Cheers to new beginnings at Sakura Hanami, Maginhawa

At last, we have come to the end of 2020 and we are all looking forward to new beginnings in the coming year.

Did you know that the sakura-cha (cherry blossom tea) symbolizes new beginnings? Because of this, it is a popular drink during weddings and other celebrations in Japan.

Since cherry blossoms can only be harvested once a year, the Japanese began pickling them in salt and ume plum vinegar. This allowed them to enjoy the distinct sakura flavor throughout the year.

At Maginhawa QC tea shop Sakura Hanami, tea lovers can bask in the presence of these cheery cherry blossoms.

Here, they can also enjoy a Traditional Cherry Blossom Tea (Php195). With this clear and pink-hued drink with a floral aftertaste (made by steeping pickled cherry blossoms which seemingly blooms in hot water), sweetened with rich golden honey, tea-tahs like me and my foodie friends can sit together, reminisce about past great times and look forward to fun adventures ahead of us.

For those who want to cool down with a tasty beverage, they can check out Sakura Hanami’s signature flavors in XL cups.

Lava Pearl Latte (Php180). Sakura Hanami’s flagship drink featuring the smooth and silky combination milk, coffee and lava syrup infused with black sugar.

Peach Paradise (Php195). Refreshing green tea with a sweet fruity taste and real peach slices, topped with chia seeds.

Cookie Butter Milk Tea (Php250). For the dessert lovers out there, this concoction of flavorful tea, creamy milk and cookie butter may sate your sweet cravings.

You can enjoy these extra-large drinks by yourself or better yet, share them with friends!

If you want to take the Sakura Hanami experience home with you, get yourself a DIY cup or two such as a Choco Overload Milk Tea (Php79) or a Hokkaido Caramel Milk Tea (Php79). To craft your your refreshing cup of milk tea, just steep the black tea leaves in hot water for ten minutes, take out the leaves, pour in the flavorings, stir and you’re done!

Sakura Hanami brings that refreshing feeling of spring to lea lovers anytime of the year. We know that we can always surround ourselves with the cheeriness pf cherry blossoms anytime, helping us welcome our new beginnings.

I had a lovely time with my fellow tea-tahs Jen of SandUnderMyFeet.com, Nix of IEatAndIWander.com, Anj of AnjColumna.com and Chryz of Chryzpontaneous. Thanks to Midz of GastronomidaPH.com for extending the invitation!

This Sakura Hanami branch is located at 168 Maginhawa Street, Sikatuna Village, Quezon City, open daily from 12 noon to 9.30pm. It recently re-opened for safe dining with protocols in place for the New Normal such as the mandatory use of face masks and face shields inside the premises, provision of hand sanitizers and contact tracing.

Other Sakura Hanami branches in the metro are located at:

• 1021 P. Ocampo Corner Arellano Street, Malate, Manila
• Second Floor, Fusebox Food Park, 1254 Asturias Street, Sampaloc, Manila

Sakura Hanami also delivers via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

Disclosure: Together with fellow food bloggers, I was invited to sample Sakura Hanami’s offerings.  Beverage items mentioned here (except for the DIY milk tea cups) were served for us to taste the fare to facilitate our honest reviews and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Check out my reviews of other milk tea joints:

• Tantea, Tomas Morato
• Bon Appetea, Milagrosa Katipunan
• Paper Moon Cafe’s, Trinoma
• Chachago, SM East Ortigas
• Serenitea, Greenhills
• Gong Cha, L&Y Plaza
• Tea 101, California Garden Square
• Gotcha Fresh Tea, Greenhills
• Brown Cafe, BGC
• Jelly G Thai Milk Tea, Ayala Malls Feliz
• Sakura Hanami, Maginhawa
• Teals & Tea Cafe, Santa Lucia
• Bubba Lab, Graceland Plaza
• Tiger Sugar, Trinoma Mall
• Pig Tea, Sta Lucia
• Juice Cubi, MOA Complex
• Chachago, Tomas Morato
• Bubba Lab, Lamp Quarters
• Gong Cha, Tomas Morato
• Cha Tuk Chak, Greenhills
• The Alley, SM North EDSA
• Infinitea, Tomas Morato
• Xing Fu Tang, Greenhills
• Dakasi, Tomas Morato
• Chatime, SM East Ortigas
• Make Your Own Cafe, Tomas Morato
• UltraKappu, Old Balara
• Tea Bubble House, Greenhills
• Good Good, Tomas Morato
• Make Your Own Cafe, Maginhawa
• Jelly G, Thai Milk Tea, UP Town Center
• Macao Imperial Tea, SM Manila
• Coco Fresh Tea & Juice, Ugong
• Macao Imperial Tea, Timog
• Happy Cup, Tomas Morato
• Snack Attack, SM North EDSA
• Oh My Chicken, Tondo
• Yi Fang, Tomas Morato