Cocktail DIY - Tequila Lemon

This is simple mix done by my friend (QS). Its surprisingly refreshing and good.

Tequila Lemon

Ingredients
1 Part Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice
3 Parts Tequila
6 Parts CocaCola

Procedure
1) In a whiskey glass. Place in order of lemon juice, tequlia and cocacola.
2) Stir briefly.
3) Garnish with a slice of lemon. Served chilled or with rocks.

Teadot

I was quick intrigued by this new chill out place offering teas instead of the coffee as its main focal in the beverages they serve. There have been too many coffee points like Starbucks and Coffeebean, where they offer the caffeine addicts their fill of legal drugs.

Often people see tea as a complex and zen process with strict procedures in which the tea has to be brewed in order to achieve its full potential. This complex ceremony often proves to be too daunting for most. Thus the tea is often associated with old man taking their leisure time and slowing preparing small pots of tea and playing chess. Giving the impression, that it would be difficult to blend into the fast pacing society we are in.

Therefore, when I first heard about Teadot and their fusion tea beverages. I was deeply interested and applaud to great idea of introducing tea in a different style to the public. Breaking into the market that is already saturated with coffee chains isn't going to be easy task for the 4 entrepreneurs of this new establishment.

Teadot first launch itself at Tampines 1 and followed with their 2nd store in Iluma. There was a promotion on going, thus I paid them a visit.

The store is facing the road with entire glass wall resulting in a brightly lit store.

Interior is decorated in a modern feel with a hint of retro.

The store is really spacious and tables are space rather adequately, unlike other coffee point whom fill their stores with so many seats that its hardly able to even go into them. Most seats are cushioned and the wall seats are high and comfortable. Making it a perfect excuse just to laze around and enjoy a cup of fragrant tea.

Tea brewing contraptions

Cold drinks come in high glasses and hot drinks in ceramic cups.
Glass sizes (for the left) : Puny, Regular, Generous
Ceramic sizes (for the left) : Puny and Regular

Simply Matcha

Simply Matcha is a ice blended green tea matcha frappe with fresh milk. The ice shaving are blended to a smoothie with green tea matcha. The tea contortion is really creamy, milky and sweet, leaning to the likes of a latte.

Matcha Gravity

This is beautiful. The drink consist of a top layer consist of green tea matcha and the lower portion of milk. The heavy tea power slowly sinks to the bottom of the glass, resulting in specks of green power in the milk layer. Reflecting on the ingenious name of Matcha Gravity, as anything that goes up must come down. Compared to the Simply Matcha, this has a more intense green tea flavor and less sweeter. Another key difference is that Matcha Gravity is a chilled ice tea latte instead of the smoothie texture of Simply Matcha Frappe.

Even the tininess tea dust have to obey the laws of physics.

Interesting enough. A long time after mixing the Matcha Gravity, the green tea power seems to settle at the bottom of the glass. It isn't that clear in the picture above, but the colours seem to invert. With the white at the top and green settling at the bottom. Interesting sight.

Ice Brewed Ceylon Tea

I got this free from Teadot sms promotion. Sadly to say the promotion is over, I apologies for not posting this earlier. The tea is chilled and carefully poured over a layer of syrup. Showing the sparkle of clear liquid and warmth of an evening sunset. The ceylon tea is really refreshing and brightens my day. I detect no hints of bitterness at all, showing that the tea wasn't over extracted and allowed to sit to allow the flavours to seep out. The aroma is fragrant and clear. My friend commented that I taste like high grade lemon tea. I sigh for the ignorant.

Lavender Wilderness

This is really unique. Lavender Wilderness as the name suggest have a really strong floral fragrant of the Lavender. Really feels like you are basking under a sun in a field of flower. However, its not overpowering that it covers the tea flavours. Instead it complements the tea in balance harmony. This drink is rather subtle and goes really well when paired with light cakes.

Apricot Madness

Apricot Madness is black tea blended with yogurt and apricot. The yogurt gives the tea a slight sour tingle and creamy texture. The apricot brings out its natural sweetness. Very creamy with a slight apricot sweetness. One of my favourite teas.

Whole variety of choice that you will be spoilt.
Strawberry Cheesecake is their newly added item.

The cakes in Teadot are create by a chef which they sorted from a 5 star hotel. Cakes range from cheesecakes, moose and crumbles.

Wild Jackfruit

Bits of jackfruit chunks in the base.

Wild Jackfruit is one of the best sellers in Teadot. It consists a jackfruit smooth moose and a lower layer of jackfruit chunks still with their stringy bits and a base layer of sponge. The jackfruit flavours are really strong and can be rather sweet clingy feeling to the throat. Be sure to clear your throat with some light tea. This goes really well when paired by floral teas like Lavender Wilderness. Don't miss this. Highly recommended.

Blueberry Cheesecake

The Blueberry Cheesecake is rather average. Taste like new york cheesecake with bits of blueberry. Has a biscuit crumple at the base. Goes with stronger drinks like matcha.

Chocolate Macadamia

This is a hot favorite amongst us. The chocolate moose (lighter brown layer) has the texture of smooth melted milk chocolate bar with alternate layers of thicker chocolate (darker brown layer) consistence of bits of macadamia nuts within. The is a really winner. So good that I don't mind coming back for this alone.

You do have to wait for a while for your drinks to come compared to coffee parlors. Do however understand that as unlike coffee which is extracted with pressure to form espresso, teas require a sitting period in boiling water to allow the flavours and aroma to seep out. Thus the slightly longer waiting time.

Currently there is a promotion of 50% off any cake with any regular tea. I strongly recommend this place for chill outs. Great teas and cakes. Topped with excellent service from staff. Overall my visit to Teadot was a pleasant one. I'll be sure to visit them in the near future.

Teadot (Iluma)
201 Victoria Street, Iluma@Bugis
#01-23/24
Singapore 188067


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Astons Empire

The success of Aston's formula of cheap, great portions and customization dishes has propelled Astons to mushroom all over Singapore. Still bringing cheap food to the masses in the city area, but still maintaining its affordable prices. They have expanded to Suntec City and a newly located Astons Prime in Centrepoint, bring the total of 3 branches in the city (including Cathay Branch).

Giving my friend more excuse to dine there. As much as I enjoy Astons, 3 visits in the time span of 2 months is one too many.

Budget Establishment is bound to be a crowd magnet, so be sure to be prepare to wait.

Sirlion Steak for my carb glutton friend

Chicken and Sausage Set.

The sausages though small were rather good, goes really well with either potato salad or smash. However this is costly then Double Chicken, makes one really difficult to decide on an addition slab of chicken or 6 aromatic sausages. Hmm...

Double Chicken with different Sides

Preshafruit Granny Smith

Spotted this rather interesting drink. Its imported drink from Australia that utilities High Pressure Processing to squeeze every ounce of juice naturally from the fruit. Unlike conventional juices which are heat pasteurised, thus resulting in lost of colour, taste, smell and nutrients.

Extraction Process

With our powers combine...

Different variety

I must say their design and marketing department did a great job. Defying from the traditional cylindrical bottle to a triangular one is certainly an eye catcher. Taste wise. Its really a shocker. The juice is pleasant, clean and refreshing. Simpler to simply biting into an apple. Really puts all the rest of juices you get in the supermarket to shame.

Back to the topic on Astons. Service is rather bad. With missing orders, long waiting time and large crowds. However, this is rather understandable due to the new and inexperience service staff. Hopefully it would improve with time.

Astons Specialities (Suntec)
3 Temasek Boulevard
#B1-043/044
Suntec City Mall
Tel : 6884 8816

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Green Tea or Me?

All those oily food. Time for something that is more healthy and to rid those grease. Introducing OChaCha. Green Tea is has lots of health benefits like Theanine that reduces mental and physical stress, thus the sense of calmness and ease. Catechins, a potent anti-oxidant that reduces heart failure, cancer and diabetes. With all these health benefits one can't find an excuse to have your daily cup of green tea. I got this free with some voucher. Its not bad, rather milky. Though I'd prefer a more "heavy" green tea flavour, which Shokudo (just next door) offer.

OChaCha
252 North Bridge Road
Raffles City Shopping Centre,
#B1-44F Singapore 179103
Tel : 6333 5886
Website: http://www.ochacha.com.sg/


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Sake Inn

Love sake? Well then go down to Tampines 1 with its first sake dedicated shop. Since there are wines dedicated shop, why not have a sake one instead.

The large symbol certainly states the product they sell.

There are sake, health vingers, Japanese beers and soft drinks.

All the sake to get you drunk.

Fruit wines with different flavors for your choosing.

Tea for the non-drinkers.

Sake offers a many kinds of drinker to cater the different drinkers. They are sake for the heavy drinkers, health vinger health conscious one, beer for soccer party gathering, tea for the humble and soft drink for kids. All imported direct from Japanese. There is a large variety over here and many different type for you to choose from. The staff are also very friendly and will take time to cater the taste and budget that you are sorting.

Sake Inn
10 Tampines Central 1
#B1-30 Tampines 1
Singapore 529539


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Hup Huat Sugar Cane Juice

There isn't much different between Sugar Cane Juices around the island. Since most of them get them from the same suppliers. Only difference it would come down would be price. Its rather hard to come by a stall that uses those big glass mugs and even selling it at a low price of $1.

Good to cool down on the recent hot climate.

Surprisely Unknown

Well most people don't even know the different kinds of wine that are available. Apparently other then the more common red and white wine, there is even dessert wines. As common sense will suggest, dessert wines compliment desserts well. Having enriching my knowledge on this "new" wine, I set out to savor this new finding.

Believe it or not. I drank this at MacDonalds.
Outback's corkage fee is $20.
Which cost more then this bottle of wine.

I couldn't find the recommended 2005 Trentham Noble Taminga, thus settled for the 2007 Brown Brothers Orange Muscat & Flora instead. After savoring the forbidden Fruit of Adam. Its definitely something very unique and should be tried if you have not tried dessert wines before. Its rather sweet in term of wine and has this pleasant flora aroma, which a citrus taste. However, it does leave a rather sweet clogging after taste in the throat after drinking it. Still I would recommend it to those who haven't tried it. Something new is something unconquered.

Japanese Lemonade?

Drinking this drink will help you regain health or level up?

Lemonade. One will imagine a smooth sweet drink that is suited to quench one's thirst. If so. Don't even try this drink above. The Japanese Lemonade by Pokka will definitely give those people with sweet teeth something to swear about the whole day. The fluid inside is horrendously bitter and leaves a bad after taste. Worst is that it makes you even thirsty. Maybe a mechanism for Pokka to make you buy more of its other drinks. ***$$$***. Sa-Ching.

The only good thing to mention is that the glass bottle seems rather durable and solid to withstand the drop from the vending machine. Looks rather cool too. I wanted to test its durability against the wall, but my friend grabbed and threw my bottle away before it happen. Too bad. You wouldn't ever catch me drinking this again. I would rather drink sea water.

Calpico overhyped?

How does it taste. Not bad. Rather interesting. Oh wait. It actually taste rather familiar. Well this legendary drink much sort out by some, actually taste like.....***drum roll***. Isotonic drink + Vitagen. I'm serious. Is it worth the $2.50, definitely not...