Perhaps the movie Dear You 给阿嬷的情书 made me more aware of the Teochew heritage around us.
The House of Tan Yeok Nee is one of those buildings (very near Orchard Road) many people have passed without really knowing what is inside.
A little history ‘lesson’ here: Standing at the junction of Penang Road and Clemenceau Avenue, the mansion was built between 1882 and 1885 as the family residence of Teochew merchant Tan Yeok Nee.
It is also the sole survivor of Singapore’s Four Grand Mansions built by prominent Teochew businessmen in the late 19th century, and was gazetted as a National Monument in 1974.
After years of being largely inaccessible to the casual passer-by, the restored mansion has taken on a new life with several dining and lifestyle concepts within its grounds.
Jing Studio occupies a corner of the house, positioned as a contemporary tea salon where traditional Chinese brewing is presented in a more approachable manner.
Thankfully, it did not feel overly formal.
Sitting at the counter meant I could watch the entire process up close, from measuring the leaves to timing each infusion and pouring the finished tea.
The menu takes a little time to work through (especially when the font is small and the prices are indicated below).
The drinks are divided into Single Estate Tea, Blended Tea and Herbal Tea Blends, with coloured symbols showing whether each selection can be served hot, cold, with milk or as a cold brew.
For something less traditional, the blended selection includes Coco Pulut Pu-Erh 乌米映雪, Isle of Green 翠岛烟岚, Citrus Breeze 柚见清风 and Pearl & Petal 幽香引.
I went with the Coco Pulut Pu-Erh ($8 with milk), mainly because I wanted something cold in this heat (and a tea drink inspired by pulut hitam was difficult to ignore).
The drink combined pu-erh with coconut milk, giving it some delicate creaminess. There was an earthy base from the tea, followed by a mild coconut richness and a faint berry-like sweetness.
It reminded me of pulut hitam more in mood than in exact flavour.
The Citrus Breeze 柚见清风 ($7 cold) was almost the opposite, and I enjoyed it more for its layered tea notes.
Made with green tea from Yibin in Sichuan, it was much lighter, carrying a gentle citrus lift and a soft white-blossom fragrance.
There is also a small pastry and sweet selection, with items such as Assorted Mochi ($3), Midnight Sesame Sand ($10), and Oolong Osmanthus Bloom ($10).
Unfortunately, most of the food was already sold out during my visit, so mine remained purely a tea session.
The space is intimate, and much of the appeal comes from sitting close to the counter, watching the brewing and then wandering through the historic mansion afterwards. I need a repeat visit.
Jing Studio
House of Tan Yeok Nee, 101 Penang Road, Singapore 238466
Opening Hours: 10am – 7pm (Mon – Sun)
Other Related Entries
CHAGEE Singapore (One Raffles Place)
Molly Tea (Raffles Place)
LiHO TEA (Bugis+)
YI HUI 一會 (Coleman Street)
LimCha Teahouse Café (East Coast)
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