Tiferet Tea Room – This tea cafe along East Coast Road is a quiet haven for lovers of Asian tea culture. Its modern, cozy look is a fresh twist from typical Chinese teahouses.
On that one Sunday afternoon, a friend came all the way from The Northern Lands known as Yew Tee. We had a brave plan to visit many places in the Katong area – given time and wallet constraints, we shortlisted three cafes. One of them – newly opened and featured by an influential foodie – failed to impress in its food, service and interior design. We left and seeked refuge in this mall called Katong V.
A few steps in and all I could say is, this is really a quiet retreat. Almost like a good friend’s home, it’s a space for some private rumination.
Boilers and Tea cabinets.
There is some seating that’s right above the mall’s entrance – in my opinion the better seats in the venue. Those full-height windows let lots of natural light in.
The design of the Tea Room somehow ignores the tensions of stereotypes. You don’t have the faux elegant-formal atmosphere of TWG, nor the ritual-esque school environment of chinese teahouses. Minimalist wooden surfaces paired with metal frames. Some exposed bricks. It’s simplicity that somehow worked out.
This is further reflected in the East-meets-West menu: Chinese tea matched with cakes, sandwiches and even American breakfast sets. You could also get coffee here, but that might be a waste given Tiferet’s range of teas.
Although in terms of graphic/information design.. it got too simple, it’s unforgivable. Please revamp your menus, Tiferet Tea Room!
Several magazines for you to flip through. Many of which are of high culture. A sample of a life that things that will be, or at least hope to be. Right, Foodiepink?
Peony Tea ($8). This is a Green Tea scented with flower petals.
The tea was steeped in the white pot. When it’s ready, the tea set is brought to the table. The flower tea was poured into the glass jug, that’s placed on a warmer.
Everything’s done in front of you – while it wasn’t some fancy show of pouring and straining tea, it at least demonstrates that the tea is properly prepared. Small things that are sometimes missed at popular tea salons.
The Dim Sum set ($8) was noted by Foodiepink as good value.
We shared a slice of Dark Chocolate Deluxe ($7.50). It wasn’t very moist, but definitely rich to match with the light teas. Small crunchy chocolate balls for further sweet delight.
The natural lighting is gentle yet plenty, we’re thankful for that.
You could bring back a piece of Tiferet Tea Room. The cafe sells teaware sets ($88) and boxes of tea (from $28 a box, 10 smaller boxes within).
Or to take the experience further – sign up for their Tea Appreciation Classes. $38+ and you get a box of tea to bring home.
Some other rotating promos.
While I’m not sure if I’ll return to Tiferet Tea Room specially for their teas (given that I still have lots of TWG’s Jasmine Queen at home), I’ll definitely keep this place in mind if I need to unwind.
Tiferet Tea Room
30 East Coast Road
Katong V #02-17
Singapore 428751
Open daily from 10:00am.
For more information refer to their Facebook page.
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