SINGAPORE – Coconut shakes, tomato plum tea – every year, I search for a cool drink that will help me get through the hot months in Singapore.

In 2025, it is Beutea’s Bitter Melon Coriander Tea ($7.90). Oh, I know you just made a face, but it is delicious and, more importantly, very refreshing.

There is bittergourd, coriander, green apple, grapefruit, kale and lemon in the drink, although the bittergourd is very dialled down. And despite the arsenal of fruit and vegetables, the jasmine tea base stands out.

The tea in bubble tea is so often drowned out by toppings and flavourings, but the floral lilt of this one is so beguiling. And then there is that herbaceousness from the coriander and zing from the lemon.

The Malaysian brand, by the same people behind Oriental Kopi, uses tea leaves from Yunnan and Wuyi in China.

If the queue for bubble tea is too long, I just get a bottle of its excellent cold brew teas. There are four – Osmanthus Oolong, White Peach Oolong, Forested Roasted and Jasmine Green Tea ($4.90 a bottle). All are good, but the White Peach Oolong especially so.

Where: Outlets at 01-158 Tiong Bahru Plaza, 01-127 Northpoint City, 01-19 Tampines MRT station, 02-30 Junction 8, 02-07 iMall
Info:

@beutea.sg

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