We remember being so excited over Hvala’s first outlet at CHIJMES, but in a short span of a few years, the brand specializing in Japanese tea has grown so much, opening their 4th outlet over at Craig Road in mid-2021. Hvala at Craig Rd also features a 100% vegan, dairy-free menu.
Zen Teahouse in Tanjong Pagar
Featuring a large sunroof right smack in the middle of the cafe, you can enjoy basking in the sunlight over at Hvala at Craig Rd while sipping on soy matcha lattes.
The interior is filled with art pieces, wooden furniture, and plants for a nice zen, cozy atmosphere.
There’s also a newly installed water feature right below the sunroof which imitates the sound of flowing streams. Makes the place even more zen.
If you visit on a weekday, the cafe is pretty empty which makes the place feel even more peaceful and quiet. Do note that they limit dining-in to 1hr per group.
Menu at Hvala Craig Rd
The most unique thing about this particular Hvala outlet is that they offer a menu that’s 100% vegan and dairy-free.
This means that the lattes are made using plant-based milk, with soy milk being the default option. They also have the oat milk option available. Choose from items like their Matcha Hojicha Latte ($5.8-$6.8), Genmaicha Latte ($5.8-$6.8), and Matcha Goma Latte ($5.8-$6.8).
Sliced Cakes and Tarts are also available alongside a selection of warabi mochi that comes in different flavours like Goma, Hojicha, and Kinako, to name a few.
Dairy-Free Mochi Waffles
A must-try would be the Dairy-Free Mochi Waffles ($11.8) which comes with a scoop of oatmilk or matcha °1 gelato. This gluten-free treat reminded us of rice cake waffles, like the ones you can easily at home with a waffle maker (provided you have rice cakes).
The exterior was crispy with the inside being soft and chewy, just like a mochi! There’s a strong toasted fragrance from the waffle, which went well with the drizzled maple syrup. The contrasting temperature from the hot waffle and cold matcha gelato is always so good, and the sprinkled genmai (toasted rice) added a nice nutty flavour.
Extensive Selection of Teas
Hvala get their tea leaves from a traditional tea wholesaler from Japan, featuring lots of other teas besides the usual matcha and hojicha. Here you can find hot brews like Fukamushicha ($5.8), Iribancha ($5.8) and Tencha ($6.8).
For cold brews, Hvala has 1925 ($7.8) which is a house blend oolong reminiscent of a persimmon blossom fragrance, and Orchid’s Breath ($7.8), a special blend from a variety of rock tea.
Japanese Cafe in Tanjong Pagar
If you’re looking for a place to chill near Tanjong Pagar or Outram Park, Hvala at Craig Rd is a great cafe to have some gelato and tea. It might get crowded on weekends, so do keep that into consideration.
*This is an independent review by MiddleClass.sg.
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