Raintree Teapresso Blends: Not just tea

Address: 141 Katipunan Ave., St. Ignatius Village, Quezon City

I would always pass by this place and I would always gaze at how nice the shop looks like. It was never crowded which made me more curious as to who their customers might be.

Side story*: (this is something personal that I just want to write here but if you're not interested, you can skip ahead to the actual review)

The first time I actually tried to visit the shop, it was unusually crowded. Customers filled the tables up to the outside tables. I was with my boyfriend and we have just parked the car when I suddenly demanded to back-away immediately. I spotted my ex-boyfriend with his group of friends at one of the outdoor tables two steps from our parking slot. We were still friends but I hated the idea of seeing him laughing his heart out with his group. Not that I have anything against him or his friends, I just don't like seeing them all together.

As we were backing out of the tight parking slot we were previously eager to slip into, I tried to duck my head and cover my face, afraid they would see me escaping their presence. Having them see us leave without even going into the shop would only make the situation more awkward. And thankfully they didn't because they were too pre-occupied chilling out.

Actual Review: (this is the part you want to read)

Before visiting the place, I was confused at what they really sell. I have no idea what a "Teapresso" was (Could it have been Tea + Espresso? But that's too much caffeine!) and I didn't think it looked like a Milk Tea place. It turned out that the place was a fusion of a coffee shop and a milk tea shop.

The core product of the shop are tea-based drinks which the shop claims are always freshly brewed. Jars of dried tea leaves alongside other tea paraphernalia are displayed on one side of the shop while a big exquisite espresso machine sits behind a counter in front. Different seating options are available according to one's mood and need. Serious workers can opt for the counter with numerous electric outlets while chilling friends can go for one of the red sofas. The shop is designed to resemble the cozy and laid-back ambiance of a coffee shop and is made more approachable with the friendliness and childishness of milk tea.

As for their product, I wasn't really in to their teapresso blends. I prefer my milk tea light and simple and theirs was more sophisticated and flavorful. I didn't know espresso machines can be used to extract tea since tea leaves are much less dense than ground coffee beans and might produce either a too bitter or a too bland shot. But that's just me and I really don't know anything about tea.

If you don't enjoy tea, then there's still more for you in this shop. What I come back here for are their French Macaroons. They're the best and they have the widest selection of flavors I've seen. I've tasted 5 out of the 18 here and although a few really stood out, all of them were really good. The macaroons were soft and chewy but still firm enough to not crumble with every bite. The varied colors are fun to look at too. I think the ESPRESSO one had real ground coffee in it which adds texture but not bitterness. For starters, you can never go wrong with NUTELLA. And STRAWBERRY is a good intro too.

And if you end up loving their French Macaroons enough to want it everyday, why not take home three more or a dozen, even. They have a confectionery dedicated to their macaroons right beside the main shop. Its for macaroon lovers who don't want to be disturbed by non-macaroon customers.

Aside from their lovable macaroons, they also have other pastries that are equally lovable. I've tried their Red Velvet Cheesecake and it definitely stands out from all other cheesecakes that I've had. For one, it has a different texture. I think it's softer and creamier than a regular cheesecake. It doesn't have the crunchy rigid crust that I usually love but it's okay 'cause I don't think that would work on this one anyway. The cream cheese frosting is also divine. It doesn't feel like cream either but its pronounced taste and perfect level of sourness perfectly matches the red velvet cheesecake below it. With this unusual combination of texture and flavor, you wouldn't actually remember you're eating a cheesecake, just some cake of awesomeness.

I just had one complain about this piece though, it wasn't cold enough! The display freezer doors were left open for some reason. The staff might have been putting something in it or I don't know. Either way, it decreased the level of awesome-cheesecake by one level.

All in all, I think Raintree is a nice place to hang out at whatever time of the day. On mornings, you can get your daily perk with the teapresso blends. At lunch, have some cake for dessert. Or a macaroon as a snack before finally calling it a day. Nearby residents usually come by to pick up their teapresso blends or to spend some quality time with a different vibe.

How to get there:
There are no public utility vehicles that pass by the place but I guess you can get off at the Katipunan-Santolan intersection and walk back to White Plains. Its just a 5-minute walk.