The tea craze continues as China's Molly Tea makes its Singapore debut at Orchard Central next month

We thought the tea craze in Singapore was slowing down, with those Chagee queue numbers finally looking somewhat manageable these days, but alas, we stand corrected. As it turns out, another major Chinese beverage chain has its eyes set on Singapore, and it's none other than Molly Tea (茉莉奶白) from Shenzhen. 

The brand will open its first Singapore outpost at Orchard Central in early March, and it's not just any outlet. Spanning 1400 square feet, the store serves as Molly Tea's local flagship and its largest outlet in Southeast Asia. Expect the familiar minimalist-chic interiors consistent with its shops overseas, and at the entrance, a statue of the brand's iconic mascot in a Merlion get-up.

Founded in Shenzhen in 2021, Molly Tea has expanded at breakneck speed, with over 2000 outlets worldwide now in locations like the US, UK, Australia and Southeast Asia. What sets it apart? Its laser focus on floral teas, especially jasmine tea (Molly is an anglicisation of 'mò lì' (jasmine) in Mandarin), and its aesthetic, picture-perfect packaging that warrants a bunch of photos.

For first-timers, the premium jasmine milk tea is a must-try. We were introduced to this in China last month, and the brew was well-rounded with a subtle floral fragrance and none of that tannic bitterness that you might expect from Chinese tea. Each batch is made from freshly picked double-petal jasmine flowers from Hengzhou (not to be confused with Hangzhou), infused into high-mountain tea through a careful seven-step scenting process.

The pistachio jasmine coconut adds a trendy twist to the classic, with a jasmine-infused coconut water base, complemented by a pistachio cheese cap. Those who prefer fruitier profiles can sip on the premium jasmine apple milk tea, which blends fresh apple juice with high-mountain Yunnan tea, while the Snowy Jasmine is a variation of Molly Tea's signature jasmine milk tea with a jasmine-infused whipped cream top. For something different, try the white champaca oolong milk tea, featuring Mengding high-mountain tea from Ya'an, Sichuan.

Watch this space for updates on Molly Tea's new store at Orchard Central, including prices, opening hours and more. Find out more about Molly Tea here.

Molly Tea is located at 181 Orchard Rd, # 01-17A Orchard Central, Singapore 238896. 

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