Popular Hainanese coffee franchise from Malaysia hosts week-long pop-up in SG with unique drinks

Known for the crazy long queues at their Kuala Lumpur pop-ups, Malaysia’s favourite coffee brand, Choon Kee, has finally made its debut on Singapore shores with a week-long pop-up at Great Nanyang Heritage Cafe’s outlet in TripleOne Somerset, running until 2 Sep 2024 from 11am to 8.30pm.

Featuring 6 unique drinks served up by third-generation owner Foo Swee Yong, I got a chance to sample some of Choon Kee’s specialities.

Starting with their signature drinks, I tried the Barley Kopi Teh (S$6.80) from the Barley Series. As someone who isn’t a big coffee drinker, I was initially sceptical about a mix that includes tea and barley.

However, the barley surprisingly mellowed out the coffee’s intensity, making it smoother and more drinkable. The slightly malty flavour also added an extra layer of depth. If you’re not a hardcore coffee drinker but crave an occasional indulgence, this is a great place to start!

Next up was the Haikou Breeze (S$6.80) from the Choon Kee Mojito Series. With a blend of lemon, salt, sprite, and yakult, this drink tasted exactly like the Himalayan Salt Candy (which was also their inspiration) – just in beverage form. It was super refreshing—a perfect companion for a hot, sunny day.

Lastly, I chose the Kopi Teh Milo (S$6.80) from the Choon Kee Special Series. Coffee and milo are both known for their robust flavour profiles and unsurprisingly, those two dominated the drink. However, the milo-coffee blend intensified the coffee flavour, making it extra gao.

In an unexpected twist, the tea flavour crept in during the aftertaste, giving the drink a complex finish – a uniquely intriguing experience indeed.

To complement the drinks, I was served the crowd-favourite Kaya Butter Toast (S$2.70), which featured thicc slabs of butter between two perfectly toasted slices of bread spread with their in-house kaya. During the pop-up, you can also choose between Great Nanyang’s kaya spread or Choon Kee’s kaya when ordering the toast.

Another dish I tried was the Curry Chicken Toast (S$7.90), which pairs traditional Chinese-style chicken curry with toasted baguettes coated in melted butter. While the curry had a bit of a kick, it leaned slightly too sweet for my taste— but that’s a matter of personal preference. Just be sure to eat it while it’s hot, as the bread hardens quickly once it cools, making it more challenging to chew.

Whether you’re a die-hard coffee fan or just someone who loves trying creative twists on classic drinks, this pop-up is worth checking out. So run, don’t walk, to Great Nanyang while they’re still here and let us know what you think!

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