thai milk tea – Jellybeans in the City

Explosion of colors and flavors at Sala Thai Kitchen, Greenhills

Thai food remains one of the world most popular and influential cuisines in the world. From the humble street food that can be enjoyed in Thailand’s marketplaces to the Thai-inspired dishes served by high profile chefs, Thai food continues to entice, titillate and satisfy the imagination and taste buds of foodies throughout the globe.

Its appeal can be attributed to its wide range of flavors and textures – combining fresh and crisp veggies, bold spices, sweet coconut and earthy savory peanuts. Aside from incorporating many nutritious ingredients and employing mostly healthy cooking methods, Thai food also offers a lot of delicious options for people with dietary restrictions and preferences.

This is why the opening of a new Thai restaurant in one of the metro’s busiest shopping areas is happy news to me and my foodie friends.

Sala Thai Kitchen welcomes its guests with a chill yet elegant vibe which also integrates elements of Thai culture and aesthetics from its backdrop of knick-knacks to its delicately designed tableware.

We immersed ourselves in a delicious flavor journey with these scrumptious dishes:

Starters

Crispy Spring Rolls (Php195). Also known as paw pia tod, these are flavorful rolls made with chopped veggies, ground pork and glass noodles encased in translucent rice paper wrappers then deep-fried to a crispy golden brown and served with chili sauce for dipping.

Pomelo Salad (Php220). Also known as yam som o, this is a bright and fresh mix of green leafy veggies, aromatics and chunks of pomelo tossed in citrusy dressing along with ground peanuts and garnished with mint leaves.

Rice & Noodles

Shrimp & Pineapple Fried Rice (Php370). The Thai put a special spin on fried rice through the use of shrimp, stock, seasonings and pineapple bits. This dish is also as khao pad.

Thidin Pad Thai (Php330). One of Thailand’s most well-known dishes made with stir-fried noodles and chicken bits in a sweet-savory-sour sauce garnished with an omelette, crushed peanuts and cilantro.

Siam Chicken Noodles (Php340). Noodles flavored with a coconut turmeric sauce topped with black pepper chicken.

Meat

Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce (Php320). Grilled boneless chicken breast marinated in coconut milk and seasonings and served with a creamy peanut dipping sauce.

PatPong Wings (Php320). Crispy fried chicken wings covered with a sweet-and-savory glaze and garnished with chilis, chopped green onions and cilantro.

Beef Green Curry (Php380). Tender strips of beef and eggplant braised in Thai green curry paste and coconut milk. This dish is also known as gaeng keow wan.

Dessert

Creme Flan (Php140). The Thai version of the creme caramel which incorporates coconut cream.

Mango Sticky Rice (Php160). Also known as khao neeo mamuang, this is a popular Thai dessert made with glutinous rice mixed with sweetened coconut milk, topped with slices of fresh mangoes and drizzled with a coconut milk sauce before being garnished with toasted sesame seeds.

Drinks

Thai Milk Tea (Php120). An earthy and nutty take on the milk tea made with strong assam black tea sweetened with condensed milk.

Thai Coffee (Php120). Coffee sweetened with condensed milk and flavored with spices. Available hot or iced.

With these beautifully presented and delectable offerings, you can be sure that your meal at Sala Thai Kitchen is a feast for the senses.

So drop by while you take a break from your shopping spree or make this new restaurant your prime destination for a wonderful flavor journey to Thailand without having to leave the metro.

Sala Thai Kitchen is located at Ground Floor, O Square 2, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan, open daily from 11am to 10pm. For inquiries, reservations and delivery orders, call +63 977 2186165 or +63 919 2836155.

It also delivers via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

To stay updated on its promos and offers, follow Sala Thai Kitchen on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclosure: I attended a food tasting held at this restaurant where food items were served at no cost to the attendees.

Relaxing teatime at Serenitea, Mega Fashion Hall

Christmas shopping is quite frenetic and stressful, isn’t it?

The holiday season brings in throngs of people to the malls, and the mad rush for gifts and other essentials for the season can make one feel oppressed or irritable.

When this happens, do you know what can help?

A cup of sweet tea, that’s what!

After a bout of shopping and a quick lunch at SM Megamall, the kids and I were craving for something sweet, as well as wishing for a place to sit.

Fortunately, Serenitea has a branch at Mega Fashion Hall where we can rest and recharge ourselves while sipping our refreshing tea drinks that included:

Did you know that Serenitea introduced the use of an espresso machine to brew tea in the country? Back then, they already offered the options to customers to personalize their drinks by adjusting the sweetness level and the addition of sinkers.

During the quarantine, Serenitea also launched its DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Home Kits, allowing house-bound milk tea lovers to enjoy their favorite drink even when stuck at home.

Today, however, we can all just drop by any of its branches to enjoy its concoctions!

So go ahead and enjoy some sweet and refreshing serenity at Serenitea!

This Serenitea branch is located at the Fifth Floor, Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, EDSA, Mandaluyong City, open daily from 10am to 8pm.

Other branches are located at:

Caloocan: Veacon Hope
Las Pinas: SM Southmall
Makati: Glorietta 3, Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 3, Greenbelt Chancellor
Mandaluyong: Caltex Boni, Greenfield District, SM Light Residences, The Corner Market Podium
Manila: Bacobo Street Ermita, Robinsons Place Ermita
Muntinlupa: ATC Cinema, Festival Mall, Metro Gaisano Supermarket ATC
Paranaque: Aseana Square, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, BF Homes, Butterfly Garden Newport City, SM Bicutan
Pasay: MOA Two E-Com Tower A and Tower B, The Shore Strip Residences
Pasig: Estancia Capitol Commons, Ortigas Exchange Regency
Quezon City: Ayala Malls Cloverleaf, Bgy Siena Banawe, Congressional Town Center, Eastwood Cyber & Fashion Mall, Belfast Greater Lagro, SM North EDSA, Rallos Street Tomas Morato, UST Lacson, Vertis North
Rizal: Robinsons Antipolo
San Juan: Greenhills Shopping Center, GNL Building Little Baguio
Taguig: Active Fun BGC, Fort Burgos Circle, Fort Technology Center, Venice Grand Canal Mall, Burgos Circle

Serenitea also delivers via GrabFood, FoodPanda, Pick-A-Roo and Booky.

Stay updated on Serenitea’s promos and offers by following it on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Check out my previous posts about Serenitea:

Tea’s the season: Salamat, Shopee and Serenitea

Your moment of Serenitea can be so sweet

Fresh Thai beverage possibilities at Jelly G, Market! Market!

Now that the strict quarantines and strictures on going out are behind us, it’s time to treat ourselves to a little bit of adventure, isn’t it?

While our budgets may prohibit us from traveling overseas to experience different cultures and taste exotic flavors, we can always go on an exciting flavor adventure that’s a little closer to home.

One such adventure is delving into the wondrous varieties to enjoy Thai beverages at the Jelly G store in BGC’s Market! Market!

For instance, while Thai milk tea is not as ubiquities as its Taiwanese counterpart, it’s been a favorite among foodies for quite some time. Normally, this exotic drink can only be enjoyed in Thai restaurants, but Jelly G has been serving it up in various flavorful guises, along with other Thai beverages, since 2010.

The store takes pains to make its Thai milk tea as authentic as possible while still appealing to the Pinoy taste buds. Made with assam black tea – the variant with the boldest and more complex flavor – and enhanced with crushed anise and tamarind seeds, then sweetened with condensed milk – all imported from Thailand – Jelly G’s Thai signature drink is a welcome break from our usual thirst quenchers.

Enjoying your Thai milk tea also has the added bonus of being good for you:

It helps to reduce cancer risk as it’s made from black tea leaves which are rich in anti-oxidants
It helps in your blood circulation as consuming it expands your arteries
It helps in weight loss through its stimulating caffeine content

Specials

Cheesy Thai Milk Tea (Php165/Php195). The classic Thai milk tea is given a deliciously cheesy twist with the addition of cream cheese plus generous toppings of grass jelly and grated cheese.

Pink Sala Milk (Php135/Php155). Here’s another reason to drink milk: how about flavoring it with sala syrup and topping it with luscious coconut jelly for a refreshing boost of energy?

Chocolate

Chunky Oreo (Php120/Php160). Want a sweet dessert in a drink? Check out this concoction of chocolate milk topped with cream cheese and chunks of chocolate cookies.

Fruit Tea

Lychee Fruit Tea (Php95/Php115). Enjoy a healthy lychee flavored fruit tea topped with yummy strawberry poppers.

Thai Coffee

Prince Coffee (Php115/Php135). Freshly brewed Thai coffee made from imported arabica beans is mixed with condensed milk makes for quite a pick-me-up experience. Plus, you can enjoy this hot or cold!

Milo Cream Christmas

Milo Thai Milk Tea (Php145). Welcome the holidays with a blend of the exotic Thai milk tea given fresh twists that takes you back to your childhood: toppings of decadent cream cheese and gooey Milo!

By the Bottle

Want to get more of your favorite Jelly G drinks to enjoy at home or share with family and friends? You can get them freshly steeped by the bottle for Php300, in flavors that include Thai Milk Tea, Tamarind, Sala Milk and Hazelnut Coffee, among others.

Try your hand at whipping up new ways to enjoy your Thai drinks at home using these bottled drinks and your favorite ingredients!

As you can see, with the myriad possibilities in Thai beverages available at Jelly G, you can go on an exciting adventure without leaving the metro!

Did you know you can party with friends on delicious drinks from Jelly G for just Php499? Take its Chakrii’s 5 offer and enjoy the following:

Cheesy Thai Milk Tea
Caramel Thai Coffee (Sugarfree)
Pink Sala Milk
Wintermelon Red Assam
Lychee Fruit Tea

This Jelly G branch is located at the Third Floor of Market! Market!, 26th Street corner C5, Bonifacio Global City Taguig. Other branches are located at:

Cinema Level, Fifth Floor, Ayala Malls Feliz, Dela Paz, Pasig City
Ground Floor, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City

Jelly G also delivers via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

To know more about Jelly G’s products and promos, follow it on Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok.

Check out my other posts about Jelly G:

Healthy Thai Milk Tea at Jelly G, UP Town Center

Jelly G Thai Milk Tea, Ayala Malls Feliz

Enjoy Thai milk tea at home with Jelly G

Despite the increasing frequency of rain showers in the metro, the times when the sunshine peeks through the clouds are the instances when we need something sweet and refreshing to quench our thirst, right?

Have you ever tried Thai milk tea? Unlike the more prevalent boba milk teas, Thai milk teas have actually been around a lot longer, have a myriad of health benefits and are also available in wondrous variety.

Local chain Jelly G, which has been operating since 2000, specializes in Thai milk tea, making its signature drinks from strongly brewed black tea spiced with anise and tamarind seeds and sweetened with condensed milk.

Together with fillers such as grass jelly, cassava pearls, yogurt, basil seeds, coconut jelly, egg pudding, cream cheese and poppers, the resulting drinks showcase the distinct exotic taste of Thai milk tea as well as introduce new ways to enjoy this traditional Southeast Asian drink that will appeal to Pinoy taste buds.

Over the years, Jelly G’s presence in malls have made this Thai delicacy more easily to Filipinos, and now, with heightened restrictions on dining out due to the pandemic, it can now be delivered to your home for you to enjoy with your family.

Really, now would be a great time to expand the family’s flavor horizons and say “Sa wa dee ka!” to new drink experiences by trying out some of Jelly G’s unique drinks such as:

Blueberry Milk with Coco Jelly and Cream Cheese. A sweet and tangy fruity drink with slivers of chewy coco jelly and topped with cream cheese.

Black Forest with Poppers. A rich chocolatey drink with tiny globes of fruity poppers.

Red Velvet Thai Milk Tea with Grass Jelly and Cream Cheese. A creamy dessert-like take on Thai milk tea made more nutritious with addition of grass jelly and richer with the addition of cream cheese.

Want to expand your Thai food adventure even more? Pair your Thai milk tea with traditional Thai dishes, also available from Jelly G.

Place your orders now by messaging +63 925 7816237 on Viber or via GrabFood or FoodPanda.

To know its latest promos and offers, follow Jelly G on Facebook or Instagram.

Check out my previous posts on Jelly G:

Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate this feature article.

Jelly G Thai Milk Tea, Ayala Malls Feliz

While Taiwan-style milk tea joints are popping up all over the metro, the Thailand-style milk tea is quietly building its base of aficionados.

Thai Milk Tea is easily recognizable due to its bright orange hue and distinct flavor brought about by the use of assam black tea, star anise and tamarind.

Jelly G Thai Milk Tea has been around since 2010, making it one of the pioneers in the country’s Thai Milk Tea category.

Serving authentic Thai milk tea steeped in small batches everyday from all-imported ingredients, Jelly G adds many fresh twists to the drink and introducing Pinoy milk tea drinkers to fresh and novel ways to enjoy their favorite beverage.

Thai milk tea also helps in delaying aging, improving digestion and fighting infection. So by treating your taste buds to these delish milky drinks, you’re also treating the rest of your body to some much-needed nutrients.

Together with my fellow foodies, I recently visited its Ayala Malls Feliz branch where I was able to sample some of its best-selling drinks, which include:

Cheesy Thai Milk Tea with Grass Jelly (Php125 regular | Php155 medium). A creamy foam tops a basic Thai milk tea with some grated cheese added to introduce some saltiness to the sweet drink. Instead of tapioca pearls, grass jelly, an antioxidant that aids in is added to the drink for some texture.

Pink Sala with Cream Cheese, Poppers and Pearls (Php160 regular | Php205 large). A fruity drink made from sala (a type of palm native to Thailand), black tea and brown sugar with strawberry poppers and pearls added in.

Oreo Coffee with Grass Jelly (Php135 regular | Php165 large). Made with strong freshly brewed arabica coffee mixed with condensed milk and topped with crushed Oreos. This is sure to appeal to both coffee and dessert-drink lovers.

Matcha with Grass Jelly. Made from powdered tea leaves, this has a rich herby taste and creamy texture that is well complemented by the grass jelly.

Now we know where to get a taste of authentic Thai milk teas!

Many thanks to Abby of Jelly G for the drinks and to Apol of SaanSaPH for extending the invitation!

This Jelly G Thai Milk Tea kiosk is located at Cinema Level, Fifth Floor, Ayala Malls Feliz, Dela Paz, Pasig City.

Other kiosks may be found at:

Food Choices, Second Floor, Main Mall, Ayala Malls Circuit, Carmona, Makati City
Third Floor, Market! Market!, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Ground Floor, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City

No time to drop by a Jelly G kiosk? Have your Thai milk tea delivered to you via Grab delivery! Get a discount on your first GrabFood order when you use my code: GRABJELLYBEANS.

Disclosure: Together with fellow food bloggers, I attended a foodie meetup held here. The drinks mentioned here were served to enable us to sample the fare and to facilitate honest reviews and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Check out my reviews of other milk tea joints:

Thai Milk Tea at Cha Tuk Chak, Greenhills

You could probably say that milk tea flows through my veins. With the exception of coffee, it has replaced all other beverages as my go-to drink when I go out or when I feel like having something delivered.

While I was planning my shopping trip in Greenhills this morning, I remembered to check my MetroDeal app for good deals in the area. I chanced upon the 40% off on Cha Tuk Chak drinks: in effect, I get Php165 worth of drinks for only Php99.

Thinking that I could probably bring home some for the kiddies, I got myself two of these Metro Deal vouchers which I presented to the Cha Tuk Chak branch in Greenhills after my brief shopping spree.

Thai Milk Tea is not as prevalent as its Taiwanese counterpart, which is kind of a shame, really. The difference mainly lies in its use of condensed milk. Add in the black tea leaves from Thailand that Cha Tuk Chak uses and you’ve got yourself a fresh set of flavors to like.

Today, I brought home:

Cha Yen (Php110/Php125). Thailand’s signature smooth and creamy orange-tinged milk tea.

Nom Yen (Php120/Php135). A Thai drink made of local palm sala syrup and milk.

Koko Yen (Php110/Php125). A gourmet dark chocolate drink crafted the Thai way.

Imagine the kids’ delight when I came home with these in tow!

And thanks to MetroDeal, I got these drinks for only Php208!

Want discounts on food, travel and entertainment around the metro? Download the MetroDeal app today! Use my code MDAJ40356 upon checkout to get additional Php50 off your first purchase.

This Cha Tuk Chak branch is located at Ground Floor, Lifestyle Arcade, Greenhills Shopping Centre, San Juan City, open daily from 10am to 9pm.

Other branches are located at:

Ground Floor, Paseo Center, Paseo De Roxas Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City
Devour Food Hub, 1216 E. Rodriguez Avenue, New Manila, Quezon City
Ground Floor, Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City
The Rock Lifestyle Hub, Holy Spirit Drive, Holy Spirit, Quezon City
Third Floor, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Binondo, Manila
120 Maginhawa Street, Teachers Village, Quezon City
Pobstacion Food Park, B. Valdez Street, Poblacion, Makati City
Upper Ground Floor, The Parkway, SM City Fairview, Novaliches, Quezon City
Dish 101, Pearl Plaza, Pearl Drive, Ortigas, Pasig City

Check out my reviews of other milk tea joints:

The Jelly List: Healthy Eats in QC

Healthy eating helps promote overall health and wellness by ensuring that we get the necessary nutrients our bodies need.

Well within Quezon City, there is an abundance of wholesome and nourishing, yet also tasty eats.

Check them out:

Salmon Sriracha Poke Bowl (Php230 for regular bowl| Php150 for junior bowl) at Poke Shack

Poke (pronounced as POKE-KAY) bowls originate from Hawaii, where pieces of fresh fish are chopped into small pieces, marinated in flavorful sauces and served on top of freshly steamed rice along with chopped fresh vegetables, nuts and other toppings that add flavor and texture to the dish. This Salmon Sriracha Poke Bowl, for instance, is made with tempura flour mix, ebiko, furikake, sesame seed with sriracha mayo.

Poke Shack is located at Ground Floor, Tera Tower, Bridgetowne Business Center, Ortigas Avenue Extension corner E. Rodriguez Jr Avenue, Libis, Quezon City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 10am to 10pm, Fridays from 10am to 11pm and Saturdays from 11am to 8pm. For inquiries, call +63 926 0718992 or +63 929 3173857.

There’s something for everyone’s craving at Pob Stacion Food Park

For quite a while now, the Poblacion area has been reinventing itself from its previous incarnation as Makati’s red-light district and re-establishing itself as its foodie-friendly haven. Here, foodies can explore various options in food and drink spanning various cuisines and concepts.

If you were to pool some of those eateries together and concentrate them into one easily accessible place, you would have the Pob Stacion Food Park. Located at B. Valdez Street, Barangay Poblacion in Makati, a ten-minute walk from A Venue or Century City Mall, the newly opened multi-storey Pob Stacion houses a variety of concept food stalls that give the park’s visitors wondrous choices for their gastronomic adventure or to soothe their food cravings.

Recently, together with my fellow foodies, I had a taste of what Pob Stacion’s food outlets have to offer. Read on and check out my top picks.

Above Sea Level (Seafood)

As the home of the Giant Butterfly Squid (Php180 with 1 Java rice | Php250 with 2 Java rice | Php350 with 3 Java rice | Php450 with 4 Java rice), they really do serve it up big-time. Lightly battered, well-seasoned and fried to a golden-brown, each enormous squid by itself is good for two people and is best enjoyed with the resto’s vinegar dipping sauce.

If you’re feeling extra hungry or adventurous, add the Seafood Festival (Php380) to your order and bite into mouthwatering crab, shrimps, mussels and corn on a bed of Java rice doused with a buttery crab fat sauce, or the Spicy Squid Sisig (Php180) for a seafood take on the Pampanga delicacy.

Rib Pop (Pinoy-Korean Fusion)

With the Korean food craze firmly entrenched in the Philippine culinary scene, it’s hardly surprising that the two cuisines would mesh together at some point. That point is here at Rib Pop where the best of the two cuisines is highlighted in its Ribpop Sampler (Php400) which consists of its signature dishes: Black Ink Chicken Wings – squid ink bettered fried chicken pieces with spicy tangy sauce, Ribpop Bowl – your choice of rice topped with beef short ribs, and an assortment of banchan – small plates of Korean appetizers.

Octoboy (Japanese)

Who would have thought that Takoyaki (Php70 for 3 pcs | Php140 for 6 pcs), balls made of batter filled with chopped octopus meat, cooked in a specially shaped griddle and served with those wriggling Bonito flakes, would be such a hit with us Pinoys? If you’re on the lookout for something quick, cheap and yummy, Octoboy’s Takoyaki is your best bet.

Tokyo Tempura (Japanese)

Did you know that tempura, the Japanese method of deep-frying battered seafood and vegetables, was influenced the Portuguese who were residing in Nagasaki in the 16th century? Today, tempura is a mainstay in practically all Japanese restaurants in the country and is even gaining some foothold in Pinoy eateries through localized versions.

Tokyo Tempura’s versions are quick, yummy, easy to enjoy when you’re having a case of the munchies, and with affordably priced options which include Imperial Tempura (Php150 for 12 pcs), Tempura Rice (Php80) and Kani Tempura (Php55 for 6 pcs).

Want some spicy kick to go with your tempura? Add the Chili Cheese Poppers (Php55 for 4 pcs) to your order and take some heat from those tempura battered cheese-filled jalapenos!

Oskar’s Soul Kitchen (American)

If you’re looking for an alternative to your usual fastfood burger, check out Oskar’s Soul Kitchen’s Cheeseburger (Php220) – a quarter pound of ground Wagyu beef patty sandwiched in an oatmeal bun together with cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and the resto’s signature sauce.

Still have room for more? Add Angus Beef Hotdog (Php140), Fries Overload (Php160), or the Nachos Overload (Php150) to your order and eat to your heart’s content.

Wing’s Lab (American)

How about Wing’s Lab’s sinful take to your flavored chicken wings? Try its American Wings (Php699 with Nachos and Beef) which hits you with its Jack Daniels flavored sauce.

Want something to quench your thirst after those spicy wings? Take your pick from the resto’s refreshing and conveniently packaged Juices (Php60 – Blue Lemonade, Cucumber Lemonade and Melon with Milk). The best part is that you can easily take these handy juice packs with you all over the park and beyond.

Authentic House of Curry (Indian)

Get yourself a taste of the exotic with the Authentic House of Curry’s spicy Beef Rendang (Php240) and Lobster Scallop Balls (Php180). These dishes provide a nice South Asian flare to your food park fare.

Cha Tuk Chak (Thai Milk Tea)

While boba milk teas abound all over the metro, Thai milk teas are not as visible, which , for me, is a shame if Cha Tuk Chak’s drinks are anything to go by. From the world famous creamy and silky Cha Yen (Php110 regular | Php125 large), the sweeter, fruitier and caffeine free Nom Yen (Php120 regular | Php135 large), the sweet lemon-infused Thai Ruby (Php115 regular | Php130 large), the refreshing Thai tea with real lemon Thai Emerald (Php115 regular | Php130 large), and the gourmet dark chocolate milk tea given a Thai spin Koko Yen (Php110 regular), among others, you’ll have tasty thirst-quenching options as you navigate the food park.

Papa Diddi’s (Ice Cream)

And who can forget about dessert? Papa Diddi’s Hand-crafted Ice Cream (Php75 for 1 scoop | Php110 for 2 scoops | Php145 for 3 scoops) come in such unusual yet localized flavors that pay tribute not just to our Pinoy heritage but also to the farmer communities that supply the brand’s all-natural ingredients. From the fruity Mango Pili, the cheesy Queso Blanco with kesong puti and Cheese Closed with cheddar, the chocolatey Chocolate Lovin and Tsokolate de Cagayan, the sinfully indulgent Tres Leches and the chocolate-meets-spicy Davao Meets Bicol, your dessert gives you a cool, culinary trip across the country.

So if you’re a denizen of Poblacion, or on a night out with friends in the area, do add a stopover to Pob Stacion Food Park to your evening’s itinerary.

Many thanks to Raina of KonyoQueen.com for extending the invitation!

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I was invited to attend a foodie meetup held in this food park. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Healthy Thai Milk Tea at Jelly G, UP Town Center

Milk tea has never been more prevalent lately, but did you know that Thai milk tea has been around much longer than the boba milk teas we’ve been craze-ing about?

In fact, Jelly G, a chain of stores specializing in Thai milk tea, has been operating since 2010.

Together with other food bloggers of #SaanSaPH, I was invited to a tea-tasting at the UP Town Center branch of Jelly G. This where owner Jolly dela Pena and her staff showed us all the wondrous variety of deliciously refreshing drinks Thai milk tea can be made into as well as its myriad of health benefits.

Thai milk tea is made from black tea – the tea variant with the boldest and most complex flavor – with added crushed anise seeds and tamarind seeds and sweetened by condensed milk, giving it that distinct and exotic flavor.

At Jelly G, the teas are prepared and steeped in small batches daily, ensuring freshness and full flavor. Grass jelly – a healthier option to the usual black pearls as it is an antioxidant and aids in digestion – are also added on to some of the drinks: hence the name Jelly G.

Thai milk tea is good for you as it helps in delaying aging, improving digestion and fighting infection. So you can bet that aside from treating your taste buds to some delish milky goodness from your Jelly G drinks, you’re also treating the rest of you to some much-needed nutrients.

Check them out:

King Thai Milk Tea (Php75 | Php95). Made with black tea, condensed, evaporated and powdered milk mixed with brown sugar with grass jelly, this is the classic taste of Thai Milk Tea.

Cheesy Thai (Php85 | Php115). Now take the deliciously exotic taste of Thai Milk Tea and add cheddar cheese and rock salt. Imagine milky sweetness and the slight saltiness from the cheese in one heavenly drink.

Pink Sala Fruit Tea (Php75 | Php95). Sala (also known as snake skin fruit) is a type of palm native to Indonesia and cultivated in other Southeast Asian countries like Thailand. The sweet pink-hued juice of the sala is then combined with black tea and brown sugar with a few spoonfuls of popping strawberry balls for added bursts of fruity sweetness.

Queen Green Milk Tea (Php75 | Php95). Jelly G uses jasmine green tea, a tea variant known to help in fighting cancer, heart diseases, diabetes and strokes as well as staving off dementia. In this drink, jasmine tea is combined with condensed, evaporated and powdered milk and brown sugar with chewy black tapioca pearls stirred in.

Oreo Coffee (Php95 | Php125). This time Thai coffee takes center stage. Made with ground arabica beans, Thai coffee is brewed then mixed with condensed milk and crushed Oreo cookies, making this a dessert and drink in one cup!

Choco Chocnut (Php120 | Php160). Chocolate is mixed into tea and that candy mainstay of Pinoy food pop culture Chocnut, made from coconut milk, crushed peanuts and cocoa powder. A sip of this yummy confection brings back so many fond childhood memories.

With this selection of drinks, Jelly G has proved to me and my fellow foodies that Thai milk tea deserves more time in the spotlight.

This Jelly G Thai Milk Tea stall is located at Ground Floor, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City (in front of National Bookstore).

Another stall can be found at Third Floor, Market! Market!, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.

No time to visit Jelly G’s mall-based stalls? Why not have your Thai milk tea delivered via Grab delivery?

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers of #SaanSaPH, I was invited to attend a foodie meetup held here wherein in drink items were served to allow us to sample the fare. These were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Check out my reviews of other milk tea joints: