Matchaya is said to be born out of pure love and frustration.
After a trip to Japan, the owners fell in love with Japanese Matcha but found that there is a lack of high quality yet reasonably-priced Matcha in Singappore.
Therefore, the birth of this tea company which has a cafe, desserts and now retail concept. (Also read: 35 Japanese Cafes In Singapore)
Established since August 2015, Matchaya aspires to be a lifestyle brand that centered around Japanese tea and desserts, sourcing raw materials from different prefectures in Japan.
They came a long wait from a humble, now-defunct kiosk at ICON Village.
Now they have a full flagship store at Takashimaya, along with concept cafes and kiosk at The Cathay, JEM and Paragon.
The brand has been compared to another local start-up Hvala though, though they have both carved out their own style, branding and niche eventually.
This Matchaya “Progressive Tea Bar” is located on Level 3 of Takashimaya, opposite ABC Cooking Studio, and will likely attract shoppers to rest their legs and have a cup of tea (once dine-in resumes).
The interior design is based on the theme of artisanal tea they import – dark green to represent Matcha, orange to signify harvested Houjicha, and lamps designed to look like tea whisks. Okay, chio-max.
There is a long counter called the “Tea Bar” for customers to sit at on high stools.
Their “tearistas” would be on-site to deliver tea knowledge and education while performing live whisking and dripping of tea powder and leaves.
Café hoppers can find an extensive range of Tea+sserts (tea+desserts) which are freshly bake in house.
The signature item is the Pate A Choux ($5 per pc, $28 for standard box of 6), coming in flavours of Matcha, Houjicha, Kurogoma, Chocolate, and Raspberry.
I gave the more uncommon Kurogoma ($5) a go, pipped with roasty and earthy black sesame cream. The fillings were fresh and creamy, but not overly rich, with delightful taste of aromatic goma.
I only thought that the mochi balls on the top were slightly on the dry side.
Also popular are the sliced Fluffy Roll Cakes ($6 per pc, $28 per roll), with choices of Matcha Azuki Roll Cake, Lavender Earl Grey, Yuzu Coconut Roll Cake, and Raspberry Swirl Roll Cake.
The Matcha Azuki Roll Cake came with ceremonial Matcha (green tea) chantilly cream and Japanese red bean embedded in 100% activated charcoal sponge.
The slice was moist and fluffy on the outside, yet filled with rich and distinctive-tasting matcha cream.
Items exclusive to Takashimaya outlet are the Tea Inspired Mocktails ($12) and Cocktails ($16). Pick from Yuzu Sencha, Momo Sencha, Sakura Spring, or Lavender Yuzu Houjicha.
The Momo Sencha Mocktail ($12) had this delicate sweetness of the peach and pleasant taste of the sencha green tea. Adequately refreshing.
However, I thought the soda component pretty much overpowered everything else after a sip or two, and they could perhaps work out a better balance to bring out the tea component more.
Once dine-in resumes, you can expect a spread of Japanese-inspired brunch items and Sando, alongside exclusive cakes like Signature Matcha Yuzu Cake, Hazelnut Dacquoise, Matcha Mousse, Matcha Sponge, White Chocolate infused with Sake, and Yuzu Mango Jelly.
Matcha and café lovers will probably need to bookmark this place.
Matchaya – Takashimaya
391 Orchard Road #03-10A Takashimaya Shopping Centre, Ngee Ann City, Singapore 238872
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
Other outlets:
The Cathay: #01-08 / 09, 2 Handy Road, Singapore 229233
JEM: 01-33, 50 Jurong Gateway Road, Singapore 608549
Paragon (kiosk): #B1-K4, 290 Orchard, Singapore 238859
Other Related Entries
35 Japanese Cafes In Singapore
Flipper’s Pancakes Singapore (Takashimaya)
Hvala (Keong Saik)
JW360° (Jewel Changi Airport)
108 Matcha Saro (Suntec City)
* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated, while part of the items featured above were gifted by Matchaya.