Editorials

Insights, commentary, and conversations on tea culture, café trends, and the evolving world of tea in Singapore and beyond.

The Last Sip of Tea and What It Teaches

By N.P. Lim | April 30, 2026

There is a moment in every cup that arrives quietly. The last sip. It comes softer than the first. The tea has given almost everything it holds. The warmth lingers, the flavour has softened, and only a gentle echo of the leaves remains. We lift the cup, tilt it slowly, and suddenly the moment feels…

The Matcha Craze and Why It’s Okay to Be Skeptical

By Maria Tan | April 22, 2026

Matcha is everywhere. In smoothies, lattes, ice cream, even in brownies. It’s the trendiest ingredient right now, and it’s easy to get swept up in the hype. But is it really as magical as they say? When matcha first became popular, it was celebrated for its health benefits: antioxidants, boosting metabolism, improving focus. Suddenly, everyone…

The Simplicity of Tea: Finding Joy in the Uncomplicated

By N.P. Lim | April 15, 2026

Tea seems simple, doesn’t it? Water. Leaves. A cup. Yet we’ve turned this quiet ritual into something complicated. The perfect temperature, the right teapot, the precise timing. But is it really necessary? Tea, at its core, was never meant to be complicated. In the beginning, it was an uncomplicated drink shared between friends, brewed over…

Why Tea People Secretly Judge Your Tea Bags

By Maria Tan | April 10, 2026

There is a moment every tea drinker recognizes. You visit someone’s home, they kindly offer you tea, and you happily say yes. The kettle begins to boil. A cupboard opens. And then it happens. A tea bag appears. Now, there is nothing wrong with tea bags. They are convenient and often exactly what someone wants…

The Quiet Patience That Tea Teaches

By N.P. Lim | April 8, 2026

Tea does not rush. Water must be heated. Leaves must open. Flavour slowly reveals itself in the cup. None of these things happen instantly. Perhaps this is why tea has always felt slightly different from other drinks. It asks for patience. Not loudly, but quietly. The tea will be ready when it is ready. For…

Why Tea Conversations Always Last Longer Than Expected

By Maria Tan | April 1, 2026

There is a small pattern I have started to notice about tea. Whenever tea is involved, conversations tend to last longer than planned. Someone says they will only stay for a short while. A kettle is placed on the stove. Tea is poured into a few cups, and suddenly the conversation begins to stretch in…

The Quiet Discipline of Brewing Tea

By N.P. Lim | March 27, 2026

There is a quiet discipline that lives inside the act of brewing tea. It is not something that announces itself loudly. There are no strict rules written on the wall, no visible signs that something significant is taking place. From the outside, the process appears simple enough. Water is heated. Leaves are placed into a…

When Tea Becomes Too Beautiful to Drink

By Maria Tan | March 24, 2026

I recently saw a photograph of a tea session online that looked almost too perfect. The teapot sat neatly on a polished tray. The cups were aligned in a way that suggested someone had carefully adjusted them, perhaps more than once. A small branch of flowers leaned gently toward the tea set as if it…

Are We Drinking Tea or Just Collecting It?

By N.P. Lim | March 19, 2026

There was a time when buying tea meant something simple. You chose a tea you liked, brought it home, and brewed it. The leaves were meant for hot water, not long-term storage. Yet something has quietly changed. Today it is not unusual to meet tea drinkers with shelves filled with sealed cakes, tins, and packets…

We Are Drinking Tea Too Quickly

By Maria Tan | March 11, 2026

There is something ironic about rushing tea. We order it to relax. We call it calming. We describe it as grounding. And yet, more often than not, we drink it the same way we drink everything else — between emails, between meetings, between scrolling. Tea has become background noise. A mug beside the laptop. A…