Tag Archives: tea

Why sip tea when you can chew it? @chewtea #foodanddrink #drink #coffee #tea #soho #london

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Recently launched in London’s Soho area is a new tea and coffee revolution. Forget Seattle and its Starbucks, its all about the Far East and the rise of Bubble Tea and now for the first time in the UK, Bubble Coffee, housed by brand new franchise Chew.

Where can I Chew?

You can’t really miss the shop if you walk past it, its neon orange lights will be a beacon of hope for those walking the streets upon night fall, and a nightmare for anyone with a hangover!

This first site has been fashioned by Afroditi Krassa, the award-winning designer who created the brand identity for Itsu and was later appointed Creative Director by founder Julian Metcalfe – who also started sandwich chain Pret a Manger. Chew is aiming to pioneer the next step in the bubble beverage evolution by kick-starting the next big drink trend.

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So what is Chew?

Chew, so called as it is literally the drink that you can eat, will be serving adventurous Soho residents not only a new take on freshly brewed coffee, but will also be offering over 30 fruit and milk-based bubble teas. Tea has be reimagined and given the Chew treatment. A variety of black and green flavoured teas have been ‘sexed up’ with the signature bubble tea ingredient, jelly-like tapioca balls – which are freshly prepared on site, and have the strangest, yet most addictive texture!

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Where did Chew come from?

The Bubble Tea phenomenon originated in the streets of Taiwan in the 1980s and the trend has slowly been travelling West ever since. 30 years on the bubble tea movement is far from middle aged and in the UK it’s still in its infancy. Over the last couple of years various concepts have introduced the Far Eastern inspired refreshment to British palettes. Chews founding owners, husband and wife team Karim and Sara Hemsi first came across bubble tea in San Francisco, fell in love with the concept and then travelled to Taiwan to be trained in the art of modern tea making!

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How did it hit the streets of London?

In 2011 Boba Jam in Chinatown claimed to be the first bubble tea parlour to open in Central London. Bubbleology launched the same year and now has six outlets. Bubble tea appears to thrive where trendy young people converge however it would seem that the Chew brand aims to brew tea of the bubble variety not only for Soho hipsters, but also for the Great British tea-drinking public.

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So how much will this set me back?

Bubble teas are available in two sizes

Medium is 500ml and is £3.45

Large is 700ml and is £3.75

Bubble coffees are available in two sizes

Medium is 500ml and is £3.55

Large is 700ml and is £3.85

I’m sold, lets chew! You can follow chew on Twitter @chewtea and find out much more about the company on its website! 

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Friday Feature Spotlight on Streatham: Cafe culture. @serendipitySW16 @hideaway_cafe @therailwaySW16 #streatham

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Thanks to everyone who tweeted, emailed to tell us which places you love the most within Streatham. Having recently moved our Snoochie Boochie HQ to the area we immediately fell in love with its diversity, beautiful Victorian houses and exciting future with the re-generation. So in the first installment of our Spotlight on Streatham features we’re going to look at three key places which serve amazing food and bring a really friendly and relaxed vibe to the area.

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SERENDIPITY

@serendipitySW16

https://www.facebook.com/www.serendipity.co.uk

Need a bit of old school glamour? Well opposite Streatham station is a little wonder of a tea room, cosy and elegantly decorated, Serendipity is run by the wonderful Jackqueline MacDonald who brings in home made cakes (including a lemon drizzle to die for!) and serves high quality tea and coffee. With room to sit outside on girly shabby chic metal chairs and tables, you can sip your tea from one of the many vintage style cups and saucers and take away one of the beautifully crafted gifts on sale on the back shelf. This really is boutique at its finest. Serendipity is an oddity within the hustle and bustle of Streatham High Road as it manages to pull in some sleek sophistication and sense of calm as the cars go whizzing by. If you also venture downstairs in this mini labyrinth, you’ll find an amazing cove of wonders. This little cubby hole houses hen parties and craft nights for those wanting to make anything from fascinators to burlesque nipple tassels! If you’re taking a stroll along the high street this place is the perfect stop off point for reflection on the beautiful weather… and perhaps the start of a new investment of quirky cafes and shops in the area.

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THE HIDEAWAY

@hideaway_cafe

http://www.hideawaylive.co.uk

Voted venue of the year in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards, The Hideaway has two sides to it. The first is the London jazz club that features a selection of Jazz, Funk, Swing and Soul, showcasing new talent, established artists and star performers. With a cosy purpose built staged venue at the back, its an elegant place to sit and be transported to a world of jazz music new and old. The second side is the fantastic bar and restaurant. Giving an indoor/outdoor café feature, you can sit on wooden benches inside and be surrounded by various vintage items for sale from the neighbouring Xanadu vintage shop a few doors down, or by the more modern black and white images of Jazz artists singing and playing a variety of instruments canvased across the walls. The menu is limited in a good way. The choice is something you would expect to see down the road from Ronnie Scotts in Soho and definitely brings an upmarket feel to the place. On a Saturday morning you can enjoy varying price ranges when it comes to breakfast, from a simple tea and toast to a more extravagant eggs benedict which will tug on your purse strings just that little bit more. Judging by the high volume of clientele on a breakfast run reading the papers on the roadside and enjoying the busy atmosphere that reflects some of the Jazz tunes playing inside this is one of the perfect places to start your weekend.

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THE RAILWAY 

@therailwaySW16

http://www.therailwaysw16.co.uk

Now we have covered this wonderful pub before, but due to high demand (quite rightly) it deserves a second mention. You cant miss The Railway as you leave Streatham Common station, its directly in eye site with its baby blue colouring, vintage style lettering and welcoming wooden benches outside. Step inside and you will see Jenga, Guess Who and a whole host of board games which for us always spells out a good pub outing (particularly during the week!). The food is hearty and there are some great deals such as Fish and Chip Fridays where you can get two fish and chips for £20. The Railway’s burgers are also divine and served in a great gastro way with chunky chips, alioli all on a big wooden board. On a Tuesday night which is quiz night, the backroom fills to the rafters with eager quizzers scrambling to get a table for their team. Out the back is a beautiful space full of greenery, the odd quirky mirror and a great atmosphere. Finally every other Saturday, The Railway plays host to a small yet very refined Farmers Market, with fresh meat, baked goods and fruit and veg, this in itself is starting to turn the small parade of shops into a mini Primrose Hill and we love it!

So there you go, this is just a tiny selection of all the fantastic elements that Streatham has to offer, its no wonder that the overspill from Clapham and Balham is falling straight into the laps of Streatham, with houses being snapped up, the regeneration taking place and small upmarket businesses setting up shop in key areas, its no wonder Streatham is one to watch.

Have a great weekend!!