Tea bars and cafes are sprouting more in the number of brands and their branches across the city. So there’s really no excuse for me (and you) not to try one at least—unless you’re following a super strict diet. I don’t have any addiction or obsession with teas but I appreciate the taste of bitter and sweet together.
Today together with my office colleagues, I visited a friend’s franchise of Infinitea, another tea haven, to discover how good (or bad) their teas taste like. This post intends to showcase my thoughts on its best recommended drink: Wintermelon Milk Tea. To give more justice to this post, let me share what I think of this branch on the whole.
Review of Infinitea (Benavidez Branch)
Ambiance: ★★★★☆
This Infinitea branch is small but a thing of beauty. It had its first anniversary yesterday but the place was newly renovated, so its ambiance is really fresh and invigorating. With the limited floor space it covers, this tea house seems to possess a special charm that inspires intimate get-togethers apart from casual walk-ins.
Interior theme is a mix of green and brown from the walls, counter, tables and chairs. It’s a place where you can stay without worrying about time. It gives patrons encouragement to huddle over a cup while chatting with friends. Three types of seats are available for customers: regular chairs, sofa seats and the ones outside for those who prefer natural air and those who smoke.
Service: ★★★★★
Navigating the menu at Infinitea can be a bit tricky. Why? It’s broken down into sections: milk teas, coffee selections, flavored fruit teas, original teas and add-ons. How much should you order, and which one? The dizzying parade of flavors would make your head spin, with each one looking better than the last.
Good enough, their staff offered recommendations and helped us choose the customers’ favorites of all time. After shaking the concoction up and down, they’ll signal the drinks that are ready for pickup at the counter with a gadget with a number.
Drink: ★★★★☆
Customers may choose the amount of sugar and ice put into the drink, from 100% full sugar, 70% less sugar, half sugar, quarter sugar and no sugar. Mine encompassed the default which was probably half sugar. It did not lean toward the sickeningly side of sweet at all. The pearls were very chewy and they did not give my dental braces a hard time.
In a fantasy world, I’d probably buy myself one Infinitea drink per week (or a couple more times). But since I’m watching my weight sternly, I prefer to be stuck to my discipline and take these refreshments once a month at most. Health benefits and fitness take precedence over anything else, in my world! An exception maybe is when their drinks would be pinched in with ashitaba—a rare case I pray would materialize in the future. 😛
Price for Value: ★★★★☆
For the price range of PHp 40 to PHp 80, Infinitea drinks can provide you with a good introduction to the world of milk tea. It caters to the Class A-B market. This little tea shop serves a good artisan teas with bounty of flavors that add fuel for the soul.
Infinitea’s milk tea is not one to be messed with. Aside from milk teas, Infinitea at Benavidez now also serves coffee mixes! Since it’s near the Chinese schools in Manila (just across Hope Christian High School), I guess Infinitea drinks would be perfect to release stress of students from completing assignments and studying hard for exams. They can also serve to please anyone’s afternoon on the dock and satiate people’s craving for desserts after lunch (or dinner, for those who have tutoring sessions at night).
Another plus of Infinitea is that it offers delivery service for free, with a minimum order of four cups—to nearby areas reachable via bicycle. 😀
About Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco
Health and technology freak. Food and lifestyle blogger with a large appetite for food and travel.
I’m a big fan of tea beverages! Marami na ngang tea shops ngayon all over the country. Gusto ko yung caramel tea ng 360 🙂
Infinitea has a caramel tea on its menu. I would love to also try it. 🙂
i’ve heard infinitea also somewhere or other blogs sounds really nice and delicious!! i love teas too!
Yes, value for money indeed. I mean, even if they are a lot more cheaper than the other tea house or shops, the products they offer looks yummy!
I agree, these tea shops are opening up one after the other here in the Philippines. I’ve tried some of them and had mixed experiences. On the other hand, these shops are a good alternative to coffee shops which are on the expensive side. Infinitea looks promising. Will try them out soon 🙂
I know Barry Yu. He is a former blockmate in college. I never envisioned him as a successful businessman haha
In all seriousness, good luck to his business. I love Infinitea and I already tried the branch nearest to me.
I have to admit.. I’m a milk tea addict too! I always order Pudding Milk Tea and it’s yuuuumm!!
I just had it 2 weeks ago.. 😀
Pudding milk tea is ♥!
Milk tea shops really thrive when they’re located near schools, universities and offices 😀 It’s the new hype after fruit shakes, pearl drinks and maybe even frappe. Anyway, I haven’t tried Infinitea yet despite my love for milk teas and teas in general. I’ll make sure to try one or two of their offerings though when I see a branch 🙂
I just love how these tea shops got their names – Inifinitea, serenitea, universitea and many more. 🙂 Anyway, haven’t tried one but my friends keep saying that milk tea is good. Infinitea is cheap ha. 40-80 pesos lang. I though 150 up ang prices. 🙂
Tea’s are the trend now in the Philippines. i want to try this infinitea’s too.
It is very good to know that TEA STORES are BOOMING here in the Philippines. Since Filipino are not that fond of a tea but still we are embracing this kind of drinks.
Good thing they have their branch near our church. I will soon pay a visit to this shop together with my church mates.
Is it UECP? Cool. 🙂
there is a new Milk tea and tamayaki store in town, Tea Monkey. tried their tamayaki balls, it was good that I bought 2 extra orders home for my family to taste it.
https://www.facebook.com/TeaMonkeyTamayakiTea
Wah the monkeys are cute. I liked your Facebook page. 🙂 Thanks for dropping by.