Branded
As a caring colleague, I planned a surprise Christmas treat. Here's what I did.
Earning some brownie points to get excluded from the naughty list this season.
As the year comes to a close, the Mothership office also becomes quieter.
Some colleagues are either clearing their leave, while others are avoiding colleagues or anything work-related.
The ones left appear to be schlepping to the office.
Mood.
But not me.
I love the year-end period because it’s the ultimate season of joy and giving.
While I’m no Santa, I set out to bring some festive cheer into the office because who says we can’t have fun in the office during the year-end period.
My idea? A small dessert spread to add some sweetness to my colleagues’ day.
The goods
Even though I can’t be trusted to bake my own treats, I know I can make a quick trip to The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf to get some festive drinks and cakes.
In fact, I can get a spread.
Here’s my tea time menu:
- Biscoff Cookie Butter Ice Blended - From S$8.80
- Peppermint Dark Chocolate Ice Blended made with Andes - From S$8.80
- Peppermint Hot Cocoa - From S$8
- Mini Hazelnut Chocolate Christmas Logcake - From S$8.50
- Red Velvet Cake - From S$8.50
- Biscoff Mousse Cake - From S$8.50
The glorious cakes. Photo by Mothership.
No Christmas spread is complete without some festive cups and mugs, so I picked up some holiday merchandise too.
What a spread. Image courtesy of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.
It might be fitting to let you know that you can get the Peppermint Dark Chocolate Ice Blended made with Andes, alongside a Santa Bear Ceramic Cup at just S$19.90.
Holiday in a cup. Image courtesy of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.
The festive bundle is available while stocks last.
The set-up
Alright, good deal aside, it’s time to come back to my little Christmas party.
Not wanting to spend money on decor, I brought a green cloth that I had left over from my birthday celebration seven years ago.
At least it is in the same shade of green as a Christmas pine tree.
The deed
I hollered to my colleagues to join me at the pantry.
They looked confused initially, but after I told them it’s for Christmas, it didn’t take them long to get comfy and started on the festive treats.
Photo by Mothership.
The Biscoff Mousse Cake was a real crowd-pleaser.
It wasn’t too sweet, but still had that caramel-like flavour in the creamy mousse that had everyone reaching for seconds.
Photo by Mothership.
If you like Biscoff, then the Biscoff Cookie Butter Ice Blended is the perfect drink to go with the cake.
Image courtesy of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.
Just imagine all the cookie butter blended into an indulgent drink.
Chandel tried the cakes and said her favourite was the Mini Hazelnut Chocolate Christmas Logcake as it was rich and decadent in all the right ways.
Photo by Mothership.
My favourite was the Red Velvet Cake – the deep red colour of the cake made it a perfect fit for the jolly season.
Photo by Mothership.
The cake was also surprisingly soft and moist, making it even harder to resist.
I devoured it while my colleagues were busy talking about upcoming travel plans.
For those who prefer to have their tea breaks with a hot drink, the Peppermint Hot Cocoa is your go-to beverage.
Image courtesy of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.
This was Reuben’s pick, as he said the mint complemented the cocoa well, and the minty finish was not too overwhelming.
Photo by Mothership.
If you’re into peppermint and typically opt for a cold drink, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf got you covered with their Peppermint Dark Chocolate Ice Blended made with Andes too.
Image courtesy of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.
This drink felt like Christmas in a cup with its signature Coffee Bean chocolate swirl.
The vibes
We spent an hour just eating, drinking and chatting about our colleagues’ recent year-end travel plans.
As we were chatting, my eagle-eyed colleague Philip, pointed out the adorable merchandise that I had “casually” displayed on the table.
Photo by Mothership.
The merchandise were intended as gifts, but I thought they doubled up as really festive decor for my tea time surprise.
Case in point.
Winnie the Pooh Tea for One. Photo by Mothership.
Winnie the Pooh Ceramic Mug with Silicone Coaster. Photo by Mothership.
Santa Bear Ceramic Mug. Photo by Mothership.
Alas, all good times must come to an end.
I wrapped up my mini Christmas meal, and everyone hustled back to work with a little smile on their faces.
For noticing my “minimal” decor efforts, I sent Philip off with a little gift – Gingerbread Man.
Photo by Mothership.
If you’re looking to spread some good cheer in your office, here’s your sign to “just do it”.
You can get your Christmas goods from any of the Coffee Bean stores island-wide.
Writing this sponsored article by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf made this writer want to get another dose of that Biscoff goodness.
Cover photo by Mothership.
