Beat the Heat: The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf's Fruity Treats

The scorching heat of the sun and our intense desire for anything cold only means one thing... that summer is finally here! Thankfully, there are a lot of refreshing treats out there in the market to keep us stay sane. And one of my favorite coffee shops The Coffee & Tea Leaf has something to help us beat the heat.

Hello, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

R and I decided to pay its picturesque Crosswinds Tagaytay branch a visit two weeks ago and figured it would be a great idea to try its newest drinks since the cool breeze disappeared on our third day down south.

My Cup of Tea: Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf's Tea Appreciation Workshop

I've attended a few wine pairing sessions but tea pairing is definitely something new to me. And when I got an invite to attend Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf's tea appreciation event with its Tea Master David de Candia, I quickly said yes.

Hello, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf.

Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf has established itself as a brand that serves great selection of beverages and dishes making it an ideal place for a quick drink or meal. Though coffee tends to take center stage, CBTL's tea selection is also worth checking out. And I had a fantastic time learning which sweet treat would go best with different teas.

Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf's Tea Appreciation Workshop

Tea has been one of my staple drinks ever since I discovered that tea is still delicious even without sweeteners. It helps me unwind and relax and I feel healthier after enjoying a cup or two. But as much as I love tea, I do not know much about it except that it soothes the mind and has anti-aging properties. And so when Foodgrammer.ph asked me to attend a tea appreciation workshop hosted by The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, I immediately said YES.

Hello, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf!

I must admit, despite being a regular in BGC, it was my first time to set foot inside CBTL’s Bonifacio Stopover branch. It is smaller compared to its bistro counterpart and the one in High Street but it still has the warm and homey vibe that its patrons love. 

After registering and having a small chat with Nella of CBTL, we sat down and enjoyed our complimentary vegetarian sandwich which had a lovely serving of carrots, onions, and mushrooms among others. 

Despite the thickness of the bread, it was served as a light snack because of its filling; hence making this sandwich a lovely morning snack. It’s filling but not too heavy to put weight on those eyelids. We were also given a huge cookie which I wasn’t able to eat as I was saving space for lunch #1 and lunch #2. 

After half an hour, the workshop finally started and we were introduced to the two legends of tea and how tea is planted and cultivated. It may sound boring but it was surprisingly interesting. I am always fascinated by how the food and drinks we enjoy are brought from farm to table. But let me skip the educational part which you could Google and focus on the teas I discovered during the workshop.