When overseas Filipino worker Clifford Peralta came back to the Philippines after building a career in the hospitality industries of the United Arab Emirates and the United States, the balikbayan wanted to make his dream of starting a business come true.
Before coming home for good, Peralta first trained in the art of tea making in the U.S. and became a tea artisan skilled in handmade tea brews and the creation of varied flavors of craft tea.
The Southern New Hampshire University graduate looked at the growing tea drinking community in the Philippines and planned to set up Black Kettle Craft Tea Bar and Cheesecakery in Bacoor, Cavite where he lived.
Peralta got the support he needed from his family in building his dream business and started operating the artisanal tea bar in July 2017.
“Black Kettle is inspired by tea cafes that I’ve been to before when I was working overseas, generally in the U.S. where they have a small but growing tea drinking culture,” reveals the tea bar owner.
Three things make Black Kettle great: the tea, the experience, and the cheesecake.
CRAFT TEA MAKING
There are more than 30 unique flavors of tea created by Peralta who readily recommends flavors depending on the preferences of the tea drinker.
The names of the tea give a hint of the experience that take you out of the Philippines with flavors such as Winter Wonderland, Moroccan Mint, English Breakfast, to the very tempting indulgences such as Cinnamon Chocolate Brownie, Red Velvet Cupcake , and healthy doses of Rose Kissed Jasmine, Black Currant, or Ginger Peach.
“We import the loose tea leaves from the U.S. and we have blender from the U.S. that combines the different tea leaves, herbs and spices to make the different flavors that we have.”
The Cavite-based tea artisan in true craft tea style encourages customers to experience the tea brew before actually ordering by taking a whiff of the loose tea leaf scents offered on the tea sample board.
Finding the right blend for your taste is easy as Peralta and his trained tea baristas will help you decide on the right mix of tea leaves for your own specialty flavor. The aroma of the tea gives you an exciting preview of how it may taste.
“The aromas of the tea ay yun na rin yung (becomes the tea’s) flavor,” explains Peralta.
Black Kettle offers tea lovers a fascinating view of the artistry of tea making as Peralta himself brews the tea where you can see him, much like how baristas create cocktails in a bar.
Loose tea leaves are brewed, and depending on whether you ordered for a cup of hot, iced or latte, you will get just the right flavor of artisanal tea that suits your taste.
LUXURIOUS EXPERIENCE
The relaxing atmosphere of the tea bar soothes away your stress. “Tea should be relaxing unlike coffee it is like a fast phase vibe.”
Peralta designed the place with dimmer lights and good music similar to the wizard’s pub of the Harry Potter movie.
CHEESECAKERY AT ITS FINEST
You will not regret indulging in Black Kettle’s yummy cheesecakes. The varied tastes can complement any tea flavor you’ve chosen.
“Our best sellers are Oreos, Smores and Banoffee pie. On top of that we have other dessert items like Honey Toast and Doughnut holes,” offers Peralta. Even their version of the cheesecake standards – New York cheesecake and Blueberry cheesecake – are not to be outdone and are enjoyable at the very least.
Black Kettle offers a new cheesecake flavor for a limited offering of the month as it expands its lineup. The Peach Mango cheesecake it offered during summer had quickly become a favorite of customers. The July limited flavor is the Salted Caramel Cheesecake. You can get your cheesecake delivered to your doorstep.
Black Kettle Craft Tea Bar and Cheesecakery is found along the Solidarity Route inside the Camella Homes Springville Subdivision and can be found via map mobile apps. New flavors and offerings are posted on their Facebook and Instagram pages. Watch the GNP Video to sample the Black Kettle experience offered by a returning OFW.
