While foodies are going crazy over the latest matcha drink, there’s another beverage trend that’s quietly brewing in Singapore. Traditional Chinese teahouses are slowly but surely on the rise here, with our latest discovery being Ling Ling Cha (零零茶) – an understated Taiwanese tea café hidden away in the basement of Marina One.
Unlike Incloud, which draws crowds with its Instagram-worthy ‘floating stream’ table, or Golden Seed, which is much more premium-leaning, Ling Ling Cha steers clear of frills and gimmicks. Kept simple with plain wooden fittings and just a handful of ornamental plants, the café instead lets its tea do the talking – and boy, do these brews speak volumes.
Prices are surprisingly affordable, starting from just $4.30 for a cup of Ying Xiang Oolong or Oolong King. Long Jing and Bi Luo Chun green teas are $5.30 per cup, and we highly recommend the Muscat Black Tea ($6.80) – our favourite so far – for its natural honeyed flavour.
A full pot of anything costs just $1.50 more than its per-cup version, so it’d be wise to go straight for that as it’s the more value-for-money option. Iced and cold-brewed versions are also available.
Don’t doubt the quality based on the wallet-friendly prices – we’ve been here twice in the same month and every perfectly steeped concoction has sent our taste buds straight to the chilly tea mountains of Taiwan. In fact, the owners are exacting about the brewing time of the leaves to extract the optimum flavour and fragrance. To see that in action, grab a seat at the long bar counter. Otherwise, there are regular tables for those who’d prefer some quiet relaxation time alone.
Ling Ling Cha is located at #B2-58 of Marina One, situated between the Marina Bay and Shenton Way MRT stations. It’s open from 9.30am to 6pm on weekdays and 12pm to 5pm on Saturdays, with breaks on Sundays and public holidays. Stay tuned for Ling Ling Cha’s latest updates via Instagram.
READ MORE
5 exciting new bars in Singapore you should be checking out right now
All the Michelin-approved hawker stalls you can find at this new food court in Tang Plaza