Moonleaf Tea Shop: Affordabilitea at Its Finest

After featuring Happy Lemon, I'm back with yet another review of a cold tea beverage store. This time though, entering the battle arena of the continuously growing (and actually exploding) market for milk tea and other cold tea drinks is Moonleaf Tea Shop.

I have read quite a few reviews and blog features about this particular tea house. So when I came across one along E. Rodriguez Sr. Ave. a few days ago, even if I was already in a hurry and just commuting my way in and out of Quezon City, I gave in to the tempting green and white leaf logo bannered on Seneca Plaza's building facade.

This particular branch of Moonleaf Tea Shop is probably at its soft opening period when I visited as it only started to welcome its customers last November 27. Although the place still looked a little new, lacking the flair and cozy ambiance of beverage houses' year-old branches, I was still warmly greeted by the colorful freedom cork boards posted onto their whole right wall. I also liked how the place maintained a sleek and modern minimalist style with its white and apple green color scheme.

However, I found myself a little lost in a sea of uniformed students. Most of the branch's customers that time were high school students, and a few college people. I know I just graduated from university and doesn't seem to be too different from these customers, but wearing casual in a crowd full of white collared polos made me felt a little out of place -- much like going to a party wearing a playboy bunny costume when everyone else is dressed in formal wear.

I still made my way to the counter though. Exiting the vicinity with an SLR on my hand will make me look more awkward and weird anyway.

Good thing the crew manning the counter were all smiles. They made me felt at home even if I looked lost in the particular store. They also striked for a pose when I pointed my kit lens to their direction.

After all the drama this solo trip gave me, I was ready to make a purchase. I already have an order in mind as I have read a lot about this particular best seller. I was surprised though at how affordable their drinks were! P45 to P55 for plain tea, P60 to P75 for plain and special milk teas, and P50 to P75 for fruit tea and tea with yakult concoctions. So even if I had to watch my calorie intake to give room for Christmas feast-ivities, I gave in and ordered 2 drinks from their menu.

See complete and readable menu here.

I got the Wintermelon Milk Tea (P75), and Passion Fruit Black Tea (P55) with Nata add-on (P10). It was a little surprising that they only had 1 standard size for cold drinks, but good thing their cup size was already the big serving of other beverage stores, or even bigger than some. Since I was quite in a hurry, I had them to go.

When I got home, I gave my mom and little sister a sip of each. Bad move though. They're not really fond of milk tea and cold tea drinks. My dad was curious so he asked to sample the Passion Fruit Black Tea with Nata. And he loved it! I actually poured him a standard glass of this tea and he really seemed to enjoy sipping through the sweet yet a little tangy cold tea, and munching on the nata bits. I also enjoyed the fruit-flavored black tea. Not as clean tasting of a tea as Gong Cha's or Chatime's, but it was good and as refreshing to drink.

I also enjoyed their Wintermelon Milk Tea. It was rich in flavor and sweet. Not as good as Gong Cha's, but for the price I say it's a good buy!

THE VERDICT

With the growing Philippine patronage for milk tea and other tea beverages, it will not be long before weak brands will be thrown out of the competition and get eaten by major players. Although Moonleaf is not raiding the local malls unlike other big competitors in the milk tea battle arena, it has been steadily growing a following for its quality drinks offered in a lower price range.

Being a milk tea or even tea-in-general lover, Moonleaf had satisfied my tea drinks craving. And although their branches are not really near my place, I would definitely pay their stores a visit when I get to come across one soon.

Taste - 4/5
Ambiance - 3.5/5
Service - 4/5
Price - 5/5
Overall Value - 4/5

Moonleaf, E. Rodriguez
Unit LG2, Lower Ground Flr.,
Seneca Plaza, E. Rodriguez Sr. Ave.,
New Manila, Quezon City
Official Website
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