STEEPED Tea Bar Review: Aesthetic Tea Cafe At Bugis With Soursop Tea, Mango Latte And More

Espresso-brewed teas at STEEPED Tea Bar

Minimalist cafes are all the rage lately, and they’ve been sprouting up all over Singapore like dandelions. Most only have a beautiful exterior to show, and tend to serve relatively overpriced dishes. A breath of fresh air, STEEPED Tea Bar is more than an aesthetic minimalist cafe, it’s also one of good substance. 

This humble tea cafe serves fresh fruit teas, milk lattes, and various cakes. Many have compared their teas to bubble tea, and it’s outrageous to classify them in this category. Most bubble tea chains fill their drinks with loads of syrup and artificial sweeteners, and STEEPED Tea Bar has none of that. 

Drinks at STEEPED Tea Bar

All their teas are freshly brewed to order with their in-house espresso machine. This brewing technique is similar to CHICHA San Chen. Whole tea leaves are used, which allow the blends to retain their natural tea flavour.

The menu at STEEPED Tea Bar is extensive with 18 items. We ordered a couple of their specialities to try and to get a better idea of how this locally owned tea bar compares against the big boys. I was glad to hear that they use real fruit juices and purees, hence the quality of the drinks is ensured.

My dining companion loves soursop, and she had her eyes on the Soursop Sencha ($6.60) since we first walked into the cafe. Though this was not my first choice, I was won over by it. The combination of soursop and sencha tea was a wonderful match. 

I also liked how the sweet and sour soursop came together with the earthy flavours of the sencha tea to create an extremely flavourful tea. The soursop bits were plump and juicy, and were a solid addition to the brew. 

Being a huge mango fan, I knew I had to get their Mango Fruit Latte ($6.30). With sweet and tangy notes, it tasted like a luscious mango dessert. I was relieved that its sweetness was not overpowering, unlike many mango drinks. 

I also liked how they only use 100% Hokkaido milk in their milk lattes, which gave the drink an additional milky touch. My only qualm was that I could detect a hint of bitterness from the blend, and I was not a fan of that.

We visited on a hot day, and the Pear High Mountain Oolong ($6.30) seemed like a good idea to cool down with. 

Though not as sweet as the soursop sencha, the drink was refreshingly smooth and light. I even munched on some small pear bits too! The earthy bitterness from the oolong further deepened the flavour profile of the brew, and rounded off a pleasant, cool drink. 

I was craving for something savoury to accompany the subtle sweetness of the flavoured teas, and the bartender kindly recommended the Classico Tiramisu ($7.90). The cakes at STEEPED Tea Bar are supplied by L’Atelier Tiramisu. Served decadently on a thin bronze-coloured platter, the tiramisu was modest in size. Yet, its tall patterned layers further accentuated the tea bar’s attention to aesthetic detail. 

The creamy layers of cocoa and cream were sandwiched between buttery, fluffy sponge cake, and each mouthful was rich, robust, and came with the right balance of sweet and bitterness. Its intense flavour thoroughly complemented the light tea blends.

Ambience at STEEPED Tea Bar

STEEPED Tea Bar occupies a rather dainty space under a row of shophouses and there aren’t many seats available. Its interior is separated into two sections, namely the casual seating area and the ‘bar’ section. Soft, soothing music engulfs the whole space, setting the tone for a quiet and chill atmosphere.

Green leafy plants are hung downwards on the ceiling, making for a lush and verdant setting. The pleasant green is juxtaposed with the mellow white decor, and though they were simplistic, it was a rather aesthetically pleasing sight.

The ‘bar’ section is situated right in front of the counter, where you would be able to witness the tea making process first hand. Akin to a classy bar, you can interact with the ‘bartender’ and potentially have a deep conversation about the complexities of modern-day life. 

The verdict

STEEPED Tea Bar dishes out great tasting teas that are made from quality ingredients. Their attention to detail is also evident in their minimalistic and Instagram-worthy interior. With that said, I’ll definitely be back for more of their other speciality drinks, such as Grape Oolong and Melon Fruit Latte. Just be sure not to compare their drinks to bubble tea.

For more minimalist cafes, check out these nine minimalist cafes in Singapore.

Address: 2 Tan Quee Lan Street, #01-01, Singapore 188091
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 9pm
Tel: 9120 1169
Website
STEEPED Tea Bar is not a halal-certified eatery.

Photos taken by Bevelyn Tan.
This is an independent review by Eatbook.sg.