Ya Kun Boba Toast Is Topped With Charred Milk Cream & Pearls In Bangkok
Ya Kun is the go-to breakfast and kopi chain for many locals, but although popularity has peaked, Ya Kun has yet to flex its muscles on a signature BBT drink — until now.
Over in Thailand – where the 75-year-old Hainanese coffee chain has set up several outlets – Ya Kun unveiled a millennial-friendly zhng-ed up drink, banking on a blow-torched black sugar crust on their signature teh peng back in August.
The drink is best paired with Boba Kaya Toast, similarly flame-toasted and heaped with sweetened tapioca pearls and fresh milk cream.
Boba Toast (Chocolate/Kaya) – S$3.82 (85 Baht)
Source
Ya Kun’s offerings do seem like a bid to draw in the younger crowds in Thailand, who have embraced it with open arms. This has left us wondering why the menu hasn’t been brought to Singapore yet.
But first, let’s take a closer look at Ya Kun’s version of boba toast & brown sugar pearl milk tea.
Black sugar fire teh, kopi & milo peng
The flame-toasted crust of Ya Kun’s drink is created by adding generous amounts of ‘black sugar’ or brown sugar to the surface of the milk foam.
Gently torching the rim will brown the surface and caramelise the crust. The topping is offered on 5 iced drinks at Ya Kun Thailand, as well as their version of the typical ‘Fresh Milk’ at similar BBT outlets.
- Horlicks
- Kopi
- Matcha
- Singapore Milk Tea
- Milo
On a side note, we noticed Ya Kun offers Matcha drinks in Thailand for some reason — promptly adding that to a list of things we hope to see on Singapore’s menu too.
Teh-C, add pearls
According to pictures from the same reviewer, it seems you can also add pearls to a hot version of the milk tea too.
Ample amounts of boba – a larger, softer version of regular tapioca pearls – is layered at the base of the drink to add much needed texture to these familiar beverages.
Lava boba kaya toast with fresh milk cream
Ya Kun’s signature brown toast, grilled-to-order at each outlet, is first spread with either chocolate or kaya, then topped with copious amounts of boba and fresh milk cream.
In a similar fashion to the drinks, the surface is toasted to create charred flecks of black sugar. The boba toast is also cut into smaller pieces, for easy serving.
Now, which of us adventurous few would like to volunteer as tribute to try dipping that in half-boiled eggs with soy sauce?
Where to head to try Ya Kun’s take on boba
Here’s where to locate 8 Ya Kun outlets in Bangkok, if you want to judge the merits of the dishes yourself.
We’ve linked the Google Map pins are directly to each branch’s name.
- Ya Kun Amarin Plaza – 496 502 Phloen Chit Rd, 4th Floor, Lumphini, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Ya Kun Chamchuri Square – 319 Chamchuri Square, Ground Floor, Phayathai Rd, Pathum Wan, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok 10330
- Ya Kun Icon Siam (6th Floor / Ground Floor) – Icon Siam, Khlong Ton Sai, Khlong San, Bangkok 10600
- Ya Kun Isetan – Pathum Wan, 5th Floor, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Ya Kun Mercury Ville – Mercury Ville, 3rd Floor, Lumphini, Pathum Wan District, Chit Lom, Bangkok 10330
- Ya Kun King Power Rangnam – King Power Rangnam, 3rd Floor, 8 Rang Nam Alley, Thanon Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400
- Samyan Mitrtown – Samyan Mitrtown, 4th Floor, 944 Rama IV Rd, Wang Mai, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok 10330
Boba on kaya toast, yay or nay for Singapore?
Whether you’re absolutely psyched by the idea of pearls in your morning teh peng, kopi, or kaya toast, or feel flabbergasted by the food blasphemy that’s occurring, it’s fascinating to see how our cuisine resonates in other parts of the world.
Would you give pearls on your kaya toast a try? Or is it a hard pass for you? Let us know in the comments.
We’ve reached out to Ya Kun Singapore to check if the menu will be brought here any time soon.
Featured image from @i.ameat via Ya Kun Thailand on Facebook.
