By Hermes Joy Tunac
Whether you’re going for an afternoon tea or searching for a restaurant that serves hearty meals, TWG Tea Salon & Boutique should figure prominently in your list of choices. With its chic interiors, relaxing background music, and signature tea cups and flatware, the restaurant is bound to take you on a sensory and gastronomic journey with your every visit. Although the Philippines is still a predominately a coffee-drinking nation, Filipinos are starting to appreciate the art of drinking tea, thanks to tea salons like TWG.
Since the opening of TWG’s first branch in Manila in 2012, the celebrated tea salon chain continues to charm tea lovers and gourmands alike. As it celebrates its sixth anniversary this year in the Philippines, TWG has created a special tea-infused à la carte menu to delight regulars.
“We came up with a special menu that’s available from November 14 to 25 at all TWG Tea Salons & Boutiques in the Philippines. Although all our teas and dishes are special and tea-infused, we tried to elevate this special menu a little bit more by imparting unique flavors, so our customers can try something different from TWG’s usual offerings,” Tessa Catacutan, marketing manager of TWG Philippines, shares with PeopleAsia.
The celebration begins with an appetizing starter of Tokyo-Singapore Tea-infused soft shell crab on a bed of mesclun salad with sesame miso dressing.
Showcasing a rich diversity of flavors and tastes, the delectable seafood main course includes a lusciously poached cod with caramelized Brussels sprouts, potatoes and shimeji mushrooms in a Black Nectar Tea-infused broth and seafood squid ink pasta with scallops, mussels and shrimp. For added flavor, it’s drizzled with matcha oil.
For those who prefer something hearty, go for the pan-seared duck breast with caramelized foie gras, celeriac, apple butter and apricot chutney infused with Alfonso Tea or lamb shank braised in Riviera Tea-infused red wine with spiced pumpkin risotto.
End the gastronomic journey on a sweet note with a rich and smooth dark chocolate with coffee panna cotta pudding, glazed with dark chocolate kahlúa concoction and topped with chocolate truffle infused with Chocolate Tea. You can also opt for the refreshing green apple mousse layered with Vanilla Bourbon Tea-infused custard on a vanilla sable crust with a mango coulis heart.
TWG Tea Salons & Boutiques are located in Greenbelt 5, Shangri-La Plaza and Central Square