Saturday, August 21, 2010

Amoy Tea - A Treasure Find







This teashop is in Singapore. Amoy Tea Pte Ltd is located at 331 Joo Chiat Road. This 'treasure find' of a teashop which I would describe as 'frozen in time' is must visit tea shop for Chinese tea drinkers when you are in Singapore.

When Singapore is described to the world, people especially the locals would know the rapid modernization of Singapore over a short span of 40+ years. Today, Singapore boast of a world class financial centre and considered one of the most globalised nation of the world. Yet Amoy Tea appeared that it had not change its facade much for 30-40+ years. It is located in a 1960s' pre war shop house in east coast of Singapore. You will see many new modern eateries where you can eat in air conditioned comfort and choose from a myraid of cooking styles from vietnamese, western and different Chinese culture and dialect traditional cooking. Yet you will observe from the pix that Amoy tea had maintained that 70's aura within the premises.

Amoy Tea is run by the Tans, a uncle and nephew enterprise. Selling only traditional Chinese tea, you can get to buy a bag of liu bao, tgy, a tin of white tea, oolongs, loong ching, pu erh and many other teas. They do sell tea accessories like teapots and gaiwans. I would like to highlight that this shop only takes cash payment. There is also no tea sampling of their teas as the nephew, Mr Tan Yen Kwang explained there are manpower and space constraints, that Amoy Tea is unable to offer tea sampling. You do get to drink a cup of their house tea when you are in their shop.

I bought a couple of ripe pu erh tea when I was there. See my next blog. For those who intend to visit the shop (close on Sundays), it is near the junction of east coast road, between Marshall Lane and Koon Seng Road. Don't forget to try the world famous laksa (coconut curried noodles) when you are in that vicinity.

RELOCATION NOTICE - Amoy Tea has relocated.  They are now at Block 45 Sims Drive #01-164.

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