Ed Sheeran made teh tarik and visited Lau Pa Sat before Singapore shows

Those who spent Friday morning (Feb 16) near Bugis or Lau Pa Sat might have spotted an unexpected face in the vicinity: English singer Ed Sheeran. Hours before electrifying audiences at his sold-out Singapore show, the Photograph singer took the time to indulge in local treats. He even got to make teh tarik.

Accompanied by live streamer and content creator Denise Teo (also known as supercatkei), Sheeran first visited Tarik, a cafe at Arab Street. After learning about the drink, Sheeran attempted to recreate the signature pouring motion of teh tarik – and successfully pulled it off, earning praise from Tarik's staff. He appeared to enjoy the drink, saying he "liked that".

The duo later headed to the famed hawker centre Lau Pa Sat where Teo introduced Sheeran to a few local dishes including satay, kueh pie tee, laksa, rojak and chicken rice. Upon trying laksa, Sheeran appeared to love it, calling it "banging".

In a video uploaded on Ed Sheeran's Instagram page, the 33-year-old singer shared that he had previously visited Marina Bay Sands and called it the "building that looks like a big boat".

In a separate post on her Instagram page, Teo shared that she gave Sheeran a birthday card which read: "Your music has shaped my life and taught me how to feel and love deeply...Hope you have the best time in Singapore and thank you again for letting me join you today."

During a streaming session on her Twitch page on Sunday (Feb 18), Teo further elaborated on her time spent with Ed Sheeran. She shared that she was given the offer to bring Ed Sheeran around Singapore "about a week" before the concert. She also revealed that Sheeran initially spilled some tea at Tarik while trying to pour it and that he loved the satay the most out of all the dishes they tried at Lau Pa Sat.

Speaking to CNA Lifestyle, Teo said that she "had a whole mix of feelings" when she found out she would get to spend a day with Ed Sheeran.

"I was in disbelief for the most part, and I was mainly nervous because I really wanted to represent and showcase Singapore well, while still being a friendly tour guide. I was also really doubtful, wondering how I ended up here, feeling incredibly undeserving of such an opportunity," she shared.

When asked about the most memorable part of her experience, Teo said: "It was the small, personal interactions that stuck with me the most: The first moment we met, he immediately thanked me for taking time off to spend it with him...These little moments are the ones I treasure the most."

She added: "He is as true and as genuine as they say. We shared several conversations that I would prefer to keep private as I felt that he shared them in confidence, but he did ask me if I had any kids or if I was married, which was funny – I'm not married nor do I have kids. And then we began talking about how BTO worked in Singapore, which he was quite fascinated by. Overall, I'm really honoured to have had the chance to spend the afternoon with him, and I hope that I was able to represent Singapore well."