TEA TIME IN SINGAPORE
Condé Nast Traveller India|February - April 2023
A new generation of curators is infusing fresh life into Singapore's tea culture, finds Shamilee Vellu
Shamilee Vellu
TEA TIME IN SINGAPORE

Something's brewing in Singaporeit's fresh, young and full of flavour. While traditional tea houses continue to serve those who enjoy their tea as an act of leisure, the island nation is now also home to a new breed of curators, teaware makers and unstuffy, modern tea ateliers that welcome both sophisticated sippers and neophytes alike.

"When I first started in 2014, the tea scene [in Singapore] was stagnant and hadn't changed much since the 1990s." says Kenny Leong who curates a range of tea experiences and runs the website teatle-tattle.com. In the seven years since he has seen the emergence of new tea establishments, many run by people in their 30s or younger. This has given him hope that tea might take off just like third-wave coffee did. "We could have bars and shops offering really high-quality, artisanal, hand-brewed teas, and maybe even micro-batches of tea roasted by the brand's in-house experts. That would truly be exciting." says Leong. 

There is definitely change afoot and here's how to savour the best of this emerging culture on your next trip to the Little Red Dot.

TEA TASTING

Run by a pair of millennials, SILK Tea Bar is a hidden, minimal space in a Chinatown shophouse that offers "contemporary tea experiences" without the stiff formality of traditional tea brewing rituals. Its streamlined menu focuses on single-origin Chinese varietals and progressive brews (where the flavour of tea evolves with consecutive steeps). A recent "tasting night" offered guests a chance to go beyond Tieguanyin, the most sought-after variety from China's Anxi County and explore seven other oolong teas from this region.

This story is from the February - April 2023 edition of Condé Nast Traveller India.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the February - April 2023 edition of Condé Nast Traveller India.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM CONDÉ NAST TRAVELLER INDIAView All
Made In Nagaland
Condé Nast Traveller India

Made In Nagaland

From home textiles to jewellery, clothing, and more, here are the 10 Naga craft brands you need to know. By Sohini Dey

time-read
4 mins  |
November - December - January 2024 - 25
TOKYO RIGHT NOW
Condé Nast Traveller India

TOKYO RIGHT NOW

As impossible to pigeonhole as ever, the Japanese capital is buzzing with fresh influences and new ideas

time-read
10+ mins  |
November - December - January 2024 - 25
RAISING RAI: WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS
Condé Nast Traveller India

RAISING RAI: WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS

Raghu and Avani Rai on connecting via worlds seen through their lenses.

time-read
4 mins  |
November - December - January 2024 - 25
GILDED WATERS
Condé Nast Traveller India

GILDED WATERS

Paula Hardy boards one of the last remaining dahabiyas on the Nile for a different perspective of Egypt's storied river

time-read
3 mins  |
November - December - January 2024 - 25
THE GIRL WITH GRAND DESIGNS
Condé Nast Traveller India

THE GIRL WITH GRAND DESIGNS

Gauravi Kumari is part of Jaipur's new creative set that is bringing fresh perspectives to the city's design legacy.

time-read
6 mins  |
November - December - January 2024 - 25
A FACE FOR ADVENTURE
Condé Nast Traveller India

A FACE FOR ADVENTURE

Retooling the iconic Rolex GMT-Master II for fresh explorations.

time-read
1 min  |
November - December - January 2024 - 25
THE GRAND seduction
Condé Nast Traveller India

THE GRAND seduction

Palermo's chaos, swagger, and temperamental charm cast a hypnotic spell.

time-read
8 mins  |
November - December - January 2024 - 25
Rhythm Divine
Condé Nast Traveller India

Rhythm Divine

Wherever you go in Gwalior, the myth and magic of Tansen are inescapable, as Sam Dalrymple finds out.

time-read
8 mins  |
November - December - January 2024 - 25
IDEAL WORLD
Condé Nast Traveller India

IDEAL WORLD

Palestinian chef Fadi Kattan explains why he went ahead with the publication of Bethlehem, his celebratory cookbook.

time-read
6 mins  |
November - December - January 2024 - 25
NUJUMA, A RITZ-CARLTON RESERVE SAUDI ARABIA
Condé Nast Traveller India

NUJUMA, A RITZ-CARLTON RESERVE SAUDI ARABIA

On alittle-visited Red Sea archipelago, the Middle East’s first Ritz-Carlton Reserve reflects both untapped nature and hyperreal modernity, finds Noo Saro-Wiwa.

time-read
3 mins  |
November - December - January 2024 - 25