If you are a matcha lover, you may already be familiar with Matchaya. The Singapore specialty matcha and tea pioneer has been sourcing directly from Japanese tea farms for more than a decade.
The brand has now refreshed its menu with a new 3.0 line-up, alongside its new tea studio at Tiong Bahru. One of the more eye-catching additions is its Whimsical Cloud Series, which takes inspiration from Japanese wagashi craftsmanship and the idea of wabi-sabi, with cotton candy clouds turning each drink into a little tea ritual.
We recently got to try the new creations, and the drinks are as playful as they look. The idea is to first taste the tea on its own before stirring the cotton candy into the drink, which changes up both the sweetness and texture.
We started with the Matcha Cloud 9, which combines coconut water-infused matcha with sea salt foam. The coconut water keeps the matcha tasting light and refreshing, while the sea salt foam adds a subtle savoury note. Once the cotton candy is mixed in, it becomes sweeter and more dessert-like.
The Brown Butter Houjicha is a richer option, pairing smoky roasted houjicha with a nutty beurre noisette cloud. It is finished with torched brown sugar and speculoos crunch, giving it a buttery, caramelised sweetness alongside the roasted tea.
For those who cannot decide between coffee and matcha, the Dirty Matcha combines espresso with matcha and is topped with silky matcha cream. The coffee gives it a deeper roasted bitterness, while the matcha keeps the drink earthy and slightly grassy rather than making it taste like the normal iced coffee.
We also tried its savoury rice burgers, including the Signature Matchaya Chicken Katsu, which comes with yuzu kosho matcha mayonnaise. The matcha element is incorporated into the sauce rather than overpowering the chicken, while the yuzu kosho adds a citrusy kick.
The Double Tamago with Cheese combines egg and cheese with Matchaya’s rice burger format. It is a straightforward combination, but works well if you are looking for something savoury to have alongside your drink.
And of course, we had to try the Matcha Affogato. Made with ceremonial-grade Okumidori matcha, the dessert showcases one of the rarer matcha cultivars that Matchaya works with.
For more information, visit Matchaya’s website here.
Matchaya Tea Studio @ Tiong Bahru
Address: 82 Tiong Poh Rd, #01-05, Singapore 160082
Opening Hours: 9am – 10pm
