“A new tea company, TWG, has set up shop in Singapore to be near the tea fields of Asia. For now it is shipping its wares only to Dean & Deluca stores in the United States. Maranda Barnes, a TWG partner, poured samples at the Madison Avenue shop recently.” Florence Fabricant, Editor & Dining Columnist, March 2009

“Come July 1, Singapore Airlines (SIA) will up the ante on its in-flight gourmet experience by offering premium teas from home-grown luxury tea brand, TWG Tea, to passengers travelling on Singapore Airlines Suites, First Class and Business Class. Betty Wong, SIA vice-president, says, ‘As a well-established tea company with blends of exceptional quality and diversity, TWG Tea is perfectly suited to meet the wide-ranging tastes of our customers.’ ” Melissa Lwee, June 2009

“High tea in Singapore may never be the same again – not if Taha Bouqdib has anything to do with it. As the president of the TWG Tea Company, Bouqdib and his partners are intent on elevating the art of drinking tea here to previously unknown heights by introducing local consumers to the finest teas of the world.” Geoffrey Eu, August 2008

“Home-grown luxury tea brand TWG Tea is going places. The one-year-old brand made its debut at upscale American grocery Dean & Deluca in New York this month. Fashionable London-based business magazine Monocle voted TWG’s president and co-founder Taha Bouqdib, 39, one of the world’s 20 New Heroes in its December issue, anticipating the brand to ‘brew up a storm’ next year.” Anjana Krishna Kumar, December 2008

“The image of a busy corporate type with a hot drink in hand is a cliché, but most working people have certainly become used to their daily shot of caffeine. While coffee is probably the most popular choice, nothing conveys executive elegance like a freshly brewed cup of tea. For those who want more hubba in their cuppa, however, there are plenty of other selections. Most also come in pretty tins that double as desk decorations. Some of the latest hip choices hail from the TWG Tea Company, which recently opened a tea salon in Republic Plaza and offers top-quality teas in brightly coloured canisters.” Fiona Chan, October 2009

“Mr. Taha Bouqdib, president of Singapore-based gourmet tea company TWG, has been named by London-based Monocle magazine as one of its 20 New Heroes Worldwide.” December 2008

“So, when I went to a lovely little tea house in Singapore, I thought I’d put the company that boasts of having ‘the finest teas of the world’ to the test. Do you have Temi, I asked a representative of TWG Tea. And, much to my surprise, they did. I had a great time at TWG Tea’s newly opened tea salon. The tea house — they call it a boutique, and it is indeed beautifully appointed — is lined with teas of all kinds. You can buy your tea there, or sit down and eat a nice pastry flavoured with tea. Teas are served hot or iced, but you can also opt for a tea cocktail or wine. And it has a wide variety of tea-infused desserts and pastries which are as delicious as they are imaginative and beautifully presented.” Rahul Verma, December 2008

“It’s been a long time coming but Singapore finally has a fully dedicated tea salon to call its own. And TWG isn’t your run-of-the-mill teashop peddling 12 variants of Earl Grey and Darjeeling alongside French-style pastries from jewel shop-inspired glass cases. Rather, its boasts pedigree.” November 2008

“就为了一口好茶：现代人越来越懂得“慢活”的好处，城里开了一间 茶坊， 让你忙里偷闲。 沉醉在 这一片诱人氛围中，还能享受全天候供 应的午餐和甜点。甜点都融入了茶叶成分，是曾在法国著名餐厅工作的 法藉糕点师傅 Chef Philippe Langlois 指点旗下师傅创作的，味道甜美。”
September 2008

“TWG Tea was founded in Singapore by Manoj Murjani and Taha Bouqdib, two gourmets who bonded over a time-honored tradition. They’re not only out to establish a distinctive brand but to also cultivate a lifestyle through refining gustatory perceptions — promoting a drinking lifestyle for the sophisticated everyman, but with none of that aristocratic snobbery.” Roanne Lee, July 2009

“作一个爱茶人，我可以很负责地说，这是本地难得的一间给爱茶人的 店铺兼沙龙。 TWG Tea 创建人之一、法国品茶专家 Taha， 爱茶如痴， 过去十多年，包遍全球各大洲主要茶园，私人珍藏的茶叶有逾千种之多。” January 2009

“风靡世界的顶级好茶 来自欧洲最顶尖老牌厂商的调茶师、品茶师、 制茶师、品牌设计师以及米其林主厨，把古老的欧洲制茶经验、技术 带到新加坡，立志要制作‘全世界最优质的茶’。”June 2009

“Monocle has drawn up a shortlist of 20 people - from politics, business, music and design - who we want to hear more of in 2009. By overcoming the odds, finding gaps in the market and thinking creatively, they’ve already helped make the world a better place… Thanks to Bouqdib’s contacts at plantations in every tea-growing country, the TWG collection includes more than 600 single estate harvests and a number of exclusive blends. This is a brand that will be brewing a storm in 2009.” Tyler Brûlé, Editor-in-Chief, December 2008

“Fancy a cuppa? At Singapore's only luxury tea boutique and salon you'll be spoiled for choice, with 600 fragrant blends ranging from classic breakfast pick-me-ups to rare yellow varieties. Step into TWG Tea's salon in a modern downtown shopping centre and you'll be whisked away to a Paris tea room, complete with crystal chandeliers, wood panels and gilded mirrors.” Miral Fahmy, August 2008

“TWG Tea Co tea-master and president, Taha Bouqdib – a Frenchman of Moroccan descent – appeared to host the session. Where was the Chinese tea master in his Chinese silk outfit, who would bore us to death about the knowledge of tea pairing that has been passed down for generations? By day’s end Bouqdib had shown that he may be French, but there is more tea knowledge in one French bone of his than all our Asian cells combined. By the end of the session, which quietly stretched from two to three hours without anyone complaining (a mark of accomplishment, considering how spoilt we journalists are), he was the subject of tea reverence. Fine tea has arrived in Singapore, and it is a Frenchman who looks set to spread the gospel.” Jenny Tan, September 2008

“Luxury Singapore brand TWG Tea is looking to expand operations by targeting a ‘key market’ in the Middle East… The group already has a foothold in a handful of Middle Eastern hotels, but is looking to extend its range of partners and sellers in the region.” November 2008

“Susan Li: That’s a new trend I guess, a trend of buying more expensive, higher quality teas. But what are the other latest trends for tea drinkers? There are a lot of flavoured ones out there, but I want to know what are your most popular products, what is people drinking these days?

Taha Bouqdib: Today we sell, for example in Singapore, more than 700 types of tea, and I can see that all those types of tea are appreciated by different consumers.”

Catch the live interview here.

Susan Li, News Reader for “Bloomberg Live”, October 2008

“Almost all of ION Orchard's space has been leased out and it is eager to pull in the crowds with its fashion and lifestyle boutiques. The upcoming shopping mall above the Orchard MRT station is set to open on July 21. Maranda Barnes, director, TWG Tea Company, said: ‘We position ourselves as the finest tea company in the world. We wanted to be based in the finest mall, the most luxurious mall in Singapore and it's a mall that has a little bit of everything.’ ” Ng Baoying, Business Reporter, June 2009

“Soon Su Lin, chief executive officer of ION Orchard, said: ‘We wanted our tenant profile to be engaging and refreshing, and we set ourselves the ambitious target of having more than 60 per cent flagships, new to market, new concepts.’ Local tea salon TWG Tea Company will be making its largest investment to date at ION. Maranda Barnes, director of TWG Tea Company, said: ‘The boutique will also be a bit larger. We can feature some museum pieces as well. Different teas, tea samovars, tea accessories that are one-of-a-kind pieces that we were not able to feature before.’ ”
Ng Baoying, Business Reporter, June 2009

“We could use some luck in life. TWG Tea has a Lucky Tea Collection with Lucky Tea, Lucky Me Tea and Lucky You Tea – that’s luck for everyone, really.” January 2009

“Get Lucky this Lunar New Year with TWG Tea’s limited edition Lucky Tea Collection. Consisting of three refreshing blends, expect to find leaves of pure gold amidst its black and green tea leaves flavoured with exotic fruits and wild cherry blossoms. Its chic colourful packaging makes it ideal for gifts.” January 2009

“White House and Silver Moon limited edition tea canisters from TWG Tea. They offer a unique blend of tea and fruit flavours any discerning tea lover would like.” January 2009

“Luxury tea company TWG opens its first tea salon and retail outlet in the world here. Choose from over 200 specially blended teas, or try the signature 1837 range of Black, White and Green teas in the cosy, European-style, wood-panelled tea boutique.” November 2008

“走入茶坊就能闻到淡淡的茶香。茶坊的座椅是有垫的藤椅，古色古香； 地板铺上意大利瓷砖，豪华而具气派；柜台后的架子摆放了一罐罐的茶叶， 精致典雅。 设计融入中西特色，意味着东方茶叶在西方饮食文化中，
占有一席之地。”November 2008

“Italian marble floors and fine bone china give an aristocratic feel, but it’s the 200-odd exquisite blends that impress. But what’s tea without dessert? French chef Philippe Langlois infuses his pastries with tea and experience. His macarons and raspberry meringue tart are divine. Having tea here is cosy and romantic.” November 2008

“Ditch the sachets. Whole leaves generally provide better quality brews, offering flavours that are lighter and more aromatic compared to broken tea leaves and tea dust, says Taha Bouqdib, president of TWG Tea.”
January 2009

“TWG Tea wants to re-acquaint Asians with the drink of their forefathers. TWG Tea’s whole-leaf, hand-picked teas are sourced from small garden estates in Asia and Africa, all of which Bouqdib has personally visited. With a deal to distribute its goods through Dean & Deluca in New York, TWG Tea plans to expand across Asia.” March 2009

“Singapore’s penchant for pastries has taken a new turn with the opening of a luxury salon de thé serving not only superbly crafted, patisseries but also a selection of up to 700 bespoken tea blends.” February 2009

“A perpetual voyager, the tea leaf has been reinventing itself for millennia – evolving from a beverage for emperors and courtesans, to a tradesman’s currency; a genteel afternoon pastime, to a cultural icon. After shaping kingdoms, palates, rites and customs, the tea leaf today is reconquering Asia and the world with new-found flair, increasing its presence in smart tea salons and gourmet stores across the globe. In a crowded market, new tea company TWG Tea has boldly launched its brand of luxury teas, with the aim of modernizing this age-old beverage – the most widely drunk beverage in the world after water – from Singapore.” Fiona Caulfield, Travel Writer, August 2009

“As you sip your drink and gaze at the opulent nostalgic décor of this newly opened salon, you could be in a Paris tea room. But squint your eyes gently and you’ll realize you’re in Singapore’s only luxury tea salon and boutique, where your most difficult decision is which of the 200 fragrant blends you’ll have next. Featuring an exclusive collection using only the most fragrant flowers, fruits, herbs and exotic spices from Europe and Asia, TWG Tea Company has certainly infused tea with a new level of luxury.” November 2008

“Taha Bouqdib is president of Singapore’s recently opened TWG Tea Salon & Boutique, a charming café that serves the brand’s custom-blended teas along with lunch and cakes. TWG produces ‘teas from the source’ which means it has direct access to the world’s best tea plantations.” January 2008

“You are wrapped in the sweet, subtle scent of some few hundred different types of teas, all blended into a delicate, ephemeral fragrance, the minute you step into the TWG Tea Salon & Boutique. A striking space decorated with hand-painted tea canisters, tea accessories and a myriad of tea paraphernalia, the boutique is the flagship boutique of the Singapore-established tea company, which offers some of the finest blends of teas we have tasted. TWG tea tasters comb the globe to taste countless teas each year in a bid to source for the best. And judging by the blends offered, they have succeeded. Try their signature 1837 black tea, a classic blend with hints of caramel.” December 2008

“Aiming to be a point of reference for tea lovers in America thirsty for knowledge about exceptional harvests and blends, the famed TWG Tea – founded by Taha Bouqdib and other partners – has made its retail debut in the United States at Dean & DeLuca outlets.” January 2009

“TWG Tea is aggressively making its rounds in the tearooms of fine hotels and it has even got its own salon right smack in Raffles Place, the heart of the business district. If you’re into pinky-elevated chi-chi sipping, the TWG Salon, up the private stairs of the first floor of Republic Plaza, is a ‘must-visit-not-be-missed-on-pain-of deprivation’… Yet it is not fuddy duddy in any way, and is thoroughly in touch with the times, particularly in the details.” July-August 2009

“A cup of tea paired with something good to eat has magical restorative effects. Particularly when one is feeling tetchy. My lunch partner lavishes his sandwiches and Darjeeling with as much fondness as he does on his girlfriend. ‘These are good,’ he sighs. All around me are power lunching males (and females) shrouded in the aromatic scent of steeped leaves. Unusual, but TWG Tea is the kind of place which has that effect on even the crustiest curmudgeon. It is a phenomenally pretty tea salon and boutique in Republic Plaza at Raffles Place.” Florence Fong, Senior Writer, October 2008

“This is just a pretty room: a little bejeweled nook framed in warm timber, its walls of hand-painted tins and glass jars are filled with just about every tea imaginable, as well as plenty you couldn’t have conceived.” October 2008

“There are plenty of patissiers in town that claim to have macarons on their menu, but so far, TWG is still top of the heap... TWG’s versions boast tea-scented ganache sandwiched between dainty, perfectly baked, multi-hued biscuits.” July 2009

“经济低迷时，一杯好茶或许可以舒缓紧绷郁闷的情绪。在金融区开业的 TWG TeaSalon , 将悠闲的欧式饮茶文化引入本地，时机正恰当。 一杯茶＋一碟糕点，售价不超过 $20。市道不景时，你仍能花小钱 过过富太瘾。” January 2009

“Tea connoisseurs, be prepared to add a new blend to your list of must-drinks. TWG Tea, the local luxury tea brand, has developed a new blend that will add a new definite cuppa when it comes to breakfasts... TWG Tea has developed an iconic Singapore Breakfast Tea that you can also drink onboard Singapore Airlines.” July 2009

“There’s nothing more deliciously decadent than a nourishing warm cup of tea for two on a lazy afternoon. TWG Tea has put together a gourmet Christmas gift box filled with a full tea service.” December 2008

“To celebrate the intricacies of the tea leaf and in a bid to educate on the delicate nuances of the beverage, a Singapore-established tea company, TWG Tea, has been set up by a group of tea aficionados. President of the company Taha Bouqdib and his associates want you to know that tea is not merely a second choice to coffee, but is a beverage in which you can explore the terroir of the tea-growing lands as well as understand how this commodity has shaped culture and society.” March 2009

“We love tea for its power to soothe, calm and inspire. Today’s gourmet teas – limited-edition teas, exclusive blends and bespoke harvests – are like wine, which can be paired with food for maximum enjoyment.” February 2009

“Tea connoisseurs rub their teapots every February to April in anticipation of the harvest of the grand cru of teas, the first-flush Darjeelings. And because of this, TWG Tea Salon has the precious crop clock air miles exclusively from the Himalayan Highlands. Prized for their quality and unique flavours, these green leaves emanate a subtly fine aroma with a hint of flowery notes.” July-August 2009

“The fanfare over America’s newest president is a long way from dying down. Drink to history in the making with TWG’s latest blends: New World Tea and White House Tea, both created in homage to the spirit of American patriotism.” March 2009

“Have an aromatic experience in TWG Tea Salon & Boutique as the room is filled with the aroma of teas. Pick from over 250 varieties of tea and an array of daily fresh-baked pastries, desserts, macaroons and more prepared by executive chef Philippe Langlois.” December 2008