China’s most popular tea brand HEYTEA is opening its 4th and newest outlet at VivoCity on 9 January 2021. Fans of the bubble tea brand who are staying in the South in Singapore will no longer have to travel to town to get their bubble tea fix.

The original inventor of cheese tea, HEYTEA first started out as a humble tea shop in the Guangdong province in 2012. Since then, the brand has expanded to more than a hundred shops in China including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhen and Shenzhen.

The new VivoCity outlet is HEYTEA’s first-ever convenience store concept in Singapore, a first of its kind in Singapore. The new outlet mirrors the functionality of a convenience store not just in design, but with the launch of the HEYTEA GO app, which provides a fuss-free experience in ordering your favourite HEYTEA drink.

Prior to arriving at the store, you can skip the queue and log-on to the HEYTEA GO app to order in advance. The “Order On The Go” service, available at all stores, provides an estimated wait time and sends push notifications to notify customers when their drinks are ready for collection.

To celebrate the opening of HEYTEA’s at VivoCity, the store will be running a one-for-one deal on everything off the menu for a limited time from 9 January 2021 to 11 January 2021. There will also be free merchandise given out to the first 150 customers daily from 9 January 2021 to 13 January 2021.

HEYTEA Singapore has 3 other outlets at ION Orchard, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands and Westgate.

HEYTEA VivoCity
1 Harbourfront Walk, #01-111
Singapore 098585

Machi Machi is Jay Chou’s favourite bubble tea brand. And Machi Machi is coming to Singapore!

Dubbed the ‘God of Cheese Tea’ by the Taiwanese media, Machi Machi is set to open in Singapore in January 2020. Like FINA-FREAKING-LY!

We’ve never felt like we needed another bubble tea brand in Singapore, until after seeing how Jay Chou excessively professes his love for Machi Machi’s pearl milk tea and how he even springs surprise visits at the shops whenever he is in a city with a Machi Machi outlet.

So what’s in for Machi Machi Singapore? Here, we share everything we know. Remember: you saw it here at Ladyironchef first.

For the uninitiated, Machi is Hannah Quinlivan’s Pomeranian. If you are going to ask us who she is (have you been living under a rock?!), she is Mandopop Jay Chou’s wife. And that was how the brand was coined.

What started out as a merchandise label and cafe then branched out to more successful businesses, including Machi Machi—a bubble tea speciality shop. And Machi Machi rocketed to success; it was an instant hit among Jay Chou’s fans and bubble tea lovers from all over the world.

Since then, Machi Machi has been a pitstop for Jay Chou’s fans whenever they travel to cities with a Machi Machi outlet, and queues can often be seen at its London, Shanghai and Tokyo outlets. Celebrities such as JJ Lin have also been spotted hanging out with Jay Chou at the Tokyo outlet.

So what can we expect from Machi Machi Singapore? Well, there is no Singapore-exclusive menu, yet. And it ain’t gonna be too different from all the other Machi Machi shops around the world. But one thing is for sure: there will definitely be Jay Chou’s favourite drink on the menu.

Photos credit: Machi Machi FB

There are a total of 20 drinks on the menu that have been developed from several varieties of Taiwanese teas as base flavours. The tea bases are Tieguanyin Oolong Tea, Sun Moon Lake Black Tea, Pekoe Jasmine Green tea, and Ceylon Highland Black Tea.

Prices will start from S$3.50 for the Sun Moon Lake Black Tea, to S$7 for the Fresh Mixed Berry Slush with cream foam. There will be different drink options including Machi freshly pressed tea, Machi cheese foam, Machi milk tea, and Machi fresh fruit.

The location is a secret, for now, so all we can share is that it is going to be somewhere unexpected yet centralised enough. It will be a 800 sq ft space with no seating area.

And… a little blue bird told us Jay Chou may just bless the shop with a special appearance a few days prior to his Singapore concert in January 2020. We will be sharing more news, so watch this space!

Exciting news for North-siders in Singapore: Xing Fu Tang will be opening its third outlet at Compass One mall this September, adding on to the other two at Takashimaya Shopping Centre and Century Square at Tampines.

Since its first arrival onto Singapore’s shores, Xing Fu Tang has been gaining huge traction as one of the best Brown Sugar Boba Milk vendors in Singapore. With their huge vat of stir-fried brown sugar tapioca pearls, all made from scratch at each store, it is no wonder the long lines that plague each storefront.

They will be open at Basement 1, near Guardian at Compass One mall, which is located just a stone’s throw away from Seng Kang MRT.

Xing Fu Tang
Compass One
1 Sengkang Square
Singapore 545078
Nearest Station: Seng Kang

Known for their beautiful hand-crafted tea selections and their freshly-baked, Instagram-worthy baked goods is Chinese lifestyle cafe, Nayuki. Pioneering the concept of pairing delightful cheese teas with baked goods, Nayuki has made its rounds across the various social media platforms for reigniting the tea-drinking culture amongst tea fans in Singapore!

Successfully launching their very first overseas outlet at VivoCity with BreadTalk Group, Nayuki has announced the opening of their second and third outlets. Its second opening will be at the revamped Funan on 28 June 2019, and the third opening will be at Takashimaya Shopping Centre on 12 July 2019.

To celebrate their new openings, Nayuki will be launching two new products that you will fall head over heels in love with: Supreme Cheese Mixed Berries drink (S$8.50)—only available in July—and Magic Mango Mystique bread (S$6.80)! That’s not all, though, because Nayuki has prepared some opening special promotions for their respective new outlets!

OPENING SPECIALS

Nayuki is holding its opening special at both of their new stores at Funan and Takayshimaya Shopping Centre.

Customers will be given a free Soft-Euro Bread along with a purchase of any drink. In addition, they will also be given an opening exclusive gift—an eye-catching and incredibly stylish holographic tote bag, adorable Nayuki-themed stickers, a postcard, and some vouchers.

All you have to do is like and follow Nayuki on their Facebook and Instagram pages (@nayukisg), upload a post with the hashtag #NayukiSG on either platform and present it together with your receipt to receive the opening exclusive gift!

• Funan Opening Promotion Dates: 28 – 30 June 2019
• Takashimaya Opening Promotion Dates: 12 – 14 July 2019

The “Free Soft-Euro Bread” promotion is limited to 1 redemption per customer but only the exclusive gift redemption is limited to 300 redemptions a day.

NEW FAVOURITES AT NAYUKI

Making their timely debut in July 2019, Nayuki is introducing two new products to their menu. We had the privilege to try them, and here is what to expect.

You will love the Supreme Cheese Mixed Berries.

Fresh strawberries and strawberry purée are added alongside Nayuki’s Jasmine Tippy Tea to create this delicious concoction. The mixed berries complement the Jasmine Tippy Tea well. Refreshing, fruity and mellow, we thoroughly enjoyed the drink balanced flavour profiles.

If you’re a fan of pink, strawberries and cream, pair the Supreme Cheese Mixed Berries with the Strawberry Blush Mystique bread.

Soft Euro-bake is filled with fresh cream and topped with real fresh strawberries! Bright pink strawberry-flavoured chocolate is also drizzled on top of the bread, making it look even prettier. It’s the perfect pretty-in-pink pairing!

Another one that’s joining the Mystique range of bread is the Magic Mango Mystique.

This pillowy Soft-Euro Bread is filled with light cream and cubes of fresh mango. Every bite of this wonderful baked good was an enjoyable one. Don’t we all love mangoes?

Pair this fluffy bread with Nayuki’s Supreme Cheese Mango for a dynamic combination.

MSW DURIAN SUPREME + SUPREME ORANGE

Durian lovers should add Nayuki’s MSW Durian Supreme to their list of must-tries because it was one of the most indulgent breads we have ever tasted. A spiky bread is stuffed generously with a creamy Mao Shan Wang durian filling. It was sweet, flavourful and creamy with the distinct flavours of durian greeting your tastebuds with every bite.

Cutting through the rich creaminess of the durian, Nayuki pairs its Supreme Orange with the MSW Durian Supreme. A genius pairing, we must say.

The Supreme Orange is made with 2 whole oranges that are freshly squeezed and mixed with Jasmine Tippy Tea and fresh lemon slices.

Bursting with the benefits of Vitamin C, the Supreme Orange’s acidity cuts through the creaminess of the durian for a balanced palate.

FROSTED CAP OOLONG BLACK PEARL & QQ PEARLY CHOCO BEAR

Bringing milk tea to a whole new level, Nayuki’s Frosted Cap Oolong is complemented with chewy brown sugar pearls and can be enjoyed either hot or cold. The Oolong tea brings a wonderful roasted flavour that elevates the freshness of the milk.

Complementing the Frosted Cap Oolong Black Pearl is the QQ Pearly Choco Bear. The cute bear-shaped bread is not only good-looking but extremely tasty. It’s filled with custard and dotted with chewy pearls and raisins. The cocoa-infused bread is rich in flavour so the milk drink is the perfect accompaniment.

A FARMER’S HARVEST + CHEESE ALI MOUNTAIN DEW

A classic baked bread filled with bits of ham and cheese, this delicious bread is yet another choice amongst the bakes by Nayuki.

For the ones with lighter palates, this bread is for you. Pair it with Nayuki’s classic Cheese Ali Mountain Dew.

The fragrant floral flavours of Nayuki’s award-winning Alisan Mountain Dew Tea is pleasantly combined with the luscious milk cheese foam for a soothing aftertaste.

AROMATIC COLD BREW TEAS

If milky drinks and fruity concoctions aren’t your cup of tea, try Nayuki’s range of Cold Brew Oolong Teas. They come in delicately labelled bottles with the various oolong tea leaves still in them!

They come in three different flavours: Frosted Cap Oolon, Green Oolong, and Golden Cicada Oolong. The different Oolong leaves are harvested from Alisan Mountain and Lugu Village in Taiwan; promising the most aromatic and full-bodied flavours. These teas are steeped for eight hours during preparation

This post was brought to you by Nayuki.

If you need another reason to hit up Orchard Road this weekend, here’s one to finally tip the balance: Takashimaya Food Fiesta is back!

Presenting you with an incredible line-up of delicious Asian street food, you will get to choose from cuisines around the Asian region including Taiwanese, Japanese, Korean, as well as local delights! Prepare to feast as this festival has over 50 stalls for you to fill your tummies.

From 30 May to 16 June 2019, Takashimaya Food Fiesta will be taking place at Basement 2 of Takashimaya Square. Not sure what to indulge in? We were lucky enough to try a myriad of food here, so here is what to expect.

XING FU TANG

Bubble Tea enthusiasts, rejoice! The food fiesta has not one, two or three bubble tea stalls, but four!

Amongst them is a preview stall of Xing Fu Tang, which hails from the streets of Taiwan. We can say that, without a doubt, Singapore has just gained another worthy competitor for the title of best Brown Sugar Boba Milk.

The pearls are stir-fried in a wok before you to ensure freshness. Also unique to the brand is the shape of the pearls; they’re more like rounded discs rather than circular in shape.

Importing their sugar from Taiwan, Xing Fu Tang’s Brown Sugar Boba Milk is easily one of the best in Singapore. If there is only one thing you have to try at this festival, this is it.

KAZO

Light and flaky, the Original Kazo Polo is a must-try for all pastry lovers. We also had the Kazu Kazu with both of the fillings in Hokkaido Cream and Chocolate Cream; these make lovely sweet treats and we love how flaky and crispy the pastry is.

Durian Lovers will definitely enjoy the Durian Cream Puff. The filling is so sweet, velvety and smooth that even non-durian fans will be able to enjoy and appreciate this dessert.

BBQ CHEF

Creating their own unique rendition on a classic Swiss Rosti by fusing beloved Southeast Asian flavours, BBQ Chef offers an addictive selection of rosti that make for something different at the food fare.

Taking the cult-favourite salted egg flavour and combining it with crispy golden-brown potatoes, the Salted Egg Rosti with Chicken Bratwurst is a must-try! Although the rosti was a tad greasy, it was not too overwhelming on the palate.

Stick to a recognised favourite with the Classic Rosti with Smoked Salmon. Complemented by the addition of sour cream, this left us craving for more.

Cheese Stick with Special Sauce has 5 sticks per serving; cheese lovers will get a kick out of the drool-worthy cheese pull and the delicious crunchy batter the sticks are coated in.

BAO MAKER

We love mantou, whether dipped in a luscious helping of Chilli Crab sauce or not, and Bao Maker’s contemporary take on the Asian bun is something different to love.

Immediately drawing our attention was the Blackened Chicken Bao, which arrived with a piece of chicken that was actually black. Don’t let that deter you though, the bun was garlicky and well-paired with the soft bun.

A match made in heaven, the Chilli Crab Bao was no surprise with the crispy exterior of the deep-fried mantou paired with everyone’s favourite crab meat coated in rich chilli sauce.

XI PIN XIAN

It is Xi Pin Xian’s first time in Singapore, and they feature incredibly tasty lunchboxes that will instantly transport you to the busy streets of Taiwan. Their lunchboxes are loaded with fragrant rice, bamboo shoots, mixed vegetables and your choice of meat.

We got the Braised Minced Meat with Pork Belly and the Braised Pork Trotters. The meat was really well-seasoned and had been steeped for a long time. Our favourite of them all was the Pork Belly; it was insanely good with how melt-in-your-mouth the fat was.

THE KIMCHI POT

Featuring a colourful plethora of lunchboxes, The Kimchi Pot is a true Asian favourite.

We had the Bulgogi Lunchbox; it was well-rounded and wholesome with well-seasoned slices of beef along with side dishes of japchae and kimchi, as well as fluffy brown rice!

We couldn’t resist the Egg Rolls too—cooked with seaweed, spring onions and carrots, this is a dish that the little ones would surely love!

BONCHON

Bonchon is a favourite amongst locals for their mouth-watering Korean Fried Chicken. At the food fiesta, they also offer Rice Burgers.

The Luncheon Meat with Egg Rice Burger could be an exciting alternative for breakfast, the creamy mayonnaise in the rice burger complemented the luncheon meat and egg nicely.

Also, try the Truffle Mushroom Rice Burger, it held the alluring smoky aroma of truffle and proved to be a unique rendition of rice burgers.

TAMARU & BAR FIRST DINING (HIROSHIMAYAKI)

If you love Japanese Street Food, head on over to Hiroshimayaki, which is located in the corner close to the water fountain.

Presenting a selection of Dango, Japanese Rolled Omelette and Yakisoba, this stall is as authentic as it gets; it is run by friendly Japanese staff who cook the Rolled Omelette right before your own eyes!

The Rolled Omelette we tried was topped with mentaiko sauce, and biting into it was unbelievably satisfying with creamy sauce flavouring the fresh and distinct layers of egg wrapped around one another.

We also had the takoyaki skewer. Delightfully crisp and generously covered with a sweet and savoury sauce, the takoyaki batter itself was light yet fragrant, and encased in every ball is a chunk of fresh octopus.

MURUAMAMI

Selling addictively squishy and chewy mochi pancakes, expect unique flavours that are oh-so-creamy and rich at Muruamami.

Try the Hokkaido Melon and the seasonal Mao Shan Wang Durian flavours, both of which tasted accurately true to the fruit sans the artificial flavouring. If you want something heavier, go for the Purple Sweet Potato which is filled with a rich puree of the vegetable.

SAWADEE THAI

Thai street food is always a hit, and Sawadee Thai proves this with their diverse selection of dishes.

The Crispy Chicken Wings is a crispy rendition that is subtly packed with a little spice for a robust aftertaste. The Grilled Pork Collar features thickly-cut pieces of meat served with a special sauce; so aromatic and flavourful, you’d want seconds for sure.

Also, try their Glutinous Ball in Coconut which is served with generous portions of sweet rice balls and fresh coconut flesh!

DOCTOR C MALA MALA

Sourcing pure white Snow Corn all the way from Cameron Highlands, the passionate stall owner of Doctor C Mala Mala informed us of how each and every piece of Snow Corn is pleasantly sweet and tasty despite only being steamed and prepared as it is—no frills, no fuss.

The Roasted Sweet Potato here left a lingering earthy scent of roasted goodness throughout the festival. Wonderfully roasted and perfectly gooey inside, the sweet potato was caramelised and amazingly sweet on its own.

COOKIES FOR YOU BY SCOOPZ

To end off our feast on a delightfully sweet note, of course, we had to get ice cream! Scoopz handcrafts all of their uniquely-flavoured ice cream, and the stall at the Takashimaya Food Fiesta is no different.

We selected the soft pink coloured grape ice cream that’s exclusive to the fair, and also paired Avocado and Chocolate Ice Cream together.

Takashimaya Food Fiesta
391A Orchard Rd
Takashimaya Square, B2
Singapore 238873
Daily: 10am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard/Somerset
Open from 30 May to 16 June 2019

This post was brought to you by Takashimaya.