Gong Cha(贡茶) vs KOI vs Ochado(茶の道)

Other than KOI that draw large crowds from the bubble tea lovers, Gong Cha(贡茶) is also another franchise from Taiwan and there are only 2 branches in Singapore located at Novena Square 2 and City Square Mall. I love milk tea, so usually I will go for their milk tea range like their signature Gong Cha Ali Shan Milk Tea with pearl or Gong Cha Milk Green Tea with herbal jelly shown above. Their pearl is soft and chewy and the milk tea taste smoothing and great with 30% sugar level which I find it is just nice compare to 50%.

You can also choose the level of sweetness range from no sugar, 30%, 50%, 80% or 100% which I will usually go for 30% only. So far the queue at Novena Square 2 was not that bad during lunchtime, and the average waiting time would be like less than 15 minutes or so. You can also add pearls or different types of jelly to your drink with additional $0.50 or so for the top-up.

Do you know why it is known as "Gong Cha - 贡茶"? The base of this tea is usually either matcha tea, black tea, tea or oolong tea that top with milk foam to arouse the taste and fragrant of the tea.

Gong Cha Outlets:-

Novena Square 2
10 Sinaran Drive
#01-172
Singapore 307506
Telephone: 6397 6816

City Square Mall
#B2-K3/K4
Telephone: 6509 3803

A few days ago when I walked past a new shopping mall at Bugis(武吉士 ) area, I was surprised to see a very long queues at the end corner of the mall. Out of curiosity, I went nearer to the queues to see what are those people queuing for. And while approaching the store, I saw the popular milk tea signboard – "KOI Café" and I realize that those people are actually queuing for "KOI" pearls milk tea. From this photo and you will notice that most people really loves KOI and despite of the hot weather they still can queue under the hot sun just for that cup of "fragrant and chewy pearl milk tea". Out of all the KOI outlets, which one do you think draws the most number of customers and which is their most popular tea on the list? Upon looking at the queue, I actually have the urged to go and ask those people what makes them fell in love with this tea and willing to queue under the hot weather just for that cup of tea.

Similarly to Gong Cha(贡茶), KOI also allows the customer to choose the sugar level of their tea range from no sugar, 25%, 50%, 75% or 100%. Personally, I found that 50% and above will be kind of too sweet to our liking unless you really have sweet tooth. The one shown on the photo above is their "Ice Cream Milk Tea" where a scoop of vanilla ice cream will be added into the tea so for this a 30% sugar level will be great.

If compare to Gong Cha(贡茶), the pearls from KOI has a wonderful texture that is soft and chewy which is not too hard and importantly it burst with mild flavour that goes well with their tea. If you don't like tea, you can also go for their coffee menu which they have a few decent choices too. So are you willing to spend more than 30 minutes queuing for a cup of chewy bubble tea.......

KOI Outlets:-

Koi Cafe Ang Mo Kio
Blk 704 Ang Mo Kio Central
#01-2545
Tel: 6459 1518

Koi Cafe Bishan
513 Bishan street 13
#01-503
Tel: 6258 1729

Koi Cafe Iluma
201 Victoria Street
#01-15 Iluma At Bugis
Tel: 6884 6817

Koi Cafe People’s Park
1 Park Road #01-16
People’s Park Complex
Tel: 6536 8330

Koi Cafe Marine Parade
Blk 83 Marine Parade Central
#01-562
Tel: 6440 4869

Koi Cafe Toa Payoh
190A Toa Payoh Central
#01-562
Tel: 6256 1169

Other than the two HOT bubble tea competitors above, there are so many other bubble tea stores available in Singapore such as "Each a Cup - 各一杯", "Sweet Talk - 甜言密语", "Ochado - 茶の道" and many other small outlets in coffee shop or food court. I have tried all the 3 stores mentioned above and strongly agreed with most of my friends who have tried "Sweet Talk - 甜言密语" that they are really very generous with their sweet syrup which makes their bubble tea far too sweet to drink. I remember there is once I ordered their lychee flavour bubble tea and it seems like they have pour in half bottle of the lychee syrup which makes the drink so sweet and full of artificial lychee taste.

So after all, I think Each A Cup bubble tea still taste acceptable with their sweetness and mini pearls. Recently, they also have this sugar level choices for customer to select too.

Recently I spot a newly renovated shop around my area which has that unique decoration that resemble most Taiwan bubble tea outlet known as "Ochado - 茶の道". I was attracted to their wide range flavour tea such as Assam Tea, Oolong White Peach Tea, Okinawa Milk Tea, Fusion Iced Tea and etc. I have tried their “Okinawa Matcha Milk Tea - 冲绳抹奶茶” which has a very fragrant matcha taste that blends well with the sweet azuki beans and chewy pearls.

With a good impression of their tea and pearls, I went back on another day to try out their “Pop Eggs Milk Tea - 魔力爆蛋奶茶” which I am curious to find out what exactly is “Pop Eggs - 魔力爆蛋”. And after checking with the friendly counter staff, she told me that “pop eggs” are actually coffee flavour bubbles that will burst with light coffee liquid when you bite it. This is indeed a very interesting topping to go with milk tea and to me, I feel that I taste rather like those royal jelly capsule.

OCHADO
Block 102 Yishun Avenue 5
#01-129
Singapore 760102
Telephone: 6757 4301

Note:

~ The price of these milk tea from Gong Cha(贡茶),KOI Cafe and Ochado(茶の道) range from S$2.20 - S$4.90 excluding extra topping of pearls or jelly from S$0.50 each choice.

Mr Bean Soy Beancurd

Mr Bean is a leading chain soya bean food & beverage retailer in Singapore with more than 30 outlets located island wide. They offers a variety of soya bean drinks, beancurd, ice cream and snacks. This is a new outlet located at block 1G of Pinnacle @ Duxton which is beside the 7-11 and in front of the bus-stop.

From the usual silky soft texture soya beancurd with soy milk to a hint of Ginger or Almond flavour. This is Original Soya Beancurd which served with soy milk is always a good choice to start with if you prefer something mild in taste.

No matter which is your choice, if you love the combination of Beancurd and Tang Yuan, you must try this assorted tang yuan (comes in peanut and black sesame seeds) with beancurd combi. I always love to have a bowl of this for breakfast or light dinner if I have a full or late lunch.

Out of all the 7 different types of pancake they have on their menu list, the one with Cheese filling is always my first choice follow by peanut or kaya. And certain outlet also comes with "tuna" filling for those who prefer savory pancake over the usual sweet type.

Sometimes if I am in a hurry to have a quick lunch or bite, I will get a cup of their healthy less sugar soya milk with chewy pearls to go with a choice of my favourite pancake.

Other than their pancakes, this is also one of my favourite snack to go with their soya milk or beancurd set. It can be consider as a non-greasy and healthy snack that comes in few types of filling such as pineapple, salted green bean, green tea and etc which makes it a perfect snack for anytime, anywhere.

So if you are interested, you can always drop by any of their outlet which is near your work place or home area to pick up any of your choice. Click HERE for more outlets location.


Mr Bean
Pinnacle @ Duxton
Block 1G Cantonment Road
#01-06
Singapore 080001
Website: http://www.mrbean.com.sg/

Open Daily: 07.00am - 22.00pm

Singapore Night Safari

Since we have the discount booklet given from the National Day goodies bag, we decided to make use of the 50% Admission discount coupon to visit the Singapore Night Safari. And from our last visit that is about 3 years back, this round we indeed caught up with more highlights and walks.

The retail outlets, restaurants and ticketing booths at the Night Safari opens around 6.00pm while the park itself opens daily from 7.30pm – 12.00mm.

If you are there early, perhaps you can grab some burger or pasta from "Bongo Burgers", if not you can try some of the local Asian/Indian Buffet from "Ulu Ulu" safari restaurant near the entrance of the park. Or if you already had your dinner and prefer to have something sweet and cooling maybe you can consider either getting a cup of yummy fruity sorbet or ice cream from Ben & Jerry’s.

At this Entrance Plaza you can see live Thumbuakar Performance at different time slots like: 7.00pm, 8.00pm and 9.00pm where you can see human torches as they perform incredible fire-eating stunts. And if you missed the performance, you can always stay around and take photos with some star animals or the performers too.

The best timing is to arrived at the venue before 7.00pm so that you can catch up with the 1st Creature of the Night Show at 7.30pm before enjoying the rest of your Night Safari adventure through tram ride or foot walk. As for us since we are late for the 1st Showtime, we decided to explore by strolling through the cool night breeze from “Fishing Cat Trail” all the way pass “Leopard Trail” to East Lodge for the tram ride back to the main entrance to catch the 9.30pm show.

Along the Fish Cat Trail, we spot this "Fishing Cat" waiting patiently on a tree branch near the edge of the water and it will lunge into the water if it seems a fish swim near.

Other inhabitants along this trail include the pangolin, playful and noisy small-clawed otters, Indian gharials and the largest bat in the world - the Malayan Flying Fox and Pelican too.

Not far down the Leopard Trail you will be able to have a close view which is only a window glass apart with the Leopard. Other interesting catch such as Golden Cats, Porcupine and Giant Flying Squirrels and etc can be found along this trail too.

After the walking through the exploring trails, you might want to consider have some snacks, alcoholic beverages or drinks in this most scenic area of the Night Safari known as "Z'bar".

After some light refreshment and re-charge at the stop-over, it's time to hop on board the tram ride at the East Lodge tram station, now let’s sit back relax on a 45 minutes tram ride with commentary across a landscape that is full of dramatically changes. Eg:- At the Himalayan Foothills, look out for Himalayan Tahr, Bharal, and Himalayan Griffon vultures. Whereas the Indian Subcontinent features the striped hyena, Asian lion and the sloth bear. Each and every of the sectors will sure to bring a close encounter between you and the wildlife animals.

Along the Indo-Malayan Region, you can see the Malayan Tigers that are protected species, with 2,000 individuals in the nature reserves and national parks of Malaysia and Thailand.

Creatures of the Night Show is the highlight event of this park and it consists of the world’s finest animal presentations with a 30 minutes of non-stop action on their star animals, otters, binturongs, raccoons, wolves, hyenas and many more that will definitely amaze you with their predatory and survival instincts.

Venue: Amphitheatre
Daily: 7.30pm, 8.30pm, 9.30pm & *10.30pm (*Fri, Sat & eve of Public Holiday)


Ulu Ulu Safari Restaurant offers a sumptuous buffet or A La Carte with a range of Asian and local cuisine in their rustic Kampong setting. You can find all sorts of local dishes such as Chili Crab, Sambal Stingray, Satay, Chicken Biryani Set, Chinese Cze Cha or dessert such as ice-kachang, red ruby and etc.

This is the Chicken Biryani Set that is served in the Ulu Ulu Safari Restaurant. Look at these, isn't it look great and makes you drool over it. For more details on how to get to the Night Safari, click on the link HERE.

Singapore Night Safari
80 Mandai Lake Road
Singapore729826
Tel: (65) 6269 3411
Fax: (65) 6365 2331

E-mail:info@zoo.com.sg
Website: http://www.nightsafari.com.sg/



p/s: You can always drop by Cuisine Paradise Fan Page Album (HERE) to take a look on more photos on our trip to the Night Safari tour.

Banana & Oreo Muffin

Muffin is common American term of bread that is baked in small portions. Somehow or rather it looks like cake or cupcake in shape but usually it is not as sweet as cupcakes and generally without any frosting.

Baking muffins is always an enjoyment time for me and my kid. Since it does not required much procedures I can always let him handle most of the task, which in a way helps to build up his self-confident too. And moreover I love that facial expression of him waiting patiently near the oven for the muffins to be ready.