This heartland teahouse in Macpherson serves aesthetically pleasing drinks and desserts!

For Ida Guan, what began as a hobby quickly turned into a passion project aimed at promoting healthy eating — all through aesthetic desserts. 

Fu Yuan Mala Hotpot owner Ida Guan ventured into the dessert scene with a new store, Tea Story, tucked under a HDB block in the cosy Macpherson neighbourhood. It opened in May.

With nothing priced over S$10, this modern Chinese spot serves visually appealing and flavourful desserts and drinks, all within a teahouse-style space. 

Despite being located in a quiet neighbourhood, the shop draws a steady stream of customers, especially during tea-time. It’s a pretty cosy spot, with around 20 or so seats only, so we’d advise dropping by during off-peak hours!

It’s easy to find the cafe — there’s a giant bubble tea figurine standing outside, nearly as tall as us, standing outside its floral, wood-accented seating area. 

Step inside and be greeted by warm wooden tones, ornate fixtures, and knick-knacks that you won’t find amiss a Chinese period drama. There are even seats that look like antique drums!

Ida’s eye for detail extends to even the bubble tea cups, which she designs herself.

Healthy desserts can be aesthetically pleasing, too!

Originally from Dong Bei, China, Ida and her husband bring with them a rich heritage of Chinese desserts from various regions. 

At the same time, they’ve mixed things up by giving their Chinese desserts a local, Singaporean flavour. 

According to Ida, one of the most popular items is the traditional snow fungus stew with pear (S$7.90) — a dessert that’s slow-cooked for four hours daily and served either hot or cold. It’s believed to help replenish vitality, boost energy, and support liver health — it’s no wonder it’s a favourite among Tea Story’s regulars.

Aesthetic creations such as the handmade pandan rice noodles (S$8.90) — silky noodles topped with sweet potato, taro balls, and a cute little marshmallow panda — are not to be missed, either.

There’s also the osmanthus jasmine cheese dessert (S$8.90) — fresh milk infused with jasmine flowers and gently boiled into cheese, then served with handmade osmanthus jelly. It’s said to help relieve stress and lift negative emotions. 

You’ll also spot bottles upon bottles of fragrant tea leaves at the front of the store, all of which are sourced from various regions in China, including Yunnan and Huangzhou.

If any of these catch your eye, you can place an order to try them freshly brewed in-store, too.

A crowd favourite is the rose milk tea (S$9.90) — a made-to-order brew served in a claypot with fresh rose petals, red dates, goji berries and black tea. It’s fragrant, warm, and comforting — perfect for a midday pick-me-up. The drink is also said to nourish and replenish blood, while promoting healthier, glowing skin. 

We were pleasantly surprised to find that the drinks here remind us of Chagee’s offerings. This includes our favourite, white peach oolong milk tea (S$6.90), which had a strong oolong flavour. The rosy pu’er milk tea (S$7.90) was another find — lighter, but just as refreshing. Both drinks come with the option of fresh milk or milk foam. 

This Instagrammable tea house is well worth a visit — especially if you live nearby. With desserts and drinks under S$10, and no GST or service charge, it’s a quiet escape that channels the calm, unhurried charm of a traditional Chinese teahouse. It’s perfect if you’re looking to sip on refreshingly brewed teas, or indulge in healthy desserts that taste as good as they look.

For more tea-time indulgence, check out the new matcha specialty cafe at Kovan, Fatto Catto, and viral China bakery, Bao’s Pastry. 

Enjoy up to 50% off when you dine with GrabFood Dine Out. You can also book a ride to Tea Story to try its refreshing drinks and desserts.