Tea for you? Here’s how you can order teh – in various permutations – at the local kopitiams in Singapore.
After countless trips to the kopitiam, you’ve finally mastered ordering kopi like a natural-born citizen. Good job! But what if you’re not into coffee and prefer tea instead? Well, the same rules apply, though there are some differences you should take note of. And fellow locals, don’t be embarrassed if you need to refer to this list. We admit it can get hard to remember them all the time. Without further ado… here’s how you can breezily order teh (that’s tea for you) in Singapore.
How to order tea (or teh) in Singapore: The basics you need to know
1. Teh
The default tea option with condensed milk and sugar.
2. Teh C
Similar to the above, except it’s with evaporated milk.
3. Teh O
This is tea with sugar; the milk is omitted.
4. Teh O Kosong
In Malay, kosong means zero or nothing. Simply put, this is tea at its bare minimum – no milk or sugar added.
5. Teh Peng
We’re back to square one, but this time ice is added to the mix.
6. Teh Tarik
Tarik means pull in Malay. So basically, this is tea that’s pulled between two cups to create that creamy foam you see on top.
The in-teh-mediate level
So you’ve got the basics down pat and committed them to memory. What’s next? In this round, your teh orders get a little more specific. Complicated? Not really. If you can tackle the rudimentary orders, you’ll get through these in no time.
7. Teh Gao
The tea is more concentrated.
8. Teh Po
More water is added, essentially diluting the drink.
9. Teh Siew Dai
Tea, but with less sugar.
10. Teh Gah Dai
The opposite of siew dai – more sugar!
You can mix and match the basic and intermediate terms together. For example, if you want iced tea with evaporated milk and less sugar, you can say “teh c siew dai peng”.
Other tea-riffic tehs to sip on in Singapore
Now here’s the fun part: trying out other teh options in Singapore!
11. Teh masala
If you prefer a kick in your cup, we highly recommend this concoction, which blends tea with various spices – similar to a masala chai.
12. Teh halia
This is tea with ginger. A go-to order for most people when they’re ordering from Indian Muslim stalls.
13. Yuanyang
A double whammy of coffee and tea. This will probably keep you buzzin’ for a good few hours!
14. Teh cino
How about a beverage with a cool layered appearance? This has condensed milk and water making up the base, and tea filling up the rest. Psst: there’s no need to stir this drink!
15. Teh dabao
Takeaway tea, for when you’re in a rush or just don’t feel like sitting in a crowded place to savour your drink.
16. Bubble tea
Tea for the hip and trendy! Well, this probably doesn’t count in this list, even though we have some bubble tea lovers in the team…
Have fun (and good luck) ordering tea the local way in Singapore! DM us if we missed your favourite order.
