No bubble tea. No colourful jellies. Just actual tea that doesn’t come with a sugar crash.
LimCha Teahouse Café 林茶 offers a modern take on the traditional Teochew teahouse experience.
Slow, focused, and calm. Yet has the potential to go viral.
If you have an East Coast (cafe) Plan consider finding this modern Teochew teahouse on the second level of a shophouse (above Chu Xin Wonton).
Although it’s a small space, it brings you out of this world.
Bamboo chairs, soft lighting, and shelves filled with teapots, tea tins, and miniature wooden displays. It blends tradition with quiet design, avoiding the usual café clutter.
A green (table) drum marked with “林茶” anchors the room, flanked by rustic touches that feel more curated than decorative.
All good, except for the looping Guzheng music clashing with the tea advertisement blasting from Level 1.
The focus here is Dancong tea. If you’ve never heard of it, it’s a variety from the Phoenix Mountains in China, famous for its floral and fruity notes.
The drinks at LimCha span creative milk teas, cold brews and indulgent local-style desserts.
Some options include LimCha Dancong Milk ($12.50), Dancong Cheesecap ($12.50), and Ya Shi Xiang Lemon Tea ($8.90), all featuring the robust Ya Shi variety in different textures.
Fans of cheese caps can try Ya Shi Xiang Cheese ($8.90) or Oriental Jade Cheese ($8.90), while fruitier options include Longan Ya Shi Xiang ($8.90), Summer Peach Green Tea ($8.90), and the crisp Oriental Jade Tea ($8.90).
It’s not cheap. Still, if you’re into tea or even just curious, it feels like a ritual worth trying.
One thing that stood out was the way some drinks arrived at the table. A few came with a mist of dry ice swirling from the pot, more theatre than tradition.
Still, it’s good for TikTok, I guess.
I ordered a Longan Ya Shi Xiang ($8.90).
It starts with a base of Ya Shi Xiang Dancong tea, known for its deep floral notes, and layers in the sweetness of longan fruit.
I loved it. Cool, lightly fragrant, and surprisingly comforting.
On the snack side, bites like Mantou with Taro Dip ($8.90), Salted Egg Yolk Dough Fritters ($8.90), and Milky Crispy Roll ($8.90) bring a playful twist.
The dessert menu rounds it out with Oriental Peanut Paste ($8.90), Ying Yang Tangyuan ($8.90), Five Blessings Douhua ($8.90), and Purple Glutinous with rice cracker ($8.90).
The Orh Nee Chicken Floss Cake takes a Teochew dessert staple of yam paste and pairs it with the saltiness of floss.
Not too bad, though a bit on the heavy side.
The Oriental Peanut Paste ($8.90) was served hot with chewy tangyuan on top.
The paste was smooth, nutty, and full-bodied, though I wish it were less thick.
For those after a slow tea session, there’s the Hot Tea Tasting with Ya Shi Xiang Dancong ($35.00), sourced from over 1000 metres up in Feng Huang Mountain.
The staff know their stuff. They’ll explain flavour profiles, steeping times, even the origin of the leaves if you ask.
If you enjoy tea or want something slower and more thoughtful than your average café run, LimCha lets the tea do the talking.
LimCha Teahouse Cafe 林茶
93 East Coast Road #02-00, Singapore 428792
Opening Hours: 12pm – 8pm (Wed – Thurs), 12pm – 10pm (Fri – Sun), Closed Mon, Tues
(Opening hours subjected to change as and when, check their Google Page for latest updates)
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