First Sip: Sakura Hanami

One of the things I look forward to when visiting Japan is to bask in the beauty of cherry blossoms. Those beautiful and delicate flowers never fail to be the highlight of my Spring vacation. I was slightly disappointed though that I was too early this year for the sakura festival but I managed to get a glimpse of it before heading back to Manila. But a newly opened tea shop turned Spring into a year-round season with its hanami inspired drinks!

Hello, Sakura Hanami. 

Pink, white and everything floral, Sakura Hanami is the very definition of dainty and sweet. 

This newly opened milk tea shop along Maginhawa is a quaint place to grab your usual milk tea favorites and a few more which you cannot find elsewhere. 

For this visit, I tried its bestsellers Sakura Signature Bubble Tea (PHP125 | PHP145), Hanami Dream Tea (PHP160 | PHP180) and Traditional Cherry Blossom Tea (PHP180). 

The place was packed when we dropped by so R and I opted to just stay at its al fresco area. It was too humid though so it's still better to find seats inside. 

My ginormous Sakura Signature Bubble Tea in XL size was served first and Sakura Hanami was not kidding when it said this drink's extra strength. It was packed with tea taste which somehow cancelled off the sugar in this drink. Pearls were slightly on the soft side but still chewy enough to be enjoyed. 

Hanami Dream Tea is one picturesque drink with its layer of colors. I requested for this drink to be at 50% sugar and it wasn't very sweet. It also had a pronounced tea taste despite its cute hues. Best to drink this right away as it gets very bland once the ice melts. 

Tea time got extra girly with this pot of Traditional Cherry Blossom Tea. Filled with glazed (sweetened) cherry blossom, each sip would have that slightly sweet and floral taste that lingers. I heard even the owner's boyfriend loves this drink! 

I'm glad that a milk tea joint finally puts tea on the spotlight. I love that it didn't mask the tea taste with drowning the drink with sweeteners. 

I'll swing by again to try its other drinks and hopefully manage to get a table inside as Manila heat's too dreadful!

Sakura Hanami is located at 168 Maginhawa Street, Quezon City.

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