The country has yet to become a tea-drinking community. Coffee and soft drinks dominate the market. Our forebears and some of our generation consider tea as purely medicinal, something one drinks only when suffering from colds and other ailments. Our friend Tess started promoting tea time as a social activity in her T Salon formerly located at Glorietta. In upscale places like five-star hotels, high tea afternoons are regularly held.
Tess has moved to the Global City, at Forbeswood Heights on Rizal Drive, renaming her outlet Numa, in honor of her mother. Here she offers some of the best teas of the world, either to enjoy there or to take home. The history of tea started in 3000 BC in China, then its cultivation spread to India, Japan, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and other parts of the world. In England, the Lady of Bedford enhanced the session with savories, presented on the tiered epergne.
There are three types of tea – green, black and oolong. The green has lately become the most popular, perhaps because of the increasing concern for a healthier way of life. Our first green tea drink was at a tea ceremony in Japan, quite a long time ago. We almost didn’t take it because of its consistency and color. We found out this comes from unfermented tea leaves which are roasted immediately after harvest, giving it a strong, bitter taste. This process retains more of the nutrients as compared to the black variety. Outside of the classic teas, there are herbal and scented (with flowers and fruits).
Numa is not only a tea store – it is a dining place for Batangueños who miss their bulanglang and tulingan. At regular intervals, it offers a hearty Batangas buffet for P295 per. On the day we lunched there, they had the typical bulalo with corn and adobong manok sa dilaw (turmeric), among other dishes. We welcomed the dessert of ginataang pindot (pinched), a take on the ginataang halo-halo, but using only the glutinous bilo-bilo (rice balls) and sago, cooked in thick coconut milk and sugar.
They’ve got other offerings – salads, sandwiches, pasta, Pinoy snacks, pancit and cakes. The high tea costs P495 a set, which is good for two. This includes scones with clotted cream, mini sandwiches and pastries. The tea collection consists of packs in 50, 100 and 200 gms. Prices range from P265 to P1,025.
We dropped in at S&R at The Fort prior to their big sale and found a few new items. Before going around, however, we noted that the roasted chicken now sells at P219.95 per. A friend wanted to get a big bottle of Pomace olive oil, but she was greatly disappointed because they ran out of stock. Actually, quite a few homemakers have shifted to this type (the third press), because it is much cheaper than full and extra virgin olive oil. You still get the flavor, though not as intense. It will do for cooking for daily meals.
Here are the items we particularly noted – parmesan cheese, 16 ounces at P499.95; Classico tomato basil sauce, 32 ounces at P219.95; Kirkland olive oil, 5 liters, P1,989; olive-sunflower oil, 2 liters, P399.95; Heinz organic catsup, 44 ounces, P279,95; Kirkland canola oil , 5 quarts for P799.50. The new things include instant Thai curries , yellow and green, 400 mls. for P79.95; Dolmio pesto sauce for P249.95; the White King collection, ready to eat, including arroz caldo, chicken curry at P109.95; Hormel’s complete meals (for one) such as beef steak, beef stew, tuna and turkey, chicken alfredo, each at P159.95; Victory corned beef, 12 ounces, P109.95. Others are Swiss biscuits, Heinz pork and beans, tiramisu. They sell Chilean seabass at P699.95 for a pack of 500 gms, and fillet at P579.95. The Basmati rice is tagged at P259.95.
For those wanting good desserts, one item we have always delighted in is S&R US apple pie which now costs P249.75. Other sweets include US brownie snackies, a pack of 354 gms is P299.95; decadent brownies, P219.95; choco fudge cake and some minis.
Needless to say, they’ve got lots of offerings other than food – linens, clothing, appliances, beauty care products and many more. One simply needs a rather thick wallet to get their desired goods.
It’s October, this is another reminder that the Yuletide is fast approaching. Get your lists done so you don’t become a bundle of nerves. Review your lists weekly because it is most likely that some important items/persons will be forgotten. And remember, when buying ingredients, there are always less expensive substitutes for the costly items.
E-mail comments and questions to: lydia_d_castillo@yahoo.com.