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Shenzhen's viral tea brand, Molly Tea, has finally landed in Singapore with a 1400-square-foot flagship store in Orchard Central – its biggest in Southeast Asia. Molly Tea gets its name from the jasmine flower, which is called mò lì (茉莉) in Mandarin. So it should go without saying that the chain specialises in jasmine teas, as well as a range of floral-based teas. Here in Singapore, the menu will feature over 30 drinks. This isn't representative of the full range available in China, but rather, a special curation for the Singapore audience, including the popular pistachio range alongside Molly Tea classics.
The Orchard Central flagship will be in its soft-opening phase from March 3 to 5, while its grand opening weekend runs from March 6 to 8. During the grand opening, visitors will get to enjoy a one-for-one promotion on six of the signature teas, namely: the premium jasmine milk tea, premium jasmine apple milk tea, pistachio jasmine coconut, white champaca matcha, snowy jasmine and white champaca oolong milk tea. With every transaction, customers will also get one spin on a gachapon machine to win Molly Tea merchandise, like a fluffy pink cloud tote, insulated tumbler, Singapore-exclusive blind box magnet, card holder, perfume or lipstick.
Now, back to the teas. We tried all six of Molly Tea's signature drinks, and here's how we'd rank them, from our most to least favourite.
1. Premium jasmine milk tea ($5.20)
Surprise, surprise. Nothing beats Molly Tea's original premium jasmine milk tea. The brand's most popular brew is made of freshly picked double-petal jasmine flowers from Guangxi, which are infused into high-mountain oolong tea using a trademark 'seven-step scenting process'. While the details aren't revealed, this technique is what causes the jasmine fragrance to be thoroughly infused into the leaves. It's then blended with milk and served. We love how each sip has a distinct jasmine fragrance that lingers, and how the milk doesn't interfere with the taste of the tea. Tip: the recommended sweetness level is 70 percent (equivalent to 50 percent at most tea stores in Singapore), but if you prefer your drinks less sweet like us, we recommend going for 30 percent or even zero sugar.
2. White champaca oolong milk tea ($5.20)
As we would come to learn, the white champaca is a hybrid flower variety that combines hibiscus and magnolia. To create this tea blend, fresh white champaca flowers are first infused with green tea, and then mixed with Mengding high-mountain tea from Ya'an in Sichuan. The tea-on-tea combination results in a strongly caffeinated brew. The oolong taste is definitely prominent, with a characteristic hint of bitterness, but it's not quite as astringent as you'd imagine. Great for those who love stronger tea blends. We'd recommend a 30 percent sweetness level to counter the intensity of the oolong tea.
3. Pistachio jasmine coconut ($6.20)
Pistachio is having a moment in China and Singapore, so it's only fitting that Molly Tea's pistachio series makes its way to our shores. First, sip on the creamy and slighty savoury pistachio cheese foam, which is topped with pistachio crumbs. The subtle fragrance of the jasmine tea comes in after, followed by an equally light base of coconut water. We might go as far to say that we prefer this over the recently trending matcha coconut drinks in Singapore, which often feature very strong-tasting coconut water paired with overly bitter matcha foams. This concoction, on the other hand, balances silky textures with equally gentle flavours, making it easy to enjoy.
4. Snowy Jasmine ($6.50)
An upgraded version of the classic premium jasmine milk tea, the Snowy Jasmine features a generous crown of jasmine-infused whipped cream and crunchy crushed pecan nuts, adding new layers and dimensions to the drink. As the whipped cream itself is sweet, we recommend an even lower sugar percentage for this beverage, since the drink naturally gets sweeter as the whipped cream slowly disintegrates.
5. White champaca matcha ($5.90)
Think matcha latte with a floral spin. The same green tea-infused white champaca flowers are used here, blended with premium milk, and then topped with a matcha cheese cloud foam for a slightly savoury touch. It's a more refined and creamier version of a matcha latte, and at a slightly lower price than what's offered at most cafés.
6. Premium jasmine apple milk tea ($5.90)
The most unusual of the bunch, Molly Tea's premium jasmine apple milk tea combines both fruity and floral flavours. Fresh apple juice is paired with high-mountain tea from Guangxi, and for those who love apples, the taste of the apple juice is especially prominent. When blended with the jasmine tea, however, it slightly alters the familiar jasmine scent in a way that we'd imagine most folks wouldn't be accustomed to. It's also significantly milkier, so stay clear if you prefer to appreciate the natural taste of tea.
Find out more about Molly Tea Singapore here. Molly Tea is open daily from 10.30am to 10.30pm at 181 Orchard Rd, Orchard Central, #01-17A, Singapore 238896.
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