When I first heard about ChaYi, a tea shop in Lucky Chinatown Mall in Manila, I knew I just had to go and try their drinks. That visit led me to meet Winchell Tan, one of the three brothers behind the shop, who credits their father for introducing them to tea at a young age.

“When I was a kid, I would always watch my dad brew tea, and that sparked my curiosity,” Winchell tells Manila Bulletin Lifestyle. “I became interested in tea but could never find the same kind of high-quality teas in the Philippine market.”

His travels to China led him to discover and, eventually, bring back flavored tea leaves which he handpicked to be part of ChaYi’s menu of drinks. Choose from Oriental Jasmine tea which resembles floral notes of Sampaguita, Osmanthus tea that has a light floral aroma, and White Peach Oolong tea which offers a fruity and subtly creamy finish. “It has a light and refreshing taste while still preserving the essence of real tea,” on why this is their bestseller.

His travels to China opened his eyes to a world of premium, flavored tea leaves—many of which he personally selected to be part of ChaYi’s drink menu. Among the choices are Oriental Jasmine which carries floral notes reminiscent of our national flower Sampaguita, Osmanthus tea that is known for its light, delicate aroma, and White Peach Oolong, which offers a fruity profile with a subtly creamy finish. “It has a light and refreshing taste while still preserving the essence of real tea,” he says, explaining why it’s their bestseller.

It also happens to be his personal favorite, Peach Harmony. “It’s the tea that made me fall in love with modern tea drinks when I first tried it abroad,” he shares. “That experience inspired me to bring this concept to my own brand.”

And this was how ChaYi (Cha for tea, Yi for essence in Mandarin) was born—just nine months since he had this lightbulb idea. “One of the biggest challenges was introducing tea culture to the Philippine market and distinguishing it from traditional milk tea,” Winchell explains. “To address this, we focused on educating our customers by highlighting the history, culture, and authenticity behind our teas.”

That sense of heritage is also reflected in ChaYi’s visual identity. “Our logo is inspired by a blooming flower and styled to resemble an imperial Chinese crest,” Winchell proudly shows their cup designs. “The blue and white color scheme takes cues from traditional Chinese porcelain, symbolizing elegance and heritage.”

This deep appreciation of tea led him to expand the menu with more unique tea variants. Da Hong Pao (Big Red Robe) is one of China’s renowned teas, known for its multi-layered profile of smoky, spicy, and floral notes. There’s also Pu’er, an aged tea with an earthy character and subtle rice-like undertones. From beyond China, they’ve also brought in Ceylon Tea from Sri Lanka, a high-quality black tea known for its bold flavor and rich aroma.

But if you still consider yourself a newbie to tea, Winchell recommends starting with Peach Harmony or the Snowfall Latte, a creamy Ceylon-based drink served with milk and topped with whipped cream and toasted pecans. “These drinks are well-balanced and not too overpowering for beginners,” he says.

Coffee lovers can also enjoy any of their drinks as well. “Each one has a different caffeine level,” notes Winchell. “Unlike coffee, our teas do not cause palpitations, even when consumed in large amounts.”

So the next question was how should tea be best enjoyed? Is it hot or cold? “In Chinese culture, tea is traditionally served hot,” he starts off. “ But with modern innovations, cold tea has become just as popular. We offer both options to cater to different preferences.”

New additions is the Lemon Tea series with refreshing, citrus-infused blends. Choose from Jasmine Breeze, a light and floral drink with a fresh, tropical twist; Golden Osmanthus, smooth and subtly sweet with delicate floral notes; and Red Peak, a bold, citrusy brew with a rich, full-bodied finish.

Winchell also showed me their sturdy two-hole slim straws which resemble plastic coffee stirrers. The difference is that they are made of biodegradable PLA (Polylactic Acid). “We prioritize sustainability in our packaging. Most of our materials are paper-based or recyclable,” he adds, pointing out that he chose these slim straws so customers can sip slowly and fully enjoy the flavor of the tea.

A lot of thoughtful planning has gone into introducing ChaYi to the public.”ChaYi is deeply rooted in Chinese tea culture. Our drinks are crafted to highlight the true essence of tea, rather than overpowering it with artificial flavors or excessive sweeteners.”

Whether you’re a longtime tea lover or someone just starting to explore beyond milk tea, ChaYi offers a more refined, thoughtful tea experience—one cup at a time.