"Unsinkable" Tea Experience at Thai Teanic

I love tea. In fact, I love it so much I will take it any way I can. I love it even more than coffee (which, I admit, isn’t saying much, I suppose, considering I am only mildly enamored with coffee, if at all). I love it even more when it comes in different varieties, you know, other than those teabags you snatch off the shelves at the supermarket.

So I was glad when an officemate told me about this tea place that serves Thai tea. It is aptly named THAI TEANIC MILK TEA.

THAI TEANIC, I think, is a play on the word “TITANIC”, that supposedly unsinkable ship that was made even more popular by the Leonardo Dicaprio-Kate Winslet starrer way back when we were all younger.

 

The logo has an elephant on it which, I suppose, is representative of Thailand. If I’m not mistaken, it is owned by an actual Thai who is based in Baguio. My colleague has had the pleasure of meeting the owner several times she went there; I didn’t. So I’m merely relaying what I could remember.

The Location

THAI TEANIC MILK TEA shop is located at the Porta Vaga Mall, Upper Session Road, Baguio City. From what I understand, this is just a branch, since the main THAI TEANIC TEA SHOP is at Bakakeng, Baguio City.

It is easy enough to get there. It is, after all, at Session Road. It is right in the Central Business District, and it’s a short walk from anywhere, from the Baguio Cathedral, from SM City Baguio. Although, considering that I work in a place that is clear across town, that’s quite a problem.

But then again, that is also a blessing in disguise. I don’t want to imagine what the state of my finances would be if it was just a very short walk away from work. Not good at all.

The Place

The small tea shop is on the Ground Floor, the Bridge section, of the Mall. If you’re entering through the Main entrance, all you have to do is go through to the Right. If, however, you are entering through the entrance right beside SWISS BAKER, you’d have to go up one level.

It’s a relatively small place, and it’s hard to miss. There is one kiosk where the action takes place, and 4 sets of tables and chairs. The few times I’ve been there, I took my teas to go, so I didn’t really have time to linger.

The place looks clean and well-maintained. It’s actually a place I can imagine myself hanging out if I have time.

The staff, or the ones I interacted with when I went there, are friendly and accommodating. They also move fast. You know how it gets irritating when you end up waiting for more than ten minutes for just one cup? I haven’t experienced that yet.

But then again, the times I went there to grab my Thai Tea fix, it was either close to the mall’s opening hours. I have no idea how hopping it gets in the evenings or around lunchtime.

It’s the rainy season, so this probably explains why the mall went for an umbrella-themed decor on the Bridge.

The Offerings

So we have come to the real reason why I – and many others – go to this place: their tea.

THAI TEANIC MILK TEA shop offers authentic Thai Tea, as well as other drinks. Unlike other drinks places (Zagu, anyone?) they do not use powders. I will be honest, though, and admit that I have only tried their Milk Teas. Maybe, when I have had enough of them, I will try their other offerings.

And the drinks are made by hand, instead of processors or machines. Thus, you can request for less to no syrup, or whatever quirks you may want on your milk tea.

On their tables is a placeholder containing a bit of an introduction on what they are all about, and info on black tea. Just in case you’re interested to find out.

 

I found their prices to be quite all right, which is probably why most of their clientele is comprised of college students. They come in two sizes – L and XL – and a selection of sinkers. The prices indicated in the couple of photos below are in Philippine Pesos. (No, not baht.)

The ones I’ve tried are their Original, Wintermelon, Butterscotch, and Hazelnut Thai Milk Teas. I also had a taste of their Wintermelon and Taro Lover Classic Milk Teas. I’m not really a fan of chocolate drinks as well as those things with “floats” on them. (So yes, frappe is not really my cuppa tea, either.)

I loved them all. Although, I must say, Wintermelon Thai Milk Tea is shaping up to be my favorite.

I was initially thrown off by the color when I got my first serving. It was so… orange. But I think that added character to it.

Oh, by the way, the “BS” written on it stands for “Butterscotch”. And no, I’m not bulls**ting you on that. Haha!

(Porta Vaga Mall hours start at 9:00am, and closes at 7pm.)