The narra is the national tree of the Philippines. Admired for its strength and resilience, the narra is also the inspiration for the name of the latest line of RTD oat milk tea lattes.
Founded by Filipino siblings Victoria and Miggy Reyes, Narra’s RTD beverage range takes classic Asian milk teas and updates them with contemporary twists like oat milk and no refined sugars. Narra’s range includes black tea, oolong tea, and strawberry matcha, which are all GMO-free and vegan.
Narra turned to The Working Assembly (TWA) to design its branding and packaging. Besides the brand name, other Southeast Asian touches include graphics inspired by the Filipino banig, a traditional handwoven mat. “We wanted to incorporate the Filipino tradition of weaving and textile making into the brand identity,” said TWA senior designer Tuti Pinto.
“We reinterpreted the banig—a traditional handwoven mat—by creating patterns resembling the square tiles of the handwoven designs and combining them with modern illustrations. We used these combinations throughout the brand system, from the can designs to the website,” added TWA designer Erika Romanczuk.
The typography, bright and vibrant color palette, and illustrations of ingredients like tea leaves, strawberries, and tea flowers add warmth and give the brand an approachable feel while standing out among other latte RTD cans.
Another part of Filipino culture incorporated into Narra’s branding is the merienda, which is a midday snack break common in the Philippines, as well as in Latin America, Europe, and North Africa. Narra takes the merienda concept and gives it a fun new name, “siptual,” a portmanteau of the words “sip” and “ritual.”
“So many other canned lattes lean into a refined tone that can feel inaccessible,” said Erik Poh, senior copywriter, The Working Assembly. “As soon as we tried Narra, we knew it needed a more playful voice to match its light and delightful flavor. The idea of the daily siptual leans into that cheeky but inviting personality, making Narra feel like an easy-to-drink beverage that makes every day more energized and delicious.”
Folks looking for their own “siptual” can find Narra this summer.
