QQ - P95 (mine) and Grass Jelly Milk Tea - P85 (Kazoot's)

            The menu offers a wide variety of Mellow Milk Teas, Smoothie Series, QQ Jelly (QQ = black pearls + coconut jelly), Oriental Pop Tea, Chatime Mousse, Fresh Tea, Energetic Healthy Juice, Coffee/Hot Drinks, Chatime Special Mix, and Chatime EATS for some snacks to go with your drinks. 

              All milk teas come with one free topping. You can choose from pearl, grass jelly and pudding. You can also add an extra serving of these for only P15. Other toppings you could  add are mousse, coffee jelly, coco jelly, rainbow jelly, red bean, and aloe vera for P20.

                If you get hungry, they also have the right fix for that. This is the only the tea shop I know that serves rice. Chatime EATS are Annatto Pilaf Rice - P18 (like Java rice), Chicken Chops - P75, and French Fries - P65(available in Parmesan Cheese, Cheddar Cheese, and Barbecue).

            The Chicken Chops have such a crunchy coating. I'm sure it matches well with the Annatto Pilaf Rice. And the french fries, they're thick and crispy. The serving is also quite big, a great value for the price. I like the barbecue and cheddar cheese flavors best. :)

Salt n Pepper Chicken Chops - P75

French Fries - P65
Flavors: Cheddar Cheese, Parmesan Cheese, Barbecue
(served individually per flavor)

              So far, Chatime is a favorite hangout of many for its refreshing drinks and comfy and posh ambience. Today's the grand opening at 1 pm and there's gonna be a secret celebrity! They will be launching new promos, and products, so don't miss it! :)

Chatime
eBloc 2, Asiatown IT Park,
Salinas Dr., Lahug, Cebu City


Operating Hours:       Mon - Thurs       11 AM - 12 MN
                                Fri & Sat            11 AM - 1 AM
                                Sun                    11 AM - 11 PM


Facebook: facebook.com/chatimecebu
Twitter: @ChatimePH



" To know Cebu, eat Cebu!" :D

oink oink,

Babe for Food

- your BFF in Cebu dining! :)

The Green Refreshment

            I had a spontaneous meeting at UCC Cafe about a partnership for a mobile dining app. I shall share it to you soon but anyway, yeah, so I ordered a Kiwi Juice. I love citrus and tangy fruits and this little green one is a favorite! It's what I usually have with froyo. :D

        This was so refreshing and genuine, I think it's my favorite juice to date! It actually had fresh kiwi bits and I love the delicately crisp seeds that pop in my mouth. Since this was a treat, I didn't know the exact price but definitely between P150-200. 

UCC Cafe Terrace

G/F Ayala Terraces, Cebu City

To know Cebu, eat Cebu! :D

oink oink,

Babe for Food

- your BFF in CEbu dining! :)

Tea & Symphony

         With milk teas leading the food trend in Cebu, here's one called Tea & Symphony that just launched this month. It is located at the ground floor of UC Banilad. This is quite convenient for me compared to Cobo because it's along my route to school. 

        I was invited to the launching but I missed it so I dropped by one day with my friend , Chin-Chin, on our way to school. We were greeted by a cozy, clean and simple interior; perfect for study groups, small meetings, or even alone time. Picture frames of tea farmers at a tea leaf farm line the walls and they also have a spot where you can leave traces of your visit on a message board.     

the message board. leave a note! :)

the menu board

        They serve freshly brewed teas, milk teas, fruit teas and non-tea beverages with a variety of toppings to pair. Aloe Vera, Grass Jelly and Egg Pudding toppings are a must try! You can have their brewed teas and milk teas either hot or cold in small, medium or large serving. They also offer Taiwanese street food snacks! Choices are Chicken, Fish and Tofu in either Salt n Pepper or Wasabi Pepper. Being the more adventurous diner, I got wasabi pepper fish. Sweetness level is offered in Normal (100%), Less (75%), Half (50%), Mild (25%) and Healthy (0%). Chin-Chin tried their house blend, Tea & Symphony milk tea in normal sweetness, and I got their Panda milk tea (Tea & Symphony + black and white pearls), one of their mash up drinks, in 75% sweetness.      

pretty Chin-Chin! :)

:)

their snack bag :))

Fish in Wasabi Pepper

        I found the fish quite salty but I loved the fried basil they included in the serving. The wasabi pepper was also just mild. My Panda milk tea was a bit too sweet to my taste so I think 50% sweetness would have been better. 


         I visited this place again last week with Doyzkie of iluvcebu.com and his friends JP and Javier. We had Tea & Symphony, Black Dragon, Wintermelon, Hokkaido and Panda milk teas (all at 50% sweetness), Apple Double Fruit Tea (Apple Green Tea + Green Apple Nata) and all three of their snacks - Chicken (in Salt n Pepper), Fish and Tofu (both in Wasabi Pepper). Only the Apple Double did not fit in the liking of our taste buds but everything else was really good. I particularly loved the Black Dragon with Aloe Vera Nata and the Tofu in Wasabi Pepper! :) 


         Tea & Symphony must have been named so because of the harmony of their teas and the pleasant music played in the cafe. They play acoustic, bossa nova and some blues at a pleasing audio level. The place is also very kempt and their teas are freshly brewed as you order! Definitely a place for you to cool down and relax without the guilt (if you're enemies with fat/cholesterol). ;)  


Price range:
Milk Teas - P60 - P75
Brewed Tea - P55 - P70
Snacks - P50


Operating Hours:
Mon - Thurs   9 AM - 10 PM
Fri - Sun        1 PM - 10 PM


Tea and Symphony 
G/F UC Banilad, Cebu City


Map: link

Like them on Facebook! 


To know Cebu, eat Cebu!

xoxo,

Babe for Food

- your BFF in Cebu dining! :)

Thirsty?

       On a random afternoon, I got quite a surprise from a message I received from the marketing head of Thirsty, Ms. Pia Mercado. She was inviting me to a press con for their new products but unfortunately, since I've been having problems with my laptop, I was only able to read the message after the date of the event. Sad! But she was really kind to contact me when I gave her my mobile number to give me some gift certificates to try their new products. This was the first time I'd receive something for my blog! 


        So, I got 5 coupons to try their Fresh Fruit Salad w/ Nestle Yogurt. I've actually already tried this and even the one with cream before. It's always been my favorite snack (Fresh FRUITS are my happiness!). Now that it comes with Nestle yogurt and more varieties of fruits, it's even more loveable! The fresh fruit salad is now made healthier and tastier with mango, watermelon, apple, grapes, lychee, sweet corn, buko (young coconut strips) and banana and a dollop of Nestle yogurt for only P65 (small), P80 (regular) and P90 (large). The small size is perfect for a solo serving and the regular size is already generous which makes the large size good to share. 

        And, they had a photo contest for a chance to win a Blackberry phone which runs from February 29, 2012 to April 11, 2012. The mechanics were to just take a photo of you or with friends enjoying the fruit salad with yogurt and email it to pagesholdings@yahoo.com. I really wanted to join this and I even made an effort to do a photo shoot just for this because I badly need a new phone right now and Blackberry would've been perfect for my blog and tweets BUT I missed the deadline of submission of entries! So much for my efforts. The deadline was on March 9 and I did the shoot on March 13. Oh well. :( 

Here are the top picks for my supposed entries:


photos by: Joy Real http://www.facebook.com/joy.real1

Yes, I'm FAT now. :|

        Quick shoutout: Thank you so much Chene Denisse Wayne Echavez for proposing this shoot for me and being the muse. And thanks much to Joy Real for the great shots! :D


I mean c'mon, don't you think I deserve a blackberry for this? :(


       They also have a contest for tweeties to win an iPod shuffle. There are three draws for this - March 14, March 28 and April 4. So, if you've got a Twitter account and wanna win an iPod shuffle, just follow @ThirstyFresh and retweet "@ThirstyFresh I love THIRSTY's fresh fruit salad with nestle yogurt! #032contest". There are still two more draws so go grab your chance! 

      
       Summer is finally here and Thirsty has two new shakes to cool you down for the season - Mojo and Rasta; additions to their existing Tropical Rain shake. The concoctions are still a secret though. Definitely something to look forward to in the heat! 

        
        Aside from these, if you haven't noticed, Thirsty now offers yogurt with their shakes WITHOUT added cost. And not just any yogurt (like those commercial powdered ones) but Nestle yogurt so it's reliable. Yogurt shakes made with fresh fruits and at very affordable prices! I'd love to try their guyabano shake now in season. 


Meet the heat this summer the healthy way - with Thirsty! :D

Go for GREEN!
photo by: http://www.iluvcebu.com

Like Thirsty on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thirstyfruitjuicesandshakes and

follow them on Twitter: @ThirstyFresh. 

To know Cebu, eat Cebu! :D

xoxo,

Babe For Food

- your BFF in Cebu dining! :)

Awesome Possibiliteas Take 2

        Okay, so I can't get enough of Cobo. It's got my mind on chains to all the “awesome possibiliteas” I could try; one of them being their snow ice. Judging from the name, I thought it was just the usual shaved ice drizzled with flavored syrup. But when I saw this served to one customer on an occasion, it looked like froyo with toppings and this made me determined to try it sometime.

         

         Finally, one gluttonous night (after eating 4 sticks of pork bbq and 2 and a half pcs of puso at Matias; *BURP* excuse me :3), Dad wanted his usual dose of McDonald’s vanilla sundae cone at J Center. But I had another thing in mind; this was the opportunity for that snow ice that’s been haunting me.

            

         So I trudged along to that colorful little shop and ordered myself a solo green tea snow ice with twin chewsomes (in simpler terms, 2 toppings) – green apple cocochew and passion fruit burst bubbles. Yes, they all do not complement each other at all but these were the flavors I really wanted to try first. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’m a fruity fan. Hence, the choices for my snow ice.

solo green tea snow ice with passion fruit burst bubbles and green apple cocochew

P 65

        The snow ice is served with choices of solo (P 40) or to share (P 70) servings and chewsome toppings for an additional amount of P 15 for single, P 25 for twins and P35 for triplets. It looked like slightly creamy shaved ice but had the texture of very light and airy ice cream. Interesting, but I’d have to say I’d still prefer froyo or their milk teas. I am planning on trying a better combination next time though, one that finally complements each component.

            

       It’s a rare comment but I can really say Cobo is lavish and extra generous with their servings in terms of their toppings. I can’t believe I can say this, but it’s too much for me (what is too much for the “babe”?). Haha. Not really sure if that’s a good thing but I guess it is because in this sense, too much is better than too little. At least satisfaction is achieved and maybe even more than expected.

            

         Though most of the ingredients used for the products served here are artificially flavored (which I don’t favor so much), I think what’s unique and most addicting about this place is the fun you can have with the flavors and combinations therewith. I would also just like to commend the staff, particularly a “Gino”, who recognizes regular customers and does a great job with the concoctions. They also suggest drinks or other items that they know you haven’t tried but might like. I was encouraged to try their chicken snack and jello smoothies next time so those are definitely next on the list.

*Open Mon-Sun 10 am - 9 pm

             

Cobo

J Center Mall, A.S. Fortuna St., Banilad, Cebu City

To know Cebu, eat Cebu! :D

xoxo,

Babe For Food

- your BFF in Cebu dining! :)

Cobo: Awesome Possibiliteas

     Let's do a recap of the food trends in Cebu City: From pearl shakes (Zagu, Quickly, Jello), to pizzas (Alberto's was phenomenal back then), to ribs (Casa Verde and Mooon Cafe were once close rivals), to burgers (Dong Juan and those 'buy 1 take 1' stalls), to fro-yo, cupcakes and now to MILK TEA! One positive thing I noticed is it's getting healthier. I, for one, love fro-yo and milk tea! I try to have some at least once a week. :D 

     I know of 3 milk tea specialty outlets in town - Bubble Bee Tea House, Teariffic (at SM Cebu City's Lower Ground Floor) and Cobo (at J Center Mall). I had mentioned in an earlier post that J Center is a frequented place for me and dad since it is nearby our residence. What actually draws me most to this place is Cobo, a Taiwan milk tea franchise. When Bubble Bee Tea House opened, I adored their drinks but it was Cobo that ignited the craving streaks.    

     The colorful interiors attract and invite passersby who cannot help but pause with inquisition of the playful concept; like me! They have comfy, unique, colorful chairs and a cute doodle-like mural. Aside from their milk teas, they also serve coffee, Taiwanese chicken, dimsum and a delectable cold dessert they call snow ice. 

unique and colorful chairs!

the cute and cool mural :D

snow ice!

the counter

      The first item I had here was honeydew with strawberry bubble burstea smoothie. I loved this refreshing and unique concoction. It came with a generous serving of sago (rice pearls) and the bursting bubbles were the biggest surprise. It was like oversized sweet caviar or simply like a delicate sago that isn't chewy and bursts in your mouth with a flavored syrup as soon as you bite it. That's a little molecular gastronomy in your drink! Definitely as good as it sounds and this got me hooked from then on. Unfortunately, the picture is in my friend's iphone and her phone had to be fixed so I wasn't able to retrieve the photo. Boo.

      I still wasn't able to take a photo during my next visit when I had their taro floating sea salt. This didn't really suit my taste buds though. 

       My dear friend since high school who is now studying in France is finally back for vacation so I brought her to Cobo to catch up on each other. We had their Cobo Milk Tea which we enjoyed chatting the night away with that we stayed past the closing time of the shop. Some of our friends who happened to be around also joined us for a while. 

my dear Jamaica and I with our Cobo milk teas! 

16 oz Cobo Milk Tea

     Cobo won my heart for milk tea because it's UNIQUE in every way! And of course it's addictingly delicious! From the flavors, to the furnishing and the design. Not to mention the generous serving of their pearls (sago) and other toppings (they also have chewdle, bursting bubbles, flavored jelly) and it's  affordable.

      I also love the option they offer for degree of sweetness in your drink. You can opt for extra mild, mild, average, normal and very sweet. Drink sizes are 16 oz and 22 oz. I have yet to try their snow ice next time though. I thought it was just flavored shaved ice but it actually turned out to be like ice cream or froyo which you can add toppings to. Oh, the awesome possibiliteas at Cobo! You just can't get enough. :D 

AWESOME POSSIBILITEAS :)

Price range: P 70-110 

Cobo is located at J Center Mall, A.S. Fortuna St. Banilad, Cebu City. 

xx

Babe For Food

- your BFF in Cebu dining!