Oh the weather outside may not be frightful, but the dipping temperatures and freak winds are reason enough to make you want to curl up indoors with a warm cup of tea. Whether you’re gifting friends and family or spoiling yourself, here are the best festive teas for a very merry Christmas.
The 1872 Clipper Tea Co.
Unfortunately for all of us, big boys The 1872 Clipper Tea Co. have already sold out of their exclusive Christmas Ice-Cream Truck tea set ($15), which pulled together three ice cream-inspired blends in a new-age Santa mobile packaging (sleighs must be so 2016). But you can still choose from their other award-winning teas to get you in the merry mood—like the Blissful Berries blend (from $18), a mix of raspberries, blackberries, hibiscus and strawberries; or the Timeless Earl Grey (from $16), which, true to its name, will make a great staple in anyone’s pantry even after Christmas.
Available at: ION Orchard, Raffles City, Tangs Orchard, Tangs @ VivoCity
Ette Tea
We first fell in love with local tea atelier Ette Tea at Renku lounge in Marina Bay Sands. Their permanent selection of locally inspired teas like the Chicken Rice, Pandan Earl Grey and The Moon Represents My Heart are firm favorites, but their Christmas special looks set to please too. Playing off the rich coconut milk flavor of santan, Santan Claus ($26) is a bold black tea blend with coconut, vanilla, pandan, cinnamon and safflower—for the tea drinker who likes their brews fiercely aromatic. Brew in a pot of milk and you’ve got the perfect Singaporean Christmas tea.
Available at: Ette Tea Shop & Atelier (333 Kreta Ayer Road), Naiise, Tangs Orchard, National Museum of Singapore
Pin Tea
Another notable player in the local tea industry, Pin Tea is celebrating the festive season with the return of an exclusive Christmas blend, Merry Mount—a snow chrysanthemum herbal blend perfect for resting and recuperating from the arduous year. If you aren’t in the mood for a Chinese tea, try the all-new concoction Raffles Royale, an early grey lavender blend; or pick from one of their other cheekily named teas instead (Amoy Ahoy, Tekka Minute, and Belle of Bugis, for example).
Available at: Isetan Re-Style, Naiise, Qoo10, Keepers @ National Design Centre
T2
Premium Australian tea brand T2 is celebrating the “natural world” this holiday season, with two limited edition Christmas loose leaf teas themed “Joy 2 the Wild”. For the fruity tea lover, Paradise Punch brews up a velvety smooth banana strawberry tea, while Mulled Wine Magic marries notes of traditional mulled wine with spice and citrus. Best of all, they come in gorgeously printed tins ($30 each) worthy of any Secret Santa gifting.
Available at: ION Orchard, Great World City, 313@Somerset
Teafolia
It’s not exactly a loose leaf retailer, but brand new fruit tea and smoothie bar Teafolia serves up healthy beverages made with premium tea leaves for when you’re on-the-go and don’t want a bubble tea. The Signature Fruit Tea ($5.90), for instance, features chunks of watermelon, green apple, lime, lemon and pineapple pulp in a freshly brewed floral tea. But for Christmas, try the Orange Teaffee ($5.90), a unique blend of Ethiopian coffee and premium green tea topped with orange slices and orange juice, available from now till Dec 26.
Available at: Bedok Mall, Tampines MRT
