Lei Cha Fan, also known as Thunder Tea Rice, is a traditional Hakka dish consisting of a mixed rice bowl with various vegetables, nuts, and herbs, served with a herbaceous tea-based soup.
This nutritious meal is celebrated for its wholesome ingredients and vibrant flavours.
HOWEVER, it can be quite a love or hate it dish.
People love Lei Cha Fan for its health benefits and wholesomeness, while others dislike it due to its strong, distinctive flavour that can be an acquired taste.
The Thunder Tea Story 擂茶物语 at Alexandra Village Food Centre is very popular with the lunch crowd, and one of my favourite Lei Cha Fan in Singapore.
The basic White Rice Set ($5) offers a hearty blend of mixed greens, nuts, and rice, accompanied by the characteristic green tea soup.
For a slightly healthier alternative, the Brown Rice Set ($5.50) features the same tasty ingredients but with the added benefits of whole grains.
Each bowl comprises a standard mix of eight ingredients.
These include cabbage, chye sim, long bean with tofu, cekor manis (also known as mani cai, 树仔菜, or stargoose berry), leek with tofu, a mixture of kidney beans and black-eyed peas, salty preserved radish (chye po), and roasted peanuts.
The hawker’s passion for this Hakka dish is evident in every aspect of the meal.
The rice sets are presented with care, ensuring each ingredient contributes to the final profile, from the protein-rich white-eyed peas to the antioxidant-packed leek with tofu.
While some people may find the lei cha soup too intense or even bitter, this version (to me at least) is quite drinkable.
Looking vibrant green, it has rich and slightly creamy consistency that complements the fresh vegetables and rice.
Plus point: you can enhance your meals with additional items such as Chai Poh Egg ($1.20), Fried Tofu (Plain) at $0.50, or extra Vegetable at $1.20.
I would always get the egg – pretty sizable, enhanced by the salty crunch of preserved radish.
For its price, The Thunder Tea Story provides generous portions with attention to detail in the presentation of the dish.
Even during rush hours, the hawkers still maintain a friendly and efficient service, which ensures a pleasant dining experience.
The Thunder Tea Story 擂茶物语
Alexandra Village Food Centre #01-55, 120 Bukit Merah Lane 1, Singapore 150120
Opening Hours: 11am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 8pm (Mon – Fri), 11am – 3pm (Sat), Closed Sun
Other Related Entries
Alexandra Village Food Centre Food Guide
Wei Min The Famous Wanton Noodle (Alexandra Village Food Centre)
Mr Avocado Exotic Juice (Alexandra Village Food Centre)
Dover Road Kai Kee Wanton Noodles (Alexandra Village Food Centre)
Pu Tian Delights (Alexandra Village Food Centre)
Ding Sheng 鼎升 (Alexandra Village Food Centre)
* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and Telegram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.
