04-Lifestyle- matcha cafe.indd
Lifestyle / FOOD
Green tea desserts are getting a fresh spin, with more and more cafes offering these on their menus. ALISA CHOPARD rounds up our favourites.
GREEN TEA NARA ($8.20, ST MARC CAFE) What it is: vanilla ice cream, red bean paste, green tea ice cream and black beans on a base of green tea jelly cubes, topped with kuromitsu (a mixture of black sugar and honey) and kinako (soy bean powder). The different textures went together wonderfully. The green tea ice cream is worth a mention – the subtle green tea flavour had a hint of bitterness that was complemented by the sweet, creamy base. #01-108 to 110 Vivocity, tel: 6222-2309, saint-marc-sg.com.
HOJI CHOCO LATTE ($8, NANA’S GREEN TEA CAFE) This green-tea-and-chocolateflavoured drink uses hoji-cha – a Japanese green tea made by roasting the leaves. The result: a faint caramelised flavour. The green tea flavour was slightly bitter but went well with the chocolate base. We liked that the drink was light and not too milky, which might have overpowered the subtle green tea and chocolate flavours. #03-80 to 82, The Atrium @ Orchard, Plaza Singapura, tel: 6684-4312, www.nanaha.com.
TSUJIRI SHAVED ICE (O-MACCHA) ($7.80, TSUJIRI TEA HOUSE) This sweet treat comes topped with matcha syrup, matcha ice cream, condensed milk, red bean paste, mochi balls and a Japanese chestnut. The ice cream is thick and creamy with a bitter green tea flavour that contrasted beautifully with the sweet ice cream. We liked how the coarserthan-usual ice shavings added crunch. #01-14, 100 AM shopping mall, tel: 6543-6110, www.tsujiri.sg.
MACCHA TIRAMISU ($6.40, MACCHA HOUSE) This is served with piping-hot black tea, which you drink after eating it to cleanse the palate. It’s not unlike traditional Italian tiramisu in texture, but the mascarpone-cheese-and-thickened-cream combo is denser. The light green tea flavour blended well with the cream, and the sponge layers were moist and subtly sweet. We’ll be back for more. #B1-40 Orchard Central, tel: 6636-5830.
MATCHA CAKE WITH GOMA ($11.50 PER SLICE, DOLCE TOKYO) The soft, fluffy green tea sponge layers went very nicely with the sweet, sticky black sesame filling. The cake is topped with a light and fresh layer of cream and soft matcha crumble, which feels like air on the palate. #03-23, 313@Somerset, tel: 6836-5612.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING CAREN KEUNG PHOTO OF GREEN TEA NARA WONG WEI LIANG
modern matcha
OUR FAVE
Check out herworldplus.com
04-Lifestyle- matcha cafe.indd 2
23/05/2013 11:45
Green tea desserts are getting a fresh spin, with more and more cafes offering these on their menus. ALISA CHOPARD rounds up our favourites.
GREEN TEA NARA ($8.20, ST MARC CAFE) What it is: vanilla ice cream, red bean paste, green tea ice cream and black beans on a base of green tea jelly cubes, topped with kuromitsu (a mixture of black sugar and honey) and kinako (soy bean powder). The different textures went together wonderfully. The green tea ice cream is worth a mention – the subtle green tea flavour had a hint of bitterness that was complemented by the sweet, creamy base. #01-108 to 110 Vivocity, tel: 6222-2309, saint-marc-sg.com.
HOJI CHOCO LATTE ($8, NANA’S GREEN TEA CAFE) This green-tea-and-chocolateflavoured drink uses hoji-cha – a Japanese green tea made by roasting the leaves. The result: a faint caramelised flavour. The green tea flavour was slightly bitter but went well with the chocolate base. We liked that the drink was light and not too milky, which might have overpowered the subtle green tea and chocolate flavours. #03-80 to 82, The Atrium @ Orchard, Plaza Singapura, tel: 6684-4312, www.nanaha.com.
TSUJIRI SHAVED ICE (O-MACCHA) ($7.80, TSUJIRI TEA HOUSE) This sweet treat comes topped with matcha syrup, matcha ice cream, condensed milk, red bean paste, mochi balls and a Japanese chestnut. The ice cream is thick and creamy with a bitter green tea flavour that contrasted beautifully with the sweet ice cream. We liked how the coarserthan-usual ice shavings added crunch. #01-14, 100 AM shopping mall, tel: 6543-6110, www.tsujiri.sg.
MACCHA TIRAMISU ($6.40, MACCHA HOUSE) This is served with piping-hot black tea, which you drink after eating it to cleanse the palate. It’s not unlike traditional Italian tiramisu in texture, but the mascarpone-cheese-and-thickened-cream combo is denser. The light green tea flavour blended well with the cream, and the sponge layers were moist and subtly sweet. We’ll be back for more. #B1-40 Orchard Central, tel: 6636-5830.
MATCHA CAKE WITH GOMA ($11.50 PER SLICE, DOLCE TOKYO) The soft, fluffy green tea sponge layers went very nicely with the sweet, sticky black sesame filling. The cake is topped with a light and fresh layer of cream and soft matcha crumble, which feels like air on the palate. #03-23, 313@Somerset, tel: 6836-5612.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING CAREN KEUNG PHOTO OF GREEN TEA NARA WONG WEI LIANG
modern matcha
OUR FAVE
Check out herworldplus.com
04-Lifestyle- matcha cafe.indd 2
23/05/2013 11:45
