Yomie’s Rice X Yogurt (有米酸奶) is a brand of healthy yogurt drinks from China. The first outlet in Malaysia opened in Auto-City today.

The eatery is surprisingly spacious. As expected, it is a hangout spot for youngsters who also enjoy healthy drinks.

Yomie’s yogurt is prepared fresh at the shop every day. Preparing the yogurt requires 11 processes and including several hours of fermentation.

The homemade yogurt is usually combined with mixed grains like purple rice and oats. Yogurt can also be blended with fresh fruits such as strawberries and passion fruits.

Yomie’s Purple Rice Yogurt (有米酸奶, RM13.90) allows customers to taste its yogurt in the purest form. Purple rice gives the drink a pulpy consistency. Meanwhile, Avos! (牛油果果酸奶, RM15.90) combines yogurt with the creamy texture of avocados.

Yomie’s Oats Yogurt (有燕麦酸奶, RM13.90) is a healthy choice as it is fortified with nutrients and dietary fiber. Another recommended drink is Jujube Purple Rice Yogurt (元气红枣紫米酸奶, RM14.90) where red dates give it a natural sweetness.

Yomie’s yogurt contains a minimal amount of fructose. Due to the presence of mixed grains, the drinks are quite filling and make great meal replacements. According to the management, Yomie’s will be opening another outlet in Automall soon.

Name: Yomie’s Rice X Yogurt (有米酸奶)
Address: 1819A-1, Jalan Perusahaan, Auto-City, 13600 Juru, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 017-438-7477
Business hours: 10:00am-12:00am
Website: http://yomie.com.my
Coordinates: 5.33801 N, 100.42943 E
Directions: From the North-South Expressway, take the Bukit Mertajam exit and head west. Turn right at the end of the road, and then take the next left turn to arrive at Auto-City. Yomie’s is located next to Citibank. There are plenty of parking spaces throughout Auto-City.

Regiustea is known for its iced tea with cheese foam on top. The brand has 2 outlets in Penang: Queensbay Mall and Icon City. The former is located at Level 3, a short distance from Queens Hall.

The latest drink here is Harimau Pearl Milk Tea (虎斑珍珠奶茶, RM11.90). The bubble tea is sweetened with brown sugar in a manner that resembles stripes of a tiger. It also contains boiled tapioca pearls. Somehow I feel that the drink is too sweet for comfort.

Meanwhile, Crème Brulee (法式焦糖布雷, RM5.90) is a vanilla-flavored custard with a layer of caramelized sugar on top. I also feel that the level of sweetness is overpowering.

Address: 3F-26, Queensbay Mall, Persiaran Bayan Indah, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-506-2718
Business hours: 10:00am-10:00pm
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The signature drink, Ais Tingkap (RM2.00), contains more ingredients than it appears. It is prepared from coconut water, shaved ice, rose syrup, young coconut flesh, frankincense resin (getah anggur) and basil seeds (biji selasih). Just before serving, the iced drink is given a spray of Indian herbs for the aroma.

I think the drink is acceptable as a thirst quencher. Although frankincense resin and basil seeds are novel ingredients, I do not really like their consistency.

Address: Lebuh Tamil, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 016-400-3310
Business hours: 11:00am-7:00pm
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The Black Market is located right next to Kitchen Chemistry in Hin Bus Depot. The shop sells coffee, tea, fruit juice, milkshake, ice cream float and bottled beer to diners at The Glass House (The Glenlivet Jun 2018).

What’s more satisfying than an ice-cold glass of Root Beer Float (RM7.00)? The sweetness of vanilla ice cream complements well with the sharp taste of root beer.

Address: 125, Jalan Timah, 10150 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 019-560-8355
Business hours: 10:00am-9:00pm (Sunday), 11:30am-10:00pm (Tuesday-Saturday), closed on Mondays
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While shopping at Sunway Pyramid, we noticed a drinks kiosk at LG2 floor called Tuk Tuk Cha. At its front, there is a mock auto rickshaw called “tuk-tuk” (ตุ๊กตุ๊ก). This mode of transportation is very popular in crowded cities like Bangkok.

Tuk Tuk Cha serves Thai-style drinks such as milk tea and milk coffee. The drinks are served cold but most have hot versions too. Toasts are also listed on the menu but we did not try them today.

The hot version of Thai Milk Tea (ชาร้อน, RM3.90) is dominated by creaminess of milk. Although the drink is satisfying, I am unable to appreciate the distinctive aroma and taste of Thai tea. In terms of sweetness, I think the drink is just right where I wanted it to be.

Address: LG2.08, Sunway Pyramid Shopping Mall, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Contact: 019-989-8169
Business hours: 10:00am-10:00pm

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Quay Coffee is a drinks stall at the entrance of Chew Jetty (姓周桥). Operated by local residents of the jetty, the stall is only open on Sundays and on selected public holidays. Quay Coffee serves iced drinks in reasonably large cups. There are more than 20 items on the menu, but the price is standardized to RM6.00 per cup.

The signature drinks here are Quay Coffee (RM6.00) and Ice Milk Tea (RM6.00). Coffee and tea are brewed on the spot, so it may take a while to get these drinks prepared. In addition, Cocoa Mint (RM6.00) is also quite popular especially if you need something without caffeine.

Customers who prefer fruits can try the Honeydew Juice (RM6.00), Strawberry Juice (RM6.00) or Mango Yogurt (RM6.00). These drinks are made from fruit cordial.

Mocha (RM6.00) gives a pleasant combination of coffee and chocolate. Cocoa + Tea (RM6.00) is another interesting alternative. Meanwhile, Ice Green Tea (RM6.00) and Apple Yogurt (RM6.00) are perfect for quenching thirst.

While visiting Chew Jetty, why not grab a chilling cup of your favorite drink? Trust me, you need something to cool down during a hot day.

Name: Quay Coffee
Address: Chew Jetty, Pengkalan Weld, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 012-213-6164, 018-954-4830
Business hours: 10:00am-6:00pm, closed on Mondays to Saturdays
Website: https://www.facebook.com/quaycoffee64
Coordinates: 5.41268 N, 100.33973 E
Directions: Quay Coffee is located at the entrance to Chew Jetty (姓周桥). The stall faces a Chinese temple. Parking is available along Weld Quay (Pengkalan Weld) and other nearby roads.

Update: This business has ceased its operations.

Pavilion Elite is a new wing of eateries in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. One of the shops here is Chatime (日出茶太), a Taiwanese chain of milk tea stores that popularized pearl milk tea (珍珠奶茶) in Malaysia several years ago.

In this outlet, the staff demonstrates how its signature tapioca pearls, called Cham Pearls, are produced. First, tapioca flour is mixed with water and sugar in a dough mixer. Some hand-kneading is also necessary. After that, a specialized machine cuts the dough and produces spherical tapioca pearls.

Today’s demonstration involves sweet potato-flavored Cham Pearls. Pearl Milk Tea (台北日出珍奶, RM7.50) is one way to enjoy these popular jellies. Like other products made from tapioca flour, Cham Pearls is translucent and has a distinctive chewy texture.

This Chatime outlet is one of the few which also sells Tealive (RM8.50), a new line of cold brew tea. In cold brewing, tea leaves are steeped in cool water for 8 hours to allow tea flavors to be extracted more gently. There are 3 different flavors: B. Mysterious (black tea), B. Witty (buckwheat tea) and B. Merry (raspberry-infused tea). The drinks are prepared daily and contain no sugar nor preservatives.

Name: Chatime (日出茶太)
Address: 1.110.00, Pavilion Elite, Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur
Contact: N/A
Business hours: 10:00am-10:00pm
Website: http://www.chatime.com.my
Coordinates: 3.14830 N, 101.71297 E
Directions: Chatime is located at Level 1 of Pavilion Elite of Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, near the entrance to the main mall. The mall provides multi-storey parking.

Update: This business has ceased its operations.

3 Monkeys Juice Bar is located at Siam Road (Jalan Siam), a short walk from Siam Road Char Koay Teow. The juice bar was founded earlier this year by 3 friends who wish to promote the benefits of cold-pressed juice to the general public. Several months later, The Salad Tree’s salad menu was added to cater the health-conscious clientele.

The dining section of 3 Monkeys is spacious indeed. Two hanging chairs provide a unique sense of comfort. Several sections of the wall are deliberately left unplastered, revealing the bare red bricks.

For the salad menu, one of the popular dishes is The Signature Pear (RM15.90). Grilled chicken breast is cut into thin slices so that tangy French dressing penetrates it entirely. Meanwhile, roasted walnuts are very light on the mouth, providing delightful crisp that is not surfeiting. Also included are Packham pear, red capsicum, shimeji mushrooms and cos (romaine) lettuce. The salad is topped with a copious amount of chia seeds, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. I like the restaurant’s harmonious approach as exemplified in this salad dish.

Next on the line is Creamy Potato (RM13.90). Australian potatoes, boiled and peeled, are mixed with chopped chicken ham and red onions. Individual ingredients are brought together by creamy dressing made from boiled eggs. The salad is served in a bowl laden with green coral lettuce (lollo bionda), then garnished with chopped scallion and parsley for refreshing aroma. Creamy Potato is best enjoyed when cold; I like the icy sensation when chilled potatoes make contact with my tongue.

Orange Fields (RM15.90) is a new item on the menu. Citrus aroma is provided by orange suprêmes, which are on the sour side of things. Indeed, orange’s sourness varies from batch to batch. Also included in the salad are bits of chicken ham, honey-coated roasted walnuts, onions, leaf lettuce, cos lettuce, green coral lettuce and red coral lettuce (lollo rosso).

As for desserts, The Dragon Fruit Bowl (RM16.90) incorporates one of my favorite fruits: pitaya (dragon fruit). This slushy treat is made from red-fleshed pitaya blended with açaí berry (a source of antioxidants). The blended mixture is topped with white-fleshed pitaya, kiwi, green apples and rolled oats. A light sprinkle of chia seeds provides crispy sensation.

Meanwhile, The Mango Bowl (RM16.90) is a marriage between ripe mangoes and açaí berry. The mangoes are naturally sweet and work well in an eatery which refrains from adding sugar. The blended mango emulsion is creamier and more filling than the pitaya version. As for toppings, there are two types of pitaya, green apples, rolled oats and chia seeds.

Raw almonds and cashew nuts are also available in packets for RM6.90 each.

3 Monkeys’ menu features 15 flavors of juices, which are categorized into several series and come in bottles of 330 millilitres each. The juices are cold-pressed as opposed to being blended, since the latter approach produces excessive heat which destroys temperature-sensitive nutrients especially Vitamin C (ascorbic acid).

Each type of juice is made from pure fruits and vegetables; no additional sugar is added. The juice also does not contain artificial preservatives, which explains why it must be refrigerated and has a shelf life of 3 days only. To keep the juices fresh, 3 Monkeys prefers to keep a small inventory of each flavor and replenishes stock when necessary.

The Nature series of cold-pressed juices covers Apple Carrot Celery Lemon Ginger (RM10.90) and Carrot Beetroot Apple Orange Spinach (RM10.90).

Meanwhile, Citrus series includes Pineapple Orange Lemon (RM10.90) and Orange Carrot Lemon Ginger (RM10.90).

From the Fruits series, there are Watermelon Orange (RM10.90) and Pineapple Watermelon Mint (RM10.90).

Honey Lemon Activated-Charcoal (RM10.90) has grainy consistency due to the presence of coconut charcoal.

Other juices include Apple Cucumber Celery (RM10.90), Apple Beetroot Celery (RM10.90), Raw Almond Cinnamon Honey Sea Salt (RM11.90) and Guava Honeydew Apple (RM10.90).

Besides juices, there are also other refreshing drinks like Chloro Fresh (RM6.90) and Alkaline Water (RM2.90).

All food and drinks at 3 Monkeys are pork-free. The eatery provides delivery service throughout Penang Island for a fee of RM10.00 per order. The fee is waived for orders of RM50.00 or more. Meanwhile, delivery to Seberang Perai is subjected to a minimum order of RM50.00. Besides this outlet, 3 Monkeys also maintains presence in Gurney Plaza and Queensbay Mall in the form of kiosks.

Name: 3 Monkeys Juice Bar
Address: 74, Jalan Siam, 10400 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-218-9745
Business hours: 10:00am-9:30pm
Website: http://www.3monkeysjuice.com
Coordinates: 5.41462 N, 100.32121 E
Directions: 3 Monkeys is located near the midway point of Siam Road (Jalan Siam), on the left side when driving from Siam Road Char Koay Teow. The Salad Tree also occupies the same premises. There are parking spaces in front of the restaurant.

Update: This business has ceased its operations.

Armenian Street (Lebuh Armenian) a popular tourist destination due to a large number of cultural and artistic attractions, including the nearby Khoo Kongsi (邱公司).

Cha Yen (ชาเย็น) is one of the many stalls at this bustling street. As the only refreshments stall at this section of Armenian Street, there is often a line of customers during weekends. The name “Cha Yen” means “iced tea” in Thai. As the name implies, the drinks here are inspired by Thai iced drinks.

There are several types of cold drinks here. Each serving is around 400 millilitres, which is larger than what most drinks kiosks consider “medium size”. For convenience, each drink is uniformly priced at RM5.50.

The drinks at Cha Yen are mostly handcrafted, similar to how it is prepared by curbside carts in Thailand. The only exception is a machine to extract espresso shots from ground coffee. Extracting espresso requires higher temperature and pressure that are beyond conventional means. To remain faithful to the Thai versions, most ingredients of the drinks at Cha Yen are sourced from Thailand.

The titular Cha Yen (ชาเย็น) is Thai-style iced milk tea. It is one of the most popular comfort drink among Thais, and also the bestseller at this stall. The drink is prepared from oxidized tea leaves, giving a distinctive imprint of leafy aroma. Per tradition, the drink is prepared using a strainer which resembles a stocking.

Some people may prefer Cha Kheiwy Yen (ชาเขียวเย็น), which is iced milk green tea. Unlike green tea powder which most stalls tend to use, this stall uses ground tea leaves as they provide noticeably better aroma. Compared to the previous drink, this version gives more “leafy” taste but is inferior in terms of aroma.

Creamy consistency is the key to a nice cup of milk tea. The trick is to strike a balance between condensed milk and creamer. In fact, the proportion needs to be adjusted depending whether tea is served hot or cold. Once again, condensed milk and creamer are imported from Thailand.

While Thais also enjoy Milo’s and Ovaltine’s chocolate malt drinks, this stall opts for custom-ordered cocoa powder from a Thai manufacturer. The powder is extremely fine like sawdust, giving the Coco Yen (โกโก้เย็น) drink silky consistency which soothes the throat. This iced chocolate drink is very rich and has bold cocoa flavor. The chocolaty sensation lingers on the tongue and the mouth roof for quite some time.

Meanwhile, Cafaeyen (กาแฟเย็น) or iced coffee inherits roasted bitterness from its dark roast beans. I feel that the drink does not have the type of milky sensation that I envisioned. I think there is room for improvement in terms of creaminess.

To produce coffee beans, the stall uses a hand-crank coffee grinder. Grinding small amount at a time allows the powder to maintain its aroma for longer period of time.

Fizzy drinks are gaining popularity among Thai youths due to their sharp citrus sensation. There are several types to choose from, such as Cha Nom Yen (ชานมเย็น) and Blue Lemon Soda. Both types of drinks contain soda pop and flavored syrup, but the former also contains condensed milk to give it a pinkish, milky appearance. The latter is dairy-free, but instead uses a lime wedge to produce the thirst-quenching acidic appeal.

At Cha Yen, there are half a dozen types of syrup flavors, such as apple, strawberry, cantaloupe and grape. Syrup is also sourced from Thailand to produce the same taste that Thais love. For example, syrup used for Cha Nom Yen has fragrance and taste that resemble rose or strawberries, but not quite either.

Soda water is also imported from Thailand. There are two brands available; both are very similar in terms of taste.

For convenience, each drink comes with a plastic holder so that customers do not have to get their hands wet and frozen. This innovation has yet to catch on in Malaysia.

According to the proprietor, Cha Yen will be opening another outlet soon. The goal of this drinks kiosk is to introduce popular iced drinks that our northern neighbors enjoy.

Name: Cha Yen (ชาเย็น)
Address: Lebuh Armenian, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 017-441-0041
Business hours: 9:00am-7:00pm, closed on Mondays to Thursdays
Website: https://www.facebook.com/thaistylechayen
Coordinates: 5.41539 N, 100.33719 E
Directions: Cha Yen is located at Armenian Street (Lebuh Armenia), somewhat across Hock Teik Cheng Sin Temple (福德正神庙). As a tourist spot, parking in this area is quite limited. Chances are that you need to park several streets away and walk here on foot.

In terms of drinks, the most popular stall is Mou Tak Ding (冇得顶). This stall is located right at the crossroads between Petaling Street (Jalan Petaling) and Jalan Hang Lekir. In fact, the stall has been operating at this exact spot for as long as my memory goes. Quite recently, Mou Tak Ding opened a kiosk at Mid Valley Megamall too.

The signature drink of this stall is Air Mata Kucing (罗汉果龙眼冰糖炖冬瓜, RM2.30), which is made from luo han guo (罗汉果), longan (龙眼), winter melon (冬瓜) and rock sugar. This herbal remedy is believed to be able to combat heatiness, relieve coughing and soothe the throat. Whether true or not, this cold drink is perfect for a hot day.

Address: Jalan Petaling, 50000 Kuala Lumpur
Contact: 012-377-5200
Business hours: 10:30am-10:00pm
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