I used to think choosing good tea meant knowing what to look for.
The right origin. A respected producer. Beautiful leaves. A good harvest. Maybe even a price tag that made me think, “This must be worth it.”
Over time, I realised I was making tea shopping much harder than it needed to be.
Because what does “quality” actually mean?
For some people, it might mean rare leaves from a particular mountain. For others, it might mean organic farming, careful processing, or a tea that has been produced using traditional methods.
All of those things can matter.
But for me, quality has become much more personal.
I want tea that I actually look forward to drinking.
That sounds almost too simple, but I think we forget it.
I have bought teas because everyone seemed to love them. I admired the packaging, read the tasting notes, and convinced myself I was going to enjoy them.
Then the tea sat in my cupboard.
Meanwhile, there was another tea I kept reaching for because I simply liked how it tasted.
That taught me something.
A tea can be technically excellent and still not be the right tea for you.
I also pay more attention now to how the tea makes me feel after drinking it. Not in the exaggerated wellness sense, but in a much simpler way. Does it suit the moment? Do I enjoy the flavour? Would I happily make another cup tomorrow?
Those questions tell me far more than a fancy description ever could.
Of course, I still care about where my tea comes from. I want to know that the leaves have been handled thoughtfully and that the people behind them are respected. Understanding the journey from tea garden to cup makes the experience more meaningful.
But I no longer believe quality has to be complicated.
Sometimes quality is a beautiful tea that rewards careful attention.
Sometimes it is simply a tea that makes an ordinary afternoon better.
And sometimes, honestly, it is the tea you keep coming back to even when there are dozens of other options sitting in the cupboard.
Maybe that is my definition of quality now.
Not the tea everyone tells me I should love.
The tea I genuinely do.
— Maria Tan
On tea, culture, and everyday rituals.
Tea Snobs Made Brewing Hard—So I’m Making It Simple Again
Tea Snobs Made Brewing Hard—So I’m Making It Simple Again There was a time when I thought I was making tea incorrectly. The water was probably too hot. The leaves were probably wrong. The pot was certainly not the right one. At least, that was what I had been led to believe. Tea culture can…
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The Leaf That Waits in the Dark: Understanding Gyokuro Tea
Anyone who has waited at a bus stop at midday in Singapore knows how much shade matters. You step under the roof, the glare softens, and everything slows down a little. Tea plants respond to shade too, though in their own way. In parts of Japan, farmers deliberately cover their tea bushes in the weeks…
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What “Quality” Really Means (To Me) When Choosing Tea
I used to think choosing good tea meant knowing what to look for. The right origin. A respected producer. Beautiful leaves. A good harvest. Maybe even a price tag that made me think, “This must be worth it.” Over time, I realised I was making tea shopping much harder than it needed to be. Because…
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Tea Cocktails: The Rise of Tea-Infused Mixology in Modern Bars
Tea usually arrives quietly. Steam rising from a pot, a cup set down on a saucer, the scent of roasted tea leaves or jasmine drifting across a kitchen table. A cocktail bar keeps a different rhythm. The light is low, the glassware is chilled cocktail glass, and ice rattles sharply in a cocktail shaker. Yet…
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Stop Adding Sugar First: You’re Training Your Tongue Wrong
There is a habit I have noticed among tea drinkers. Sugar goes in before the first sip. Perhaps it is only a small spoonful. Perhaps two. But the tea is sweetened before it has been given a chance to introduce itself. I used to do this too. It seemed harmless. Tea was bitter, sugar made…
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Is Tea a Diuretic? What Your Daily Cup Really Does for Hydration
Picture a sticky afternoon in Singapore. The kind where the air sits heavy on your shoulders and the walk from the MRT feels longer than it should. You reach for something cold. Maybe a teh peng from the drinks stall, ice clinking in a plastic cup. Maybe a bottle of green tea from the convenience…
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Cold Brew Tea Isn’t Lazy, Hot Purists Just Don’t Like Being Wrong
I used to think cold brew tea was cheating. Not seriously, of course. But there was something about it that felt almost too easy. No kettle. No worrying about water temperature. No watching the clock while the leaves steep. Just tea, cold water, and a little patience. It seemed suspiciously effortless. Then I actually started…
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A Taste of Taiwan in Every Pour: Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea
There are drinks that catch your eye before you even take a sip. A tall cup, fruit pressed gently against the plastic, tea glowing amber underneath. Something about it feels right for a warm afternoon. Light. A little cheerful. Easy to carry. But if you slow down for a moment, some of those cups have…
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Your Tea Isn’t Bitter—You’re Overbrewing It (And It’s Not Your Fault)
There is a particular disappointment that comes from making a cup of tea that tastes bitter. You choose the leaves carefully. You heat the water. You wait. Then the first sip arrives, and something feels wrong. For a long time, I assumed bitterness meant the tea itself was not very good. Perhaps the leaves were…
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When Tea Meets Tropical: 5 Fruit Teas in Singapore to Try
There’s a specific kind of Singapore afternoon. The air feels thick, your shirt clings a little, and every mall entrance feels like a reward. On days like that, I don’t want anything heavy. I want something cold, bright, and full of fruit, but still recognizably tea. That’s where fruit teas come in. In Singapore, they’ve…
