SIP CARAMEL MILK TEA: DEFINITELY ADDICTING, YOU’LL KEEP COMING BACK FOR MORE!

Tea shops and stalls sprouted all over the metro and they have been prevalent additions to the wide array of food and beverage choices. I have come across different brands, which offer the same products, but it goes without saying that they have their winning beverage flavors and bestsellers. 

What I find nice about SIP’S milk tea is that it is more mellow and subdued than some iced coffee drinks. On a sunny day when I need something good to guzzle without giving me an unneeded caffeine kick, I’d choose tea drinks over coffee concoctions. I love mixing and matching drink components to create new possibilities every time.

  

 I ordered the Caramel Milk Tea with coffee jelly. This drink is fragrant and has a unique taste and texture. Well, I never imagined that caramel + milk + coffee jelly could turned into an exciting drink such as this. Well, you know what they say about happy accidents? It has happened with SIP’s owners, they mixed and matched green and black teas together and yet they were able to come up with a drink they now called as Mesteazos. All because they accidentally mixed two different drinks = One awesome drink! Who would’ve thought that would be possible?

 I loved SIP’s Caramel Milk Tea flavor—nice, balanced and lean flavor. Their tea selections are extensive, and aside from the fruity and milky beverages, they also offer a selection of Yakult-based drinks for the health conscious customers. One thing that creates an impression is the natural tea flavor in their drinks which are subtle and pleasant. Some drinks may be sweet but not enough to be considered a sugar coma inducer.

I’d like to think I did the same way with my caramel milk tea + coffee jelly drink. I grew up loving milk as a child, but I had never tried mixing it with any other flavor until this thing. Sipping Caramel Milk Tea is a wonderful way to unwind and relax any time of the day. It’s such a delightful drink that perks you up and it’s kind of addicting, so don’t be surprised to come back for more cups again and again. 

You’ll never understand how and why am I raving over this drink until you try the drink yourself. So visit the SIP branch nearest you and find out for yourselves what makes SIP Milk Teas a whole lot different from all the other tea drinks you’ve tried before. 

You can find SIP at Robinsons Galleria, Pearl Plaza, Malate, SM Manila, SM Sucat, E. Rodriguez Sr., Plazuela De Iloilo, Farmers Plaza. 

Disclaimer: I am not compensated for this post. Opinions expressed are 100% my own. 

Security Blanket would like to thank SIP, Ms. Ginny Guanco and Ms. Jo Bonsol. 

SIP: TEA-RRIFIC AND AWESOMEST DRINKS ON EARTH

SIP's cool interiors are definitely eye-candy.

Simple pleasures—that’s what I’d say the best tea experiences are made of. Being a chef, I’d rather make something I like rather than go out. Admittedly though, when I crave for some comfort food or drinks like milk tea, there are quite a few things I’d rather let the experts do.

Raspberry Yakult

Exciting flavors to choose from.

What used to be so boring, either green or black tea now bursts with colors and flavors—with soothing soy or fresh milk plus toppings or sinkers like tapioca pearls, jellies,  and the works. These reasons are enough to make certified tea drinkers rejoice from all parts of the country.

See that cute shirt this staff wears? It's for sale!

Affordable Tea Drinks to choose from.

SIP has uncompromising adherence to quality and attention to detail that is quite rare in today’s competitive market. It has an extensive beverage list, but they also take pride in serving delectable snack fare and comfort foods that’ll surely love. The owner assures everyone that they do not make use of powders at all SIP branches. So it’s not just another milk tea joint offering unusual creations.

Security Blanket thanks Ms. Ginny, SIP, Ms. Angielyn Demo and Sarah Bagalay.

Disclaimer: I am not compensated for this post. Opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Funky shirts and hip designs.

How their Honeycomb Waffle's made.

I super enjoyed eating these delicious honeycomb waffle from SIP.

SIP’s a hangout spot where you can just be yourself in the company of good friends and taste something sweet. In their Farmer’s Market branch, when you step inside SIP, the first thing to notice is their open kitchen, where all the drinks and snacks are made. They have a wide selection for your tea cravings—once you check their menu, and honestly, it could be frustrating because you can’t decide which ones to order since everything seems really tempting to try.

Fried Dimsum with chili dip.

Great for snack attack, Chicken Chops, anyone?

One of SIP's specialty drinks, Mango Cheesecake.

The cute iconic bee as SIP's mascot.

The ambiance is one of the things to consider for a hangout spot. SIP has bright, fun and funky yellow and soft blue colors and a relaxing atmosphere, with its modern and neat interiors. The staff is hospitable and amiable, and without a doubt; very helpful as they would even recommend not just their best sellers but also they’d help you choose the right tea blend for you.

SIP is a kind of place when you want to crack friends up, catch on each other’s story, or simply spend the night or afternoon of some laughter and fun with their company.

JOYFUL SIPPING OF HANDMADE TARO TEA

It seems like everybody these days is sucking on a straw. Have we all become vampires after the Twilight Saga had ended? Nah, just kidding. Beverages have gone beyond the plain old boring iced tea or lemonade and cold blended teas have taken over the country like a raging yet refreshing storm. While I’m more of a water girl I must say I was surprised by how addicting SIP drinks can be!

Not quite knowing what to expect, it was my first time to try SIP. How can you not be curious when the cutesy stall is just so enticing. From the iconic bee mascot to the colorful shirts of the staff to the line of young hipsters chatting…it’s such a sunshiny place to be and exudes positivity.

Made with real steeped tea, SIP’s fun drinks are giving the coffee culture a run for its money. Famous for its Cheesecake Drink, Mesteazos, Citreat, Roasted Lemon Bush and Himalayan drink, I personally liked the Handmade Taro with coffee jelly. I enjoyed the taste of the fragrant tea, the creaminess of milk, it even had crushed taro bits and just the right amount of sweetness. Definitely an afternoon pick me up drink! A welcome break in a long work day indeed!

SIP’s Taro Tea is very comforting, it has a balance in the palate with its rich  creamy taro taste and very refreshing. What I liked best about SIP’s Taro tea, it is not starchy, unlike other taro teas I had tried before.

The unmistakable smell of steeped tea leaves and the syrupy aroma of pearl balls greet customers as they approach SIP. SIP seems to have perfected the proper way of cooking their pearl balls, since their pearly are chewy and soft, not gummy and tough.  The price range is quite decent, at 65-125 pesos a pop.

Finding that perfect drink that matches your tea preferences can be quite a daunting task, but always remember that at SIP’s you have a lot of combinations to  choose from, and it’s important to remember too that tea drinking has been recognized as a source of  healthy anti-oxidants. So, go ahead and experience the joy of sipping teas like I just did at SIP branches.

SIP Branches are located in the following areas: Robinson's Galleria, Farmer's Plaza-Cubao, Malate, SM Manila, E. Rodriguez Sr., SM Sucat, Pearl Plaza and Plazuela Iloilo.

For more info, visit their website: www.idloveasip.com

Security Blanket thanks Ms. Ginny, SIP, Ms. Jo Bonsol and Angielyn Demo.

Disclaimer: I am not compensated for this post. Opinions expressed are 100% my own.

BIWON NEW KOREAN RESTAURANT: AUTHENTIC KOREAN FEAST FOR YOUR EYES AND TASTEBUDS

Biwon's Chapchae tastes delightful!

Foodies need not travel to South Korea to have their fill of authentic Korean food fare such as Bulgogi Samgyupsal or Wookoji-tang because there’s actually a place where you can all get these Korean favorites in the metro, you simply had to look at their signage in Edsa Extension (along Pasay, between Taft Avenue MRT and SM Mall of Asia).  New Biwon Korean Restaurant is located on the ground floor of Coretown building, on the corner of P. Celle Street in Pasay City.

Sweet and spicy pork.

True to its name, Biwon  (it literally meant “secret garden”) could be easily missed if you have been looking too far. That’s why it could really be a Korean “secret” among Korean visitors in the country and I am pretty sure they are familiar with the said restaurant. So isn’t it about time that Filipinos (especially those who enjoy Korean cuisines) get to learn this tiny little Korean secret garden called Biwon?

Korea's classic Kimchi.

Salad Korean style.

As they say, “We eat with our eyes first.” Well, Biwon is pretty aware that it serves good food that’s not only appetizing but also good to look at. Some of the items on the menu are quite interesting: Osam Bulgogi (mixed seafood in special spicy sauce cooked right before you), Korean’s version of shrimp tempura, plus the array of what seemed like Korean side dishes in their special sauces including Kimchi in red chili paste.

Pork Jowl cooked right before you.

Ms. Tina Hong-Garcia, Biwon’s owner says she takes pride in her Korean Chef because he never takes shortcuts and never sacrificing quality for profit. Thus, all his creations speak for themselves.

Great for Shabu-shabu.

Owner Ms. Tina Hong-Garcia and Korean Chef.

Dining at Biwon is indeed a pleasure. From entering the door to the ecru interiors splashed with some Korean paintings and accents, it’s as if you were transported in some quaint Korean home.

Seafood Pancakes

Kimchi aside, the things I loved most at Biwon were the beef bulgogi (you have an option whether to have them cooked right before your very eyes), samgyupsal (Korean pork jowl wrapped in green lettuce or other green leaves served with Hoisin-like special Korean sauce and salt and pepper oil) that tastes like pork bacon and grilled before you, and Japchae (Korean glass noodles with sesame oil and some veggies and special sauce) was excellent—not too oily and too sweet, just right. The Haemol Jeon (seafood egg pancake with onion leeks) tastes even better than what I had in other Korean restaurants I had ever been into. They were well made, priced reasonably and consistent.

Comforting beef soup called Wookoji-tang.

We also had the beef stew soup (wookoji-tang) was tender and flavorful. The lettuce on the samgyupsal was fresh and crispy. It complements the charred taste of pork jowl. The bulgogi broth had the best beef flavor essence you can imagine. The pork bacon or pork jowl is one of the sort high qualities you’ve come to expect from authentic Korean restaurants. It actually amazes me that Biwon does all these things without leaving a hole in your pocket.

What truly captivates me about Biwon is their promise of being able to travel through Korea without leaving your seat, of course with the help of their menus filled with dishes that will surely leave you wandering along the images of Korean soap opera, the only thing that’s missing is your hot date which has to be or some K-Pop superstar.

Samgyupsal with lettuce.

New Biwon Korean Restaurant is located at the Ground Floor of Core Town Building, 2822 EDSA EXT. Corner P. Celle St. Pasay City. Call 551-2118 or 834-7576 for more details.

Security Blanket thanks Ms. Tina Hong-Garcia, Ms. Hershey and Ms. Leira Pagaspas.

Disclaimer: I am not compensated for this post. Opinions expressed are 100% my own.