Tea Culture in Singapore

Singapore consumes 0.82 lb of tea per capita per year.

Green tea is the most popular beverage in the country as well as its soft drink variants like Bubble tea and Teh Tarik.

Ginger is a common ingredient added to the multiple tea options around Singapore.

Most of the tea in the country is imported from China due to the lack of agricultural lands and tea cultivation in Singapore.

History of Tea in Singapore

Tea in Singapore has been the leading beverage for centuries thanks to trading with China.

Although many tea traditions have drastically changed, tea remains the number one beverage for most of the local population.

The difference between the ancient tea practices and today’s tea culture in Singapore is mainly the upgraded flavors and the multiple preparation styles.

Tea in Singapore is as popular today as it was centuries ago.

Tea Culture in Singapore

Singapore has a rich tea culture that satisfies many different tastes.

The so-called ‘coffee shop tea’ is one of the most traditional beverages in Singapore, sold in coffee shops and food stands.

It’s basically sugar and evaporated milk in a cup, poured over with a hot Green tea. The cold version of this tea includes ice.

The variants of the ‘coffee shop tea’ are known as teh oh (tea with sugar), teh si (tea with milk and sugar), and teh si kosong (tea with milk only).

Bubble tea is another all-time favorite tea in Singapore, popular among the younger generations. The Singapore Bubble Tea version includes either Green or Red tea, sugar or syrup, tapioca pearls, Rossella petals, and ice.

Teh Tarik and Teh Halila are other beloved teas in Singapore. Teh Tarik is a milk tea with a specific preparation method where the tea maker pours the content from one cup to another for a frothy top finish. Teh Halila is the same thing, but with ginger added into the loose-leaf Green tea.

Singapore has a quite rich tea culture, offering delicious and creamy beverages, satisfying even the most refined tea palates.