Naocha: New home-based matcha spot in Aljunied by 21-year-old university student
Matcha isn’t hard to come by in Singapore these days. But if you’d rather skip the big-name matcha specialists and cafes, home-based businesses can be a more wallet-friendly way to get your green tea fix.
New to the Aljunied neighbourhood is Naocha, a home-based matcha concept near James Cook University Singapore. It is run by 21-year-old Naomi Chai, who is currently studying at the Singapore Institute of Management.
Naomi operates the business three days a week — every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, besides juggling her studies.
Despite the ebb and flow of weekly orders, Naocha sold more than 400 cups across 10 days in July, its second month of business. Its customers largely comprised nearby students, workers in the surrounding industrial area, and curious residents.
Orders can be placed through Naocha’s website, with collection available at the void deck of 50 Sims Drive.
“I wasn’t a big fan of matcha in the beginning,” Naomi admits.
That changed after Naomi visited the now-closed Maccha House at PLQ Mall. She was particularly drawn to its matcha drinks topped with cream — a discovery that later shaped the menu at Naocha.
After countless cups made for herself and her family, Naomi kickstarted Naocha — a mash-up of her name and matcha — with the aim of making the Japanese green tea more approachable for everyone.
She specifically chose first-harvest matcha, imported directly from Japan. Made from tea leaves — picked during the year’s first harvest and generally prized — it has a natural, subtle sweetness and less of the bitterness that makes matcha a little divisive.
There are two distinct sources to choose from — Yame and Shizuoka — each with its own flavour profile. Yame leans nutty and umami-forward, while Shizuoka is more grassy and vegetal, with a more well-balanced finish.
The sweetness levels can be adjusted for some drinks, too. Go for no sugar if you prefer the matcha to come through more prominently, or stick to its recommended sweetness for a softer, sweeter sip.
For all matcha lovers in the east
Of the five matcha drinks, starting from S$5.70 for a regular size, the signature matcha latte (from S$5.70) is a straightforward pick for purists.
Another all-time favourite would be the ichigo strawberry matcha (from S$6.50). The housemade strawberry puree is gently mixed into the milk, giving it a pretty pink hue before the matcha is poured in.
Each sip comes with tiny chunks of fresh strawberries and just the right amount of sweetness, complementing the matcha’s earthy notes without stealing the spotlight.
Those with a sweet tooth should try the seasonal dalgona matcha (from S$6), which comes crowned with maple-infused whipped matcha cream, made with Shizuoka powder. It does skew sweeter, but thankfully not to the point of being jelak (overly rich).
The maple gives it a more pronounced flavour, with its sweetness balancing out the matcha cream’s vegetal notes.
If you’re a little wary of how sweet the dalgona matcha might be, the sea salt toffee Cloud (from S$6) is a good alternative.
It brings together a smooth matcha latte with sea salt cold foam mixed with maple syrup, creating a softer take on the same sweet-and-creamy profile.
For those who enjoy deep, roasted flavours, Naocha has recently launched a hojicha latte (from S$5.40) and hojicha einspanner (from S$5.80) topped with cream.
There’s also the ichigo strawberry milk (from S$4.40) — Naocha’s crowd-favourite drink, sans matcha. It’s a fruity, milky treat for people who want to skip caffeine.
Running until the end of August, Naocha has a National Day special, exclusive for its members. The bundle includes the hojicha latte and ichigo strawberry milk, both in regular sizes, for just S$9.
So if you happen to be in the Sims Drive ‘hood during its opening hours, pop by Naocha for its really smooth matcha drinks, especially if you’re a true matcha enthusiast!
This was a hosted tasting.
Love exploring home-based businesses? Read about Cafe Smiggie at Fernvale and Bartley Brewers with solid speciality coffee.
Fri 11.30am - 1.30pm
Sat 11.30am - 4.30pm
- Aljunied
Shannon has the taste buds of a grandmother and perpetually struggles with a food coma.
Read more stories from this writer.
