I admit, I was not a big fan of milk teas at first because I have always equated tea as a drink for the elderly. But, when tea places started sprouting in every corner of the Metro, I felt so compelled to give bubble tea drinks a try to find out why, all of a sudden, they have become so popular.

Since we started this food blog, my sister and I have already been to a number of milk tea places, but I have never completely jumped aboard the tea-drinking bandwagon until I met my classmates from culinary school who are crazy about milk teas. I mean, they really know their stuff. Give them a name of a store and they would know exactly what drinks one should try there. But, one store they were not quite familiar with yet was Saint’s Alp Teahouse, who invited us to try their offerings, so we thought we should drop by and see what new drinks we could find.

Saint’s Alp Teahouse can be found on the 2nd Floor of Regis Center along Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City (check their branches at the bottom of this post). The store’s façade looks simple and clean, providing a more spacious appeal. They’re facing Ateneo, which gives them a nice view of a rich and green landscape.

The interior conforms to their simplistic design, the tables and chairs are efficiently spaced, providing guests more room for movement, and the clear glass door and windows allow natural light to brighten up the room.

When we arrived, most of the tables were already occupied, but we were lucky to find this vacant one with cushioned chairs right in front of the counter.

Saint’s Alp boasts of having more than 50 tea concoctions (click on the photo to zoom), which are divided into different categories. We tried ordering one from each category, but there were just five of us then so we ended up choosing from their bestsellers and recommended lists.

When our drinks arrived, we were really surprised how big their serving glass was. One of our classmates even had a hard time holding it in her hands. Talk about value for money, right?

Glace Mint – Choco Mint Delight (Php 130)

The first one that got to our table was my friend Marge’s Choco Mint Delight, which turned out to be our favorite among all the drinks we’ve had that day. The drink reminded us a lot of Andes Crème de Menthe Thins. It’s so refreshing, so it’s a perfect drink when it’s awfully hot outside.

Frothy Tea – Oreo Milk Tea (Php 125)

Next was Oreo Milk Tea for my classmate, Lady. She also ordered extra tapioca pearls, thinking her glass wouldn’t have enough. She later found out that she’s wrong, so she ended up sharing the extra pearls with us. We really enjoyed the flavor, and I, in particular, enjoyed the feeling of having tiny bits of Oreos left in the mouth after you take a gulp.

I really didn’t get why this Light Black Tea fell under their White Moustache category at first, but when our friend Angela took a sip, it was like an “ooh, that’s why” moment for us. Haha!

 White Moustache – Light Black Tea (Php 125) and Angela with her moustache

The Light Black Tea is topped with a delicious layer of salted whipped cream, adding an interesting contrast in flavor.

I got myself the Taro (Green) Milk Tea (Frothy Tea, Php 95 small, Php 115 regular). I’ve had the same drink from another teahouse, so it’s hard not to compare. The one I had from the other store had chunks of taro in the drink, while this one from Saint’s Alp was blended real fine. Well, I guess it’s up to your taste if you want it chunky or smooth, just like when choosing a peanut butter. But for me, I prefer mine to be chunky.

James, a self-confessed chocolate addict, stirred up when I read Double Chocolate on the menu. He immediately went for it, and after a few sips, you could see by the looks on his face that he’s in his happy place. I tried it myself, and I swear any chocolate lover would definitely relish every drop.

Sorbies – Double Chocolate (Php 130)

I would have ordered this Blueberry Double Chocolate myself, but I gave in to Angela’s request to have it instead. One thing I learned in culinary school is that chocolate can go well with any type of berry, and this drink was no exception. A hefty sip gives you all the goodness of chocolate and with tangy hints of the blueberry, making this drink so gratifying.

Sorbies – Blueberry Double Chocolate (Php 130)

Unlike other teahouses, Saint’s Alp doesn’t exclusively offer beverages; they also sell savory products from salads, snacks, toasts, breakfast dishes, and rice entrees for those who prefer to indulge in heavier meals. With our tight budget that day, we limited ourselves to only two snacks, which were recommended to us by the server.

Breaded Calamares (Php 110)

Their bestselling Breaded Calamares was a good treat. It’s very crispy, and not too oily. The seasoning powder was just the right mix of salty and spicy.

Cheesy Tempura Balls (Php 90)

And the other snack we had was their Cheesy Tempura Balls. This is probably one of the reasons why we will be coming back to Saint’s Alp. It is served hot, so when you take a bite, the cheese inside will definitely ooze out! We all loved it!

Right after we had our snacks and drinks, my classmates and I had a short discussion on what we think about Saint’s Alp. It was unanimous. The beverages tasted really good, but we think people have different preference of sweetness, so we’re hoping they could give customers a choice if they want to have their drinks with regular sweetness, with extra sugar, or no sugar at all. But overall, we loved all their food and drinks. We’ll definitely come back, and probably bring our other classmates next time.

Saint’s Alp Teahouse

– 2/F Regis Center, Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City
(Right beside KFC and in front of Ateneo de Manila University)

– G/F Forbeswood Parklane, Rizal Drive, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SaintsAlpPH

Twitter: @SaintsAlpPH